Jan 26 2009 Ex 14-16, Acts 2

Scripture
Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness. And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. Exodus 14:12-14

Observation
When the children of Israel left Egypt to enter into the life God called them to live, almost immediately they find themselves facing a major hurtle. They had come to the bank of the Red Sea and set up camp. Notice that they are in the will of God; they are following the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. Yet, the enemy pursues them and all of a sudden they were facing an impossible situation with no visible means of escape.

They had nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. Their only options seemed to be either get killed in battle or drown trying to swim across the sea. It looked as though they were boxed in and no matter what they did, where they turned, or what they contemplated, there appeared to be no way out. And guess what? They were right where God wanted them to be. They were in the perfect will of God and yet in His will their faith was being tested

Application
The events of our lives do not happen by accident; God is in control of everything. When we face our own Red Sea, that place of overwhelming difficulty, we tend to believe that we must have done something wrong, made God mad and now He is dumping these problems on us. This is not the God of the Bible.He had a purpose in bringing the children of Israel to the Red Sea and he has a purpose for the Red Sea’s that I will face this week. When I face difficulties in life, God wants to accomplish two things: first, He wants to make known His glory to others and second, He wants to teach me to trust Him completely.

Prayer
Lord, when I find myself facing my own Red Sea, please help not to panic and fall apart. In times of uncertainty and utter helplessness, let me realize these are opportunities to develop deeper thrust in you.