Mar 11 - Crossing the Red Sea

Lessons in the Life of Moses: Crossing the Red Sea
By Jim Laffoon

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." 

Then the Lord said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to me?  Tell the Israelites to move on.  Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.  I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them, and I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army through his chariots and his horsemen."       Exodus 14:13-17

Everywhere Moses turned, he was in unbelievable danger.  On the one side stood the Red Sea--a huge, impassable body of water.  On the other side, he was being pressed by the finest chariot forces in the world.  If this wasn't bad enough, the very people he had led out of Egypt were now turning against him. 

Yet even in the midst of his dire peril, Moses' heart was filled with divine confidence. "Don't be afraid," he shouted.  "All you have to do is stand here and the Lord himself will fight for you."

Looking up to heaven, Moses waited for what he knew would be a tremendous word of comfort and confirmation.  The reply he heard, however, was anything but comforting.  In fact, it shocked him to the very core of his being. 

"Why are you praying to me?" the Lord said. "Tell the people to move on toward the sea."  As Moses pondered these words, the Lord's next command thundered out of heaven:  "Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea...:"

When Moses raised his staff, the Lord released a wind out of heaven which cut a pathway of dry ground through the very heart of the raging sea.  By the time the night was over, all the Hebrews had safely crossed through the sea, and the Egyptian army was no more. 

What lessons can be learned from this miraculous story? 

First, when God asked Moses why he was praying, God was not being hard or uncaring.  He asked Moses this in order to let him know he had already been given everything necessary to part the sea and to destroy the armies of Pharaoh.  In other words, there was nothing else God could give Moses.  Moses had already witnessed the destruction of the Egyptian empire and was carrying, at his side, the very rod through which the Lord had released His judgments. 

It is no different for you or me today.  No matter what type of challenge or seemingly impassable obstacle you are facing, God has given you everything you need to experience victory.

Second, although we do not have a staff like the one Moses had, you and I have something even better -- the Word of God.  No matter what "mountain" or "sea" you are facing, you can overcome it through the promises and power of God's Word.  Jesus described this as "speaking to your mountain."  

In Matthew 21: 21, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt ...you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done." 

I have found in my own life--whether it was my wife's cancer or some other major challenge--when I confess the Word of God over my needs, two things happen: fresh faith is ignited in my heart, and the power of God is released to meet my need. 

Third, like Moses and the Hebrew children, most Christians who face a time of crisis are tempted to simply "stand still" and wait on the Lord. Although there are times when this posture of faith is exactly the right thing to do, there are other moments when something more is needed.  This was the case at the Red Sea. 

If the Israelites had not stepped toward the sea, it would never have parted. 

Although it is hard to explain why, there are simply times when a step of faith is needed. Whether it is obeying the Holy Spirit's promptings to give money even though you have a financial need, or sharing your faith with people even though you see no sign of openness in their lives, these steps of faith can bring incredible results. 

May God give you fresh faith to cross the "seas" you are facing as you ponder these words today.

© Copyright 2005 by Jim Laffoon