We read in Exodus 14:10, “When the Israelites saw the king and his army marching against them, they were terrified and cried out to the LORD for help.” (GNB)
In this incidence, we see that multitudes of Israelites who were fleeing from Egypt were filled with dread, and they had every reason to do so. The Israelites had been in slavery to the Egyptians for more than 400 years. They were treated so cruelly by their Egyptian masters that they did not even have freedom to worship their own God. It was in the midst of this calamity that they called out to God, who performed mighty wonders on their behalf. The Lord sent ten plagues over the land of Egypt, and created terror in the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who finally let go of the Israelites from his captivity.
As the people of Israel, commenced on this journey towards their freedom, they were chased by the Egyptian army, who pursued them in order to subdue them again. The Israelites who moved forward were in for a serious shock to see that there was the Red Sea ahead of them. It seemed that they were now trapped between the army and the sea, with no way of escape. No wonder then that the Israelites were filled with fear as to how they would escape such an arduous situation. When faced with such an impossible situation, the Israelites instead of looking around, looked up, and called on the name of the Lord.
May be there are those who are exactly in those kind of situations, where you feel cornered with no way of escape. If you are one of those, be assured that this word from God will certainly comfort you today.
God reigns on high
These are the words of the Psalmist, in Psalm 123:1, “LORD, I look up to you, up to heaven, where you rule.” (GNB)
The Psalmist realized that having looked around for help, and finding none, that he would rather look to the Lord, because the Lord rules in the heavens.
In these days when there are myriads of problems that we are confronted with, when fear rules in the hearts of most people, the one thing that we are called to do, is to turn our eyes towards the Lord who is sovereign, and rules on high. Firstly, we acknowledge that God is King. Secondly, we recognize that He rules on high, and is seated on the throne. Thirdly, we believe that He is Almighty, and therefore bigger than any problems that we may face. Every day we must take some time to gaze at the night sky, look at the moon and the countless stars, for only when we do so, we will in some way comprehend how awesome our God is. For so many people, they are on such hectic schedules that they have no time to stop and look around.
Abraham had to look up
In the bible we read about Abraham who was wealthy, and had it all. However, as Abraham advanced in years, he was apprehensive and disheartened because there was no way that he and Sarah could have a child of their own.
This is what God told Abraham in Genesis 15:5, The LORD took him outside and said, "Look at the sky and try to count the stars; you will have as many descendants as that." (GNB)
Abraham obeyed God and walked out by faith, leaving his country, family and all that belonged to him. However, when challenged with the fact of not having a child, Abraham too was discouraged. God decided to encourage Abraham, and asked him to come out of his tent, and to turn his face towards the heavens. God gave Abraham the overwhelming task to look at the night skies and try to count the stars. As Abraham gazed at those countless stars, his faith was revived, and at the age of hundred Abraham received the promise of God when his son Isaac was born.
There are many who are just caught up with all the fearful situations that surround them. The information from the media seems to add to their woes, and they are filled with numerous fears. Some others are so awed by the creation that surrounds them that they begin to worship these created things. The people of Egypt did the very same thing. Everything that they thought was beneficial to them, they began to worship, things like the sun and the river Nile that was their main source of water. They assumed that these would protect them, but when God sent the plagues on Egypt, they realized that none of those things they worshipped could save them.
We read in Mark 9:23, Jesus told him, "'If you are able?' Everything is possible for the person who believes!" (ISV) Let us be reminded that we have a God who specializes in impossibilities.
God is nigh unto us
In Psalm 123:1, the Psalmist portrayed God as the ruler who is in the heaven, and this may seem like a distant viewpoint. However, see the way the Psalmist describes his relationship with God in verse 2.
We read in Psalm 123:2, “As a servant depends on his master, as a maid depends on her mistress, so we will keep looking to you, O LORD our God, until you have mercy on us.” (GNB)
Here the picture the Psalmist portrays is of a servant depending on his master, or a maid depending on her mistress. This is a closer perception of God, where the master and servant are so close at hand that the eyes of the servant is looking up to the hands of the Master, seeking his favor. It is important to have both these perspectives, when we look to God. The fact remains that God is awesome and Almighty, but He is also close at hand, and willing to have mercy on us to help us.
Wait Patiently for the Lord
Nonetheless, in order to receive God’s mercy, we need to wait patiently for it. One of the most lacking qualities in today’s world is patience, because everyone wants things to happen instantly.
David explains it this way in Psalm 40:1, “I waited patiently for the LORD's help; then he listened to me and heard my cry.” (GNB)
We want God to work immediately, and expect that the answers should come any how and through any one. Let us keep in mind that God has His time, and He wants us to wait with patience for the same. When there is a baby in the house, and the baby is crying because he or she is hungry, the mother will not give the milk to that baby without preparing the milk to be suitable for the baby to drink. Sometimes the preparation may take time, but the mother will not give milk that is not boiled or too hot just because the baby is wailing with hunger. This is simply because the mother loves the baby, and knows that the waiting is for the baby’s own good. So also, God allows those periods of waiting, and we need to patiently hang on, knowing that He knows what’s best for us.
The Israelites were impatient
The Israelites who were journeying from Egypt were not willing to wait.
