This sermon explores the concept of taking the first step of faith, using the story of Nahshon from the Exodus, who courageously led the Israelites forward even when there seemed to be no way.
There is a legend in Judaism about a man named Nahshon. He only gets one begat in the Bible. Of course, that’s one more than you and me! He is the great-great-great-grandfather of King David. He disappears almost as soon as he makes his debut, but Nahshon is credited with saving the nation of Israel by one act of courage.
After their EXODUS out of Egypt, the Israelites are trapped between a rock and a hard place—the Egyptian Army and the Red Sea. No one knows what to do. There is no way out. That’s when God issues a counterintuitive command: “Tell the people of Israel to GO FORWARD.” The problem with that was this—there is NO WAY forward. According to Rabbinic tradition, this is when the leader of the tribe of Judah steps up and steps into the Red Sea. Nahshon wades into the water like Aquaman. I totally added Aquaman, but that’s how I envision this epic moment.
Nahshon wades into the Red Sea until he is neck-deep, right up to his nostrils. That is when and where and how the Red Sea splits in half. God is the One who makes a sidewalk through the sea, but it was Nahshon who made the miracle possible. How? By wading into the water! “The sea saw him,” says Psalm 114, “and fled.”
There’s an old axiom: if you want to walk on water, you have to get out of the boat. Here’s one more, along the same lines. If you want God to make a sidewalk through the sea, wade into the water. Most of us spend most of our lives waiting for God to split the Red Sea. Maybe, just maybe, God is waiting for you to get your feet wet. Maybe, just maybe, God is waiting for you to wade into the water. Here’s what I know for sure: if you want God to do the super, you have to do the natural.
You have to take a calculated risk. You have to make a defining decision. You have to take a flying leap of faith. That’s all it takes for God to make a sidewalk through the sea, but you have to kiss the wave. The first step is always the hardest step. Why? You have to overcome the law of inertia by exercising initiative. You have to overcome fear by exercising faith. You have to take the FIRST STEP before God reveals the second step. That’s what Nahshon does! You have to wade into the water, if necessary, right up to your nostrils!
You have to take the FIRST STEP before God reveals the second step.
If you have a Bible, you can meet me in Exodus 14. Let me set the scene. The Israelites are trapped between the Egyptian Army and the Red Sea. It seems like a no win situation—death by sword or death by drowning. Put yourself in their sandals for a second. Imagine the sound of horses and chariots. The entire Egyptian army is coming at you full throttle. This is fight or flight, am I right? It says the people panicked. But this is also when leaders lead. This is when Spirit-led leaders stay calm and carry on. This is when Spirit-filled leaders step up and step in. That’s who Moses is. That’s what Moses does. Verse 13.
Fear not. Stand still and you will see the salvation of the Lord, which He will show to you today. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.
Three simple thoughts this weekend, as we kiss the wave. Face Your Fear. Take Your Stand. Hold Your Peace.
I was having coffee with a friend who suffers from migraine headaches. Moments of relief, few and far between. He’s seen specialists. He’s tried every treatment plan. Nothing seems to help too much, for too long. The pain became so debilitating that he had to resign from the church he was pastoring. I asked him how he manages his emotions, along with the physical pain. And my friend said to me, “I’ve learned to kiss the wave.” I must have given him a quizzical look. I had no idea what that meant. So, he explained. He was quoting Charles Spurgeon. Spurgeon said, “I’ve learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the rock of ages.” (Pastor, you will probably need to retell this story in a way that makes sense for your context)
Face Your Fear. If you’ve got the Egyptian Army coming at you full speed, it is fight or flight. Am I right? Yet Moses says, “Fear not.” Easier said than done, no doubt. But courage is not the absence of fear. Fear is a prerequisite. The question is this: how do you manage fear in moments like this?
According to psychologists, we’re only born with two fears ... View this full sermon with PRO Premium
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