Resolutions Gleaned From The Red Sea Rescue
Text: Ex.14: 13-15
Intro: Here we are facing the beginning of a new year. Who knows what 2009 will bring. It’s anyone’s guess, for no one can foresee the events of tomorrow. It is as the Scriptures tells us:
Prov.27: 1 “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.”
James 4: 14 “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”
Some will choose to face the coming year with anxiety. Others will look to the year ahead with ambivalence (“…conflicting feelings toward a person or thing…” ), while still others will approach the New Year with anticipation. However, I suspect that most of us, at some point during this next year, will experience all of those attitudes and emotions to some degree. You see life is not static in nature. It is in a constant state of change. But the fact remains that the mindset with which we choose to face 2009 now, will have a lot to do with how we emerge from it emotionally December 31 of next year. Warren Wiersbe has said that, “outlook determines outcome.” There’s a lot of truth in that statement.
In dealing with His children to effect their spiritual maturity, God often permits them to experience the pressures of life. But spiritual maturity isn’t God’s only goal in allowing life’s pressures. It is during the difficulties we face that the submitted saint turns to God for help, comfort and enablement. It is often the problems that bring the very Person of God into sharp focus for His children. This is illustrated very clearly in our text. God used His Red Sea rescue to teach Israel some wonderful spiritual lessons that we would do well to heed. We would do well to render these lessons in the form of New Year’s resolutions that will help us face the unknown future with faith in God.
Theme: Let us wholeheartedly…
I. RESOVLVE TO NOT LIVE IN FEAR
Ex.14: 13a “…Fear ye not…”
A. Like The Israelites, We Often Fear Circumstances.
Ex.14: 8 “And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an high hand.
9 But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon.
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.”
NOTE: [1] God had already revealed His mighty power to deliver the Israelites via the plagues that had ravaged Egypt, and prodded Pharaoh to let them leave. But, having reached the Red Sea, the Israelites once again responded in fear at the first sign of trouble. It may seem like an elementary point, but let me draw your attention to verse eight, where we are told, “…the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh…and he pursued after the children of Israel…” In other words, God engineered this whole scenario (Ex.14: 1, 2). Ultimately, God, our heavenly Father, is in control of our problems and pressures. We would do well to remember that fact.
[2] It’s understandable that the Israelites would experience an initial bout of fearfulness when they saw the massive armies of Egypt rushing toward them, and then realizing that they were blocked in by the Red Sea. But faith in God should have overridden their sudden fear. The Bible assures us that, “God has not given us the spirit (disposition) of fear, but of power, of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Tim.1: 7). Occasional fearfulness is one thing, but to live there is quite another. Fearfulness as a way of life and faith as a way of life are mutually exclusive.
[2a] This truth is brought out in Luke 8: 50 where Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, had just heard that his little girl had died. Jesus told Jairus, “…Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.”
[2b] The same truth is found in a number of places in Hebrews chapter 11. For instance, it was by faith that Moses’ parents “…were not afraid of the king’s commandment” to kill all the male babies of the Jews (Heb.11: 23). In that same chapter, we find that by faith Moses left Egypt, “…not fearing the wrath of the king…” (Heb.11: 27).
[3] When we learn to quit living in fear, and start living in faith toward God, we experience rest and confidence.
While walking along the shores of the Dead Sea one day, a man lost his balance and fell into the water at a point where it was rather deep. Never having learned to swim, he was panic-stricken. In desperation he began to thrash about with his arms and legs, fearing he would sink and drown. At last completely exhausted, he felt he could do no more. Crying out to God for help, he prepared for the worst.
What a surprise awaited him; for as soon as he relaxed the water bore him up. He had forgotten that the Dead Sea is so full of salt and other minerals that if a person lies still, he can easily float upon its surface. He will not drown as long as he resigns himself to the buoyancy of the water.
This simple story has a profound lesson for us who are the Lord’s children. His everlasting arms will uphold us if we simply relinquish our unnecessary fears and cease from our own carnal efforts. The safety and serenity offered by such a complete reliance on Him will quiet our hearts even in our most desperate hours of difficulty. The eternal God is a never-failing Help when we flounder in the sea of trial and sorrow.
B. Like The Israelites, We Often Faithlessly Complain.
Ex.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?
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.”
NOTE: [1] Fearful and faithless complaining will not do in a crisis. Only fearless and faithful confidence in God will meet the need. Notice how these faithless Israelites accused Moses, who trusted God implicitly, of not knowing what he was doing. This sort of thing still happens today. Faithless people tend to be complainers.
Vow of Silence
A monk joined a monastery and took a vow of silence. After the first 10 years his superior called him in and asked, “Do you have anything to say?”
The monk replied, “Food bad.”
After another 10 years the monk again had opportunity to voice his thoughts. He said, “Bed hard.”
Another 10 years went by and again he was called in before his superior. When asked if he had anything to say, he responded, “I quit.”
“It doesn’t surprise me a bit,” said his superior. “You’ve done nothing but complain ever since you got here.”
[2] Exodus 14: 12 seems to imply that many of the Israelites preferred being in bondage to the enemy over the hardships of freedom. How sad! How shortsighted! But lest we get too cocky, let us be aware that many Christians of our day do the same thing. They’d rather go with the flow of the world than put up with the daily battles and hardships of walking in fellowship with God.
Heb.11: 24 “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;
25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.”
II. RESOLVE TO LET GOD DO OUR FIGHTING
Ex.14: 14a “The Lord shall fight for you…”
2 Chron.20: 15b “…the battle is not your’s, but God’s.”
A. Sometimes, Like The Israelites, We Need To Stay Put.
Ex.14: 13a “…stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord…”
NOTE: [1] Please understand that I’m not talking about lazy passivity or apathy here. If there is something you can do that is naturally and logically within your ability to remedy your crisis situation, do it. But if God has allowed you to be placed in a situation that is beyond your power, then that situation is God’s invitation to be still and put your faith and reliance in Him alone, so that you might see His power on your behalf.
[2] Often we operate on the slogan, “Don’t just stand there; do something,” when actually, God is saying, “Stand still, stay put.” “Be still, and know that I am God…” (Ps.46: 10a). When your crisis is so profoundly difficult that you don’t know what to do, don’t do anything but pray and wait on the Lord for direction. It’s your responsibility to handle the possible; but it’s God’s responsibility to handle the impossible. The Bible says of God: “Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things” (Ps.72: 18). Not only does God not need your help to work out the impossible, but it is absolutely impossible for you to help.
B. Sometimes, Like The Israelites, We Need To Hold Our Peace.
Ex.14: 14b “…ye shall hold your peace.”
NOTE: [1] God told Israel, “…Hold your peace.” That simply means, “to be silent, to let alone.” It seems that when we’re in the midst of a crisis, all we know how to do is jabber and complain about it. We spew forth negativism that helps absolutely nothing, except to depress us. God says, “Let it alone. Be silent. I’ve not forsaken you.” We must learn to trust when we cannot see or hear God anywhere. The question is not, “Where can I find God?” The fact is whether you know where God’s at or not, He knows where you are. Listen to what Job said:
Job 23: 8 “I go east, but he is not there. I go west, but I cannot find him.
9 I do not see him in the north, for he is hidden. I look to the south, but he is concealed.
10 But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.”
[2] Sometimes we even pray about our situation; only it’s “panic praying.” We so tie up the line to Heaven with this type of praying that we can’t hear God’s comfort or instructions. In other words, we’re not praying in faith, but in fear. God doesn’t often respond to that type of prayer. When we find ourselves in a situation for which there seems to be no answer or escape, we need to postpone our decision-making, and get somewhere and be quiet before the Lord. Don’t try to force God to speak; just wait before Him. When He wants to let you know something, He knows where you are.
C. Simply, Like The Israelites, Wait For God’s Plan.
Ex.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.
17 And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honor upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gotten me honor upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.”
NOTE: Even the trials and troubles that God allows to come into your life are for the purpose of God’s ultimate glory and your ultimate good. God permitted the Israelites to endure this predicament so they could experience His great power, love, and care in their behalf, so He would receive the glory.
III. RESOLVE TO FOLLOW GOD FORWARD
Ex.14: 15b “…speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward.”
A. Though The Enemy Is Hot On Your Trail.
Ex.14: 22 “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.
23 And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.”
NOTE: [1] Folks, Satan is not going to lay down and play dead just because you or this church determines to stay close to God, and go forward with God. He is going to constantly pursue the people of God. Never forget the admonition of Peter, who said, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith…” (1 Pet.5: 8, 9a).
[2] Don’t fail to keep going forward for God, even though the enemy dogs your steps, because “…greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4: 4b).
B. Making God Your Only Trust.
Ex.14: 19 “And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:
20 And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.
21 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.
22 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.”
NOTE: Notice that the enemy couldn’t get any closer to the children of Israel than God permitted them to. As someone has said, “Satan may light the furnace, but God controls the thermostat.” The Word of God tells us, “…but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Cor.10: 13b).
C. Expecting God To Triumph.
Ex.14: 27 “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.
28 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.
…………………………………………………………..
30 Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.
31 And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses.”
NOTE: Child of God, don’t accept defeat from the hands of the enemy, for God has promised you the victory. God’s Word says:
1 Cor.15: 57 “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
2 Cor.2: 14a “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ…”
Theme: Let us wholeheartedly…
I. RESOLVE TO NOT LIVE IN FEAR
II. RESOLVE TO LET GOD DO OUR FIGHTING
III. RESOLVE TO FOLLOW GOD FORWARD