We read in Exodus 14:11, They said to Moses, "Weren't there any graves in Egypt? Did you have to bring us out here in the desert to die? Look what you have done by bringing us out of Egypt! (GNB)
The Israelites initially called out to the Lord for deliverance, but when the answer did not come immediately, they began to complain and murmur against Moses. These Israelites who were in bondage and slavery for four hundred years, saw the mighty hand of God at work and experienced His deliverance from the cruel hands of Pharaoh and his taskmasters. They forgot all of these mighty wonders of God so quickly, and complained against Moses, saying that he had led them into a death-trap.
Oftentimes, we too pray and ask God for many things, but when there is a delay are we willing to wait for the answer or do we complain and murmur against God. There are some who not wanting to face life’s challenges are constantly wishing for death. May I encourage anyone who feels that way to know that God has ordained your days here on earth. Until the appointed time God has set for your departure, He will protect you sustain you, lead you and provide for you, for the one who called you is a true and faithful God.
We read in Exodus 14:12, Didn't we tell you before we left that this would happen? We told you to leave us alone and let us go on being slaves of the Egyptians. It would be better to be slaves there than to die here in the desert." (GNB)
Within such a short span of time, the people began to talk about what they left behind. It seemed that they preferred to continue in the cruel bondage to the Egyptians, rather than to enjoy the freedom that the Lord was leading them into.
There is a general unrest in many families. Husband’s complaining about their wives and vice-verse. Children grumbling against their parents, and parents being dissatisfied with their children. The problems we encounter are not anyone’s fault, so let’s stop blaming each other. The Lord will surely bring deliverance from these calamities, for He is the one who upholds us, protects us and comforts us as a mother would her child who is in distress. Let us stop grumbling, and look to the Lord with faith.
Salvation comes from God
These are the word of Moses to the terrified Israelites in Exodus 14:13, Moses answered, "Don't be afraid! Stand your ground, and you will see what the LORD will do to save you today; you will never see these Egyptians again. (GNB)
These were the words of assurance and courage Moses spoke to the people of Israel who stood there in total dread. He guaranteed them that the Egyptians whom they saw in pursuit of them, they would never again see in their lives. The reason Moses said they did not need to fear was because God was going to save them by His mighty hand, and they were going to witness this salvation with their own eyes. God’s way of deliverance for the Israelites was one that they could not even comprehend. They did not expect that God would actually part the Red Sea and make a way for their escape from the Egyptians. The Israelites grumbled only because they thought that there was no way ahead for them.
Pharaoh and his army assumed that if the people of Israel could walk through the way in the Red Sea, they too could go down the same way. As they pursued the Israelites, the angel of the Lord placed a cloud between the Israelites and the Egyptians, so that the Egyptians could never get near the Israelites. God’s ways are far beyond our comprehension. God who made a way through the sea for the Israelites to get to safety, used the same waters to drown the Egyptians and their army that were in pursuit of the Israelites. The Hebrew word for ‘salvation or to save’ that is used is ‘Yeshua’ which actually is the name of Jesus.
One of the crafty tools in the hands of the devil is to create fear in the hearts of people. Many want to give up on life itself for simple issues like a failure in exams, some sort of sickness or problems in relationship. This is because they allow fear to grip their hearts, and this causes discouragement and depression.
No need to fear death
During the pandemic you may have noticed how a fear of death had gripped the hearts of many.
We read in Hebrews 2:15, Since the children, as he calls them, are people of flesh and blood, Jesus himself became like them and shared their human nature. He did this so that through his death he might destroy the Devil, who has the power over death, Jesus became like these people and died so that he could free them. They were like slaves all their lives because of their fear of death.” (GNB)
When Jesus came down to earth, He wrought this salvation for us, when He took on flesh and blood just like us humans. God became man and lived among us, and He lived a sinless life. He did this so that He can destroy the devil, and free all of us from the power of death, and the fear of death which enslaved all of mankind. Humanity was lost with no way out, and there was no way of escape. Man could not with his own wisdom or schemes find a way out, for the fear of death had a strong hold on him.
Sinful men crucified the sinless Jesus on the cross of Calvary. They thought that they had finished Jesus once for all when He died on the cross. However, they did not realize that death had no control over Jesus, for Jesus rose again on the third day. There is no one in the history of all mankind who rose from the dead like the Lord Jesus.
This world celebrates the birthday and remembers the death day of many great men and women of this world. But for Jesus alone, His day of birth is celebrated, His day of death is remembered and the day of His resurrection celebrated. If you believe in this Lord Jesus and trust your life to Him, the Lord Jesus will deliver you from the grips of the fear of death. Just look to the Lord and pray to Him, for He will surely deliver you from all your fears. The Israelites were dismayed only when they thought that there was no way of escape. To us as believers in the Lord Jesus, He has assured us that He is the Way, He is the Truth and He is the Life.
Jesus is the resurrection and the life
Jesus told Martha in John 11:25, Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, (ESV)
That’s the assurance that Jesus gives to those who believe in Him for there is no fear of death for one who believes in Him. Jesus not only protects us in this life, but He gives hope of an eternal life even after we die. There is therefore no need to fear death.
Paul said in Philippians 1:21, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”(ESV) Those who believe in the Lord Jesus will never fear death, for they have the assurance that the Lord will remain with them all through their life on earth, and when it is done, they have the guarantee that they will live will the Lord forever.
Rev. F. Andrew Dixon
www.goodnewsfriends.net
Transcribed by: Sis. Esther Collins
