"Press Toward The Promise; Don’t Turn Back”

Exodus 14:10 And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD. Exodus 14:11 And they said unto Moses, Because [there were] no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Exodus 14:12 [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. Exodus 14:13 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. Exodus 14:14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. Exodus 14:15 And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: Exodus 14:16 But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry [ground] through the midst of the sea.

Intro. For a few moments I would like to talk with you about prayer, and the structure of them being answered. I know what you’re thinking what in the world did the preceding text have to do with prayer? Lord willing I plan to explain.

A. Exodus 2:23-25, We see that for more than four hundred years were the children of Israel in bondage to Egypt and for over four hundred years did they cry to God to be set free.

B. Exodus 3:9-12, We see that God hears their cries and sends a deliver to lead them out; that man was Moses.

C. In Chapters 3-14, We see under the direction of God were the children of Israel set free from the bondage of Egypt and were led out to the Red Sea. This is where now our text comes in.

I. “Egypt meant they were willing to be complacent and miserable”

A. God had led the children of Israel out of Egypt, and to the banks of the Red Sea with no way to cross. In verse 10 we see that they saw the enemy coming and they instantaneously determined in their minds that there was no hope.

B. Egypt in verses 11 & 12 represented a place of bondage and the people would rather give up the pursuit of victory and freedom and abide in misery and bondage.

II. “Still what does this have to do with prayer”

A. We today as the children of God seek Him too for deliverance. For some this could be a physical need such as a healing in the body or other examples would be deliverance from an addiction, or strength when you are weary. To some it could be a spiritual need such as salvation to a lost family member or guidance in your life. Whatever the needs are we go to the Lord in prayer for them believing in faith that he will answer them. For His Word says in Mark 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive [them], and ye shall have [them].

B. We know that God hears us when we pray or cry out to Him; for His Word says in Psalms 86:7 In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me. Also in Jeremiah 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. These are but a few of many promises the Lord has made to us in his Word that He will answer our prayers.

III. “OK where does Egypt fit into all this”

A. When the Israelites where led out of Egypt and to the Red Sea, we see in verses 11 & 12 that when it seemed like there was not any hope of reaching the Promise Land because of this obstacle in there way and Egypt behind them. They immediately lost all faith and forsook all the cries ever made to God for deliverance and wished that they had stayed in Egypt.

B. What we as Christian today seem to allow more often than most is that when we have needs in our lives and make these requests known to God that if it doesn’t seem to come to pass right away or time goes by and still no answer.