The Faith Of A Nation Series

Letting your faith do the walking Part 13

The Faith of a Nation

Hebrews 11:29-30

Introduction

We live in a nation that was founded on faith. I heard just this week that after research of all the founding documents that were written by our founding fathers the conclusion was made that with out a shadow of doubt our founding document was the Bible, because in every document written by our founding fathers there were multiple references to the Holy Scriptures. Atheist can try to lie and cover that up, but the truth is the truth.

No other nation on the face of this earth has been through what the nation of Israel has been though. They truly have a dramatic, miraculous past. Tonight as we consider the nation of Israel and there dramatic, miraculous past we want to see what we can learn from there faith as a nation.

Read Scriptures: Hebrews 11:29-30

I. Israel’s faith was a faith that obeyed God against overwhelming forces.

Vs. 29 “By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.”

The forces confronting the Nation of Israel were actually three-fold: there was the pursuing mighty army of the Egyptians, the Red Sea in front of them and the mountain ranges on both sides, and there own murmuring and complaining and unbelief.

The famous words recorded in scripture, Exodus 14:11 “They said to Moses, was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die.”

It is easy for us now we have the whole story, well they didn’t have that benefit, and these people were very frightened. They were hemmed in with no way to escape, and an enraged King and army were in hot pursuit. There was no chance that the Egyptians would have taken any live prisoners back to Egypt, remember Egypt had lost there first born sons to the death-angel. Israel was doomed and the people knew it. The odds were over-whelming unless God steps in and delivered them.

Moses was steps forward in his faithful stand for God and says as recorded in Exodus 14:13-14 “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 to be still."”

The salvation of the Lord was being proclaimed, and that message stirred the hearts of the people. In obedience to God’s command, (Exodus 14:21-22) Moses lifted up his rod and moved it across the face of the waters. When he did a strong east wind began to blow over the face of the waters. It blew so strongly that the waters divided. Imagine the scene: two towering walls of water with a stretch of dry land running down between them.

But the people’s salvation was on the other side. If they could reach that point, they were safe. They had been grumbling, but the message of God’s servant Moses had stirred there hearts to believe God. Now there were witnessing the very power of almighty God, as he was removing the overwhelming odds.

He actually rolled the sea back and made a road of dry land for them to march across to safety. The believed God, and they began to march forth-marching in the faith of God who had promised that He would lead them to the promised land.

Listen what a clear picture of salvation for us today! No matter the odds, God will overcome the odds and save us if we only believe and begin to march forth following Jesus as God commands us.

II. Israel’s faith was a faith that delivered and brought protection.

Vs. 29 “By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.”

The Nation of Israel believed God; therefore they were delivered despite overwhelming odds against them. But not only this: they were protected through the whole experience. Their enemies pursued them. It was night when Israel crossed the Red Sea and when the Egyptian army reached the shore.

The Egyptians were spiritually blind to God’s working and were hardened in their sin. If you think about the children of Israel was not an army, but a defenseless body of people fleeing the might and power of the greatest army in the world during this time in history. The Egyptians saw no reason to rush and slaughter them. The army acted blindly, rashly, and unthoughtfully.

They went right in after the Israelites. But God protected those who believed and trusted in Him. The east wind died down and the two walls of water closed in and covered them, drowning every one of them. God’s people were protected, completely protected by the hand of God.