It’s a spectacular true story. When we step into the Israelite’s sandals, applying it to our lives, we gain insight and encouragement from the book of Exodus.
The people of Israel came out of Egypt after 430 years of slavery. Their fathers, grandfathers, great-grandfathers, great-great-grandfathers, and so on and so on for centuries had all been slaves. For generations, it was all they had known. When they finally walked out of Egypt, they were physically, mentally, and spiritually weak. But God was with them, and He had a plan.
They had been oppressed, had been worked ruthlessly, and their lives were bitter. Life had been hard for so long. They groaned in their slavery and cried out. That’s the bad news. The good news is their cry for help went up to God, He heard and was concerned.
He sent an unlikely deliverer and worked miracles again and again to secure their release. When the Israelites left Egypt, God knew exactly where they should go. Exodus 13:17-18 reveals His plan: “God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, ‘If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.’So, God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea.” God knew what path was best.
Freedom wasn’t going to be easy. Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds, made ready the army, took six hundred of the best chariots, along with all the other chariots of Egypt, and pursued the Israelites. They overtook them as they camped by the sea!
The Israelites were terrified and cried out to the LORD. Best idea ever.
They were weak, scared, broken down with no way out. But God was there.
Moses told the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today…The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:13-14). Hard to not be scared when death was coming quickly. Hard to stand firm with feet on shaking sand.
The LORD who had delivered them from Egypt had not brought them that far to leave them. God did not take them over, around, or under, but THROUGH the Red Sea. “Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left” (Exodus 14:21-22).
The Israelites didn’t just need God to get them out of slavery, they needed God every day.
There are so many ways this story can help us today. Though we live in America, we can be in bondage, slaves to many things. God can still deliver. He still wants to deliver. When He brings us out, it doesn’t mean life will be only unicorns and rainbows. He will give us strength for each day, even when it’s difficult. God knows what is best for us. His directions can always be trusted. Just like the Israelites, He will walk with us through some things.
When life is scary, when days are hard, when you can hear the chariots rumbling and your back is against the wall or water, remember Moses’ words: “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and see the deliverance of the LORD.” He is not just a name in a book. He is alive and waiting for you to cry out to Him.