Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Exodus chapter 14 selected verses
Introduction-
Good morning,
How you ever heard some of these familiar terms?
Caught in the middle
In a jam
Painted in a corner
Up the creek without a paddle
These phrases let us know that someone is in ‘over their head.” In a mess they will have a hard time getting out of.
We have all been there.
Some things we know we have created
Some things because of something someone else has done to us and we had no control over it.
This morning our text is about the whole nation of Israel that has gotten themselves in a jam that for over 400 years all they did about it was complain to God and blame everyone else for their troubles.
Sound familiar? It is not me Lord, it is the helpmate you gave me! It is someone else’s fault.
Sermon title-
“Between a rock and a hard place” No matter what you do or where you go does not seem like a good option.
How did the nation of Israel get themselves in the mess they were in?
Disobedience to God.
How do we get ourselves in some messes were in? Disobedience to God.
After 400 years of captivity- prophesied by God to Abraham years before, The Lord raises up His Servant Moses to set the captives free and offer to bring His people back to a better life.
Most of us know the story of Israel crossing the Red Sea- right?
Charlton Heston portrays Moses and we see him raise his staff and miraculously two million people cross the Red Sea and we watch the Egyptians swallowed up by the waters crashing in on them.
Most only see it as a movie
Fewer grasp the magnitude of God’s power and His ability to be a saving God.
Select few put their trust in a God that is able to do miracles and take us out of the situations we find ourselves in.
Few see that blatant sin is keeping us from receiving some of the blessings God wants for us.
Illustration
A nine year old boy was asked by his mother what he had learned in Sunday School. He said, well, Mom our teacher told us how God sent Moses behind enemy lines on a rescue mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. When he got to the Red Sea he had his engineers big a big bridge and all the people walked across the Red Sea. He then uses his walkie-talkie to radio in to get a B52 bomber to blow up the bridge and all the Israelites were saved and all the Egyptians were destroyed. His mom said now Billy is that really what your teacher taught you? He said well actually no mom but if I told it the way she did you’d never believe me.
What can we learn and take away from the Red Sea experience? Anything?
I have always watched the portrayal on TV and what I have read in God’s Word of this great exit as a miracle- that is what that is- a miracle when you try to imagine 2 million people leaving a country and trying to cross over into a promise land that God has said He would provide.
I picture 2 million ways this could have went wrong because 2 million people were involved.
God had a plan but trying to get people to listen and work the plan is where I see trouble.
So let’s get an overview of this scripture and talk about it for a moment.
God speaks to Moses and let him know that He wants to use him. Burning Bush
God promises Israel deliverance from Egypt. Longtime prophecy coming to past.
The Plagues He brought to get Egypt’s attention.
Boils
Hail
Locust
Darkness for three straight days- that will get your attention.
Ultimate plague of the first born-
Exodus12:31
“During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Up, leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go worship the Lord as you have requested. Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go.”
Exodus 13:17-
“When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, if they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.”
God rarely goes the shortest way
God knows us better than we know ourselves.
God has a plan- He always has a plan! His plan was to deliver Israel out of bondage-
Israelites moaned and complained the whole time they were in captivity.
God knew that if He didn’t send them this way, not the shorter way, that when they faced war and obstacles… they would return to what the Lord was taking them from. They would return to Egypt. Back to their problems and circumstances.
The Pharaoh and Egypt changed their mind because God had hardened their hearts and selfishness and power would prevail in a heart not right with God-
(10) “As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. They said to Moses, “was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, leave us alone, let us serve the Egyptians? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”
As Israel looked at the enemy instead of staying focused on what the lord was doing- they were terrified!
Instead of crying out for God to intervene- they cried out in complaining.
Suddenly they felt like the bondage and abuse of Egyptians was not so bad.
They like where God was bringing them from more than where God was taking them. Repeat
They felt it better to not serve God and retreat, then stay focused and get where God was taking them.
They were in that Rock and a hard place-
Where neither direction seems good but you have to pick one-
Where to do nothing, would destroy you.
It is hard to admit we don’t know as much as we think we do.
It is hard to admit that we are not in control as much as we think we are.
It is hard for us to put our trust in God when the walls seem to be crashing in on us.
God has a plan- we like the idea that God has a plan for us, but we do not like the plan when we are faced with some obstacles or we have to put trust in God when we do not have all the answers.
It is at those times, we make our own plans and we ask God to bless our mess and for Him to pull a rabbit out of His hat to work for us.
Nowhere in God’s plan does He say it will be pain-free.
Nowhere does He say that everyone will love you because you serve the Lord.
Life is not fair and Jesus never said it was!
Jesus own words to us- “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,"
God has a plan and it is different than yours because it is a Godly plan and His ways are higher than your ways-
It will not always make sense when you try to put the human brain test to it- because it is a Godly plan.
