Faith Vs. Presumption At The Water's Edge Series

Introduction: Trapped by the Impossible

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where there was absolutely no way out? You look forward, and there is an insurmountable obstacle. You look behind, and your past or your enemies are rapidly catching up to you.

This was the exact position of the children of Israel in Exodus 14. They had just left Egypt, riding high on the victory of the Passover. But suddenly, they found themselves boxed in. They were encamped by the Red Sea. In front of them was an uncrossable ocean. Beside them were impassable mountains. And rushing up behind them was the furious, vengeance-seeking army of Pharaoh, equipped with the most advanced chariots of the ancient world.

In the natural world, it was over. The people panicked. But God was about to teach them—and us—a profound lesson about the difference between true faith and foolish presumption. Hebrews 11:29 captures the climax of this incredible event in a single sentence.

1. The Path of Faith: Stepping into the Impossible

The verse begins with the triumph of the Israelites: "By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land..."

How did they get this faith? It started with a word from God. When the people were terrified, Moses stood up and delivered a promise:

> Exodus 14:13-15 (KJV)

> "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. And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:"

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Faith is not a blind leap into the dark; it is a calculated step onto the solid rock of God's Word. God told them to "go forward" right into the sea.

When Moses stretched out his rod, God sent a strong east wind and miraculously parted the waters.

> Exodus 14:21-22 (KJV)

> "And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left."

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It takes immense faith to walk between towering walls of water. At any moment, human logic would scream that the waters could collapse. But faith said, "The God who parted the waters is strong enough to hold them back." They walked on dry ground because they were walking in the center of God's will.

2. The Path of Presumption: The Fatal Imitation

The second half of the verse offers a terrifying contrast: "...which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned."

The word "assaying" means attempting, trying, or presuming. The Egyptians saw the Israelites walking through the sea on dry ground, and they thought, "If they can do it, we can do it too!" So, they drove their chariots right into the miraculous path.

But there was a massive difference. The Israelites went into the sea by faith, based on a direct command and promise from God. The Egyptians went into the sea by presumption.

* They had no word from God.

* They had no promise of protection.

* They were actively fighting against God's people.

They tried to imitate the actions of faith without actually having faith. Presumption is dangerous. It is demanding the blessings and protections of God while living in rebellion against Him. The Egyptians presumed the miracle was just a natural phenomenon or a stroke of luck that they could exploit for their own violent purposes.

3. The Judgment: The Waters Return

The very same waters that were a pathway of salvation for the believers became an instrument of sudden destruction for the unbelievers.

> Exodus 14:27-28 (KJV)

> "And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them."

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God removed the chariot wheels, confusing the Egyptian army, and then released the walls of water. The judgment was absolute. "There remained not so much as one of them."

This is a stark reminder of the holiness and justice of God. You cannot ride on the coattails of someone else's faith. You cannot presume upon God's grace while pursuing your own sinful agenda. What saves the righteous will ultimately judge the wicked.