“Then the Lord said to Moses…Tell the Israelites to move on.” Exodus 14:15
Have you ever felt boxed into a situation you cannot find a way out? Hemmed in on all sides, buffeted by the four winds, with no way of escaping?
I am writing to you today using a real-life example of a circumstance similar to your experience, because at the end of that story, there was triumph at the end of the despair, relief at the end of the pain, rest at the other side of the storm, victory at the end of a battle won before it began.
In Exodus 13:18B, the beginning of the journey of the people of Israel from Egypt into the land the Lord had promised to Abraham and his descendants was recorded in this manner:
“The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.”
They had just been delivered from the life of slavery they had known all their lives; the harsh life of being ‘less than’, into the first taste of a life of true liberty.
Revelling in the displayed might of the Lord their God, recalling the plagues that came upon Egypt which secured their release, they were at ease, enjoying their new-found freedom, when out of the left field, a terrible situation emerged: the vast army of Egypt was bearing down on them, led by Pharoah and his seasoned generals.
They had expected to encounter some battles along the way; after all, they had left Egypt in battle formation because of that expectation. But this was no ordinary enemy.
The might of Egypt was well known to them, the strength of its army and the brutal display of their might was their very recent experience. Moreover, every member of that army, led by Pharaoh, had the motivation to completely annihilate the people of Israel, for they had all lost their first-born sons, and the first born of all their animals, because of them.
The people of Israel could only imagine how ruthless the Egyptian army would be once they reached them.
There was no place to hide, no escape plan, because they had camped at the Red Sea. They knew that death was certain for there was no way they could fight Pharoah’s army with their horses and chariots, nor was it possible for the vast multitude to swim to safety.
When fear and despair turned to desperation, they began to accuse Moses of leading them to their death, falsely claimed that they had been unwilling to leave Egypt, and had told Moses to leave them alone in their life of servitude. They declared that their life of slavery was better than death in the wilderness.
There is no record that God was angry with them on this occasion, their first of many trials along the journey, but Moses was desperate, and so he did the only thing he knew to do: he prayed.
God’s answer was: “tell them to go forward”.
It was an impossible instruction, for forward meant to go into the sea, with their men, boys, women including expecting mothers, girls, and toddlers, and their vast number of animals!
That was the problem.
The story did not end with their annihilation though. The great victory the Israelites saw that night, as they crossed the Red Sea on dry land with a wall of water on each side, and the sight they beheld the next day – the drowned bodies of their enemies, is recorded in the song of Miriam – a song of praise for God’s deliverance.
Why am I telling you this today?
When you find yourself in the depths of despair because of an impossible situation, where you find yourself boxed in, with no way of escape, remember that the same God who did this for the people of Israel is the God you now call Father, whose you are, and who has promised never to leave you, nor to forsake you.
There is no end to the circumstances that can overwhelm you. When you find yourself completely overcome by your circumstances and there does not appear to be any ray of light or hope, remember, that your God specialises in bringing deliverance in the situations that demand strength, fortitude, and resources beyond yourself.
When you feel you are falling, or failing, or you cannot seem to win, remember that He has promised to strengthen you, to help you, and to hold you up with His own right hand. He tells you that you have nothing to fear (Isaiah 41:10).
Perhaps you may not feel that you qualify for God’s help, or that perhaps what He did for the people of Israel, He did because they were His special people.
So are you.
If you have believed that Jesus Christ died for your sins, that He took your punishment on the cross, and you believe that by His death, burial, and resurrection, He has both atoned for your sin, and raised you into a life lived in, and through Him, then you qualify to be called a fellow citizen with God’s people and a member of God’s household (Ephesians 2:19-22).
This household, to which you belong, is described in 1 Peter 2:9 as:
“…a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession” .
Perhaps you wonder if God still performs miracles. After all, the crossing of the Red Sea happened a number of millennia ago.
If that is what you are thinking, may I remind you of this scripture (Hebrews 13:8): “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever”. He does not change.
You must believe that in Jesus Christ, you have been embraced by God Himself. His limitless resources are engaged for you, and on your behalf, right at this moment. He is your place of refuge in this storm; He is your strength; you are not alone. He is your very present help in this time of your trouble. Do not despair.
As surely as the night follows the day, you will come out of that box of trouble, for in that box, know this: He who hems you in “behind and before” – on every side (Psalm 139:5), is right there, with you. He may be silent, but He is working… for you.
He knows the way out that you cannot figure out, and when He is done, you will thank Him for even this moment when he seems to be silent.
In the box, move forward, keep doing what you must, and leave God to fight on your behalf.
And… “Do not fear. Only Believe” (Mark 5:36).
