Sermon # 20 - God Will Make A Way Series

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.