Girlfriends in God - Aug. 30, 2007

August 30, 2007

Facing the Water

Today’s Truth

“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) NIV.

Friend to Friend

A boy was sitting on a park bench with one hand resting on an open Bible. He was loudly exclaiming his praise to God. “Hallelujah! Hallelujah! God is great!” he yelled without worrying whether anyone heard him or not.

Shortly after, along came a man who had recently completed some studies at a local university. Feeling himself very enlightened in the ways of truth and very eager to show this enlightenment, he asked the boy about the source of his joy.

“Hey” asked the boy in return with a bright laugh, “Don’t you have any idea what God is able to do? I just read that God opened up the waves of the Red Sea and led the whole nation of Israel right through the middle.”

The enlightened man laughed lightly, sat down next to the boy and began to try to open his eyes to the “realities” of the miracles of the Bible. “That can all be very easily explained. Modern scholars have shown that the Red Sea in that area was only 10 inches deep at that time. It was no problem for the Israelites to wade across.”

The boy was stumped. His eyes wandered from the man back to the Bible laying open in his lap. The man, content that he had enlightened a poor, naive young person to the finer points of scientific insight, turned to go. He had taken only two steps when the boy began to rejoