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.
C. We want to forsake our cries to the Lord by either giving up the prayer you have continued to pray or even the worst of all give up all together and go back into the World thinking that he never cared. But either way know that in His Word He says in 1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
D. The Israelites were willing to give up and go back because it seemed like there was no way out. They thought it was best that they should have never bothered because Egypt was behind them and the Red Sea was before them.
1. Just like our prayers now we cry out to God for help in the middle of the storm and the first sign of danger we lose faith or stop praying for the need.
2. Just like Peter in Matthew 14:24-33 we see Jesus walking on the water and Peter seeing Him and asking if he could walk out to Him on the water. In verse 29 He says COME, and Peter walks out but as soon as he takes his eyes off the Lord and sees the storm he began to sink.
3. Now the problem we face is that we allow the storm or the enemy to distract us from God that we may give up and look for ways to settle in the situation.
4. But we are to always to pray, and not to faint; as said in Luke 18:1; Just as Peter when he began to sink cried out HELP! And Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed Peter and saved him/
IV. “Be of good cheer for there is a WAY”
A. But we are to be of good cheer for deliverance is own the way if we hold on to God and not allow the enemy to detour us.
B. In our text we see in verses 13-16 Moses telling the Israelites not to fear, but to see the salvation of the Lord and Gods promise to fight there battle and that they would not see the Egyptians anymore. He then parted the waters to where they go own to the Promise Land.
C. Just as we are to stand fast in our faith and on Gods promise to answer our prayers. For it is written that the just shall live by faith.
D. We should not allow the enemy to distract us from the promise of God or to allow circumstance to say that God hears us not for in Psalms 20:6 ¶ Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.
E. The answer is on the way just hold a little longer.
V. “The Promise is on the way just know that…………..”
1. Just as Moses was sent by God to free the people and take them to the promise land. So did God send us His Son Jesus that as stated in 1 John 2:1 we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and also in Romans 8:34 Who [is] he that condemneth? [It is] Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. And also in Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
2. “For having the way to God made through Christ dying on the Cross for our sins and excepting Him as our savior we can be ashore that the…”
A. James 5:16 The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
B. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
C. Luke 11:9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
D. Matthew 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
E. Matthew 6:8 for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
F. John 14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
G. John 14:14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do [it].
Conclusion: Know that Gods word will not return onto him void Isaiah 55:11 and that God is not a liar for it says in His Word in Numbers 23:19 God [is] not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do [it]? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Hold on a little longer, keep on knocking, keep on seeking, the answer is on the way just HOLD ON, I SAY HOLD ON ITS COMING.