When Lazarus was dead and Martha could not understand why Jesus waited so long to come- it was a Godly plan and when Lazarus come walking out of that tomb wrapped in death clothes, they could not understand it because it was a Godly plan.
When these Israelites were with their backs up against that Red Sea, they could not understand God’s plan because they were trying to make their own plans instead of living the plan God had for them.
All they saw was the enemy approaching- not the victory coming!
Pharaoh realized that He no longer had a nation of brick makers and He wanted to fight the things that God was doing.
That didn’t change the fact that God had a plan and it didn’t include them being someone else brick maker anymore- it was taking His people to the promised land and for victory to come their way.
Wow! That is some good preaching- hope some are listening!
You may be between a rock and a hard place- but if you are on the side of the Lord, you will get out of it with victory!
God is putting his plan in place- the problem is the enemy is closing in-and you feel like you are going to die!
Moses answered the people;
”Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today, the Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you, you need only be still.”
Exodus 14:15-18 Read from Bible
Use what you have in your hand Moses- it has not failed you. That rod was used in many miracles.
I will get honor and glory by using my people who have put their trust in me.
I will get honor and glory when all of what Egypt has to fight with will be destroyed in a moment.
19-20
“Then the angel of God, who had been raveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long.”
Moses stretched out his hand and Israel crossed on dry land with walls of water on each side. Appearing like no way out but God had provided.
The Egyptians pursued but they are no match for Almighty God.
The walls that protected Israel crashed in on their enemies.
“The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.”
(31) “AND WHEN THE Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.”
Closing,
Do you get it? Do you hear what He told Israel?
Stop whining about your situation- Start speaking to your situation.
Use every tool God has given you.
Seek every way to be doing God’s will for your life and not just going through the motions.
Trust God to do miracles.
Trust Him to do more than you can and be bigger than you are.
We believe Him to save us spiritually, but we have a hard time believing that He can meet our needs and protect us
The power of life and death is in our tongue- speak positive things in our lives.
Jesus tells us that the words that He speaks to us are Spirit and life.
My God is a healer!
My God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory.
I am more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus!
Let God arise and His enemies be scattered!
The resurrection of Lazarus was more than just a story in the Bible.
A little boy and his lunch really happened because my God can do all things!
Song-
Have you any rivers you think are un-crossable? Have you any mountains you can’t tunnel through?
God specializes in things that are impossible
God can make a way when it seems impossible
He does His best work after we acknowledge we have done all we know to do.
We Say “It’s impossible.” God Says “All things are possible” (Mat 19:26)
We Say “I am too tired.” God Says “I will give you rest.” (Mat 11:28)
We Say “Nobody really loves me.” God Says “I love you.” (John 3:16)
We Say “Nobody really cares for me.” God Says “I care for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)
We Say “I cannot go on.” God Says “My grace is sufficient.” (2 Cor 12:9)
We Say “I cannot figure things out.” God Says “I shall direct thy paths.” (Prov 3:6)
We Say “I cannot do it.” God Says “You can do all things.” (Phil 4:13)
We Say “I am unable.” God Says “I am able.” (2 Cor 9:8)
We Say “I am not worth it.” God Says “It will be worth it.” (Rom 8:28)
We Say “I cannot forgive myself.” God Says “I forgive you.” (1 John 1:9)
We Say “I cannot afford to.” God Says “I will supply all your needs.” (Phil 4:19)
Illustration-
There is a story about an old farmer whose mule fell into a well. After many unsuccessful attempts to haul the mule out of the hole, the farmer decided it was hopeless. With sadness, he instructed his boys to fill up several truckloads of dirt and just bury the old mule right in the well. The boys backed up the truck filled with dirt, and shovel by shovel, they began to fill the well and bury the mule. The mule didn’t take kindly to this action. The first shovel of dirt hit him square on the head, got in his eyes and mouth, and made him sneeze.
Every shovel full after that hit him somewhere, causing the old mule to stomp around in the bottom of the well. Several truckloads of dirt later, the mule was still stomping and packing dirt firmly underneath his feet. Little by little, that mule was lifting itself out of the hole. Sure enough, about mid-afternoon that mule simply stepped out of the well and snorted at the whole business.
There are different ways people have of dealing with problems life throws at them.
Some are constant complainers. They do not handle setbacks and upsets very well.
Some of them cannot even handle normal events. Others are defeated at the slightest difficulty. Quite a few get confused, turned around and seem not to know what to do.
Then there are a few who are unconquerable. They are like the mule. Problems can hit them square on the head, but they just stomp around enough until they actually use the problem to rise above it.
What I want you to see in closing is that coming to the Red Sea is just as much a part of God’s plan as crossing it.
A predicament in God’s hands is only a highway to the Promised Land.
