Crossing Over

Exodus 14

This chapter in Exodus details Israel crossing over from Egypt through the Red Sea. Sometimes when we are doing what God has led us to do we will experience some of the same things Israel did. Just as with them it is not always easy to trust God but it is always in our best interest. See if you can relate to anything in their story. I know I sure can!

In v. 1-4 we see that God had a plan. He always has a plan! Not only does He always have a plan, His plan is always the best plan! Our part is to yield to and obey His plan. When we follow His plan we get His results.

Have you ever found a recipe that sounds so good but you don’t have a couple of the ingredients? Maybe you are like me and decide to try it anyway. Usually, it turns out to be not nearly as good as it sounded when I do this. I made the recipe my way but expected it to taste as if I had followed the recipe. We sometimes do something similar with God’s plan for our life. We want to change it or perhaps we simply have our own plan. Usually we invite God to bless our plan. But the blessing is in His plan! We must go with His plan even when it doesn’t appear to be the most logical plan.

In v. 7 we see that the enemy also had a “best” plan, and he will for your life as well. In Exodus the enemy brought his best chariots and the officers over them, but it was still no match for God’s plan!

V. 10 tells how Israel was terrified. They were afraid and their confidence was gone. Sometimes that’s how we feel when we are in God’s plan and see the enemy’s best plan coming at us. At times it can even look like the enemy is winning or gaining ground. It sure looked that way in Exodus 14. Perhaps someone feels this is where they are now. If so, keep reading, it’s not over!

Moses answered the terrified people (v.13-14), “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring to you today…..The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” This is our solution as well. First we have to surrender our fear; choose to trust God. We have to stand firm in our faith in God then He will fight for us as we remain still. Often times when we are afraid we complain and start trying to “help” God. You know, when He’s not moving fast enough we think surely we can help this crossing over to speed up and be over with. We just want to get to the other side of our struggle, to get on with our plan.

Many times when we are in God’s plan it feels as if He comes through at the very last second. V.24 says, “During the last watch of the night….” Things were still looking pretty bleak. This watch is from 3 A.M. until 6 A. M., some of the darkest hours. It not only looked dark, it was dark! There was no where to turn— Israel was in the middle of the Red Sea being followed by Pharaoh’s best chariots who were about to overtake them. But then….. God showed up!! Israel stood firm in faith and continued on their journey and God stepped in. Just like Israel we can’t stop to decide what to do– our part is to keep going, trusting God to come through.

V.27 at daybreak, the dawning of the new day, the sea went back into place swallowing the enemy as it did. Not one of the enemy army survived. It was dark and appeared hopeless but daybreak came and with it a great victory. God always comes through when it’s His plan.

When Israel saw what God did their confidence in God and Moses grew. They followed God’s plan and their faith grew. When we follow God’s plan our faith will grow as well. We can be sure we will have opportunity to turn around and head back to what was familiar, we will feel like giving up, we may even wonder if there is a short cut but if we will follow God in His plan for us we will be victorious, we will reach the other side!!

So, be encouraged…..Keep going……You will cross over…….It will be an incredible victory!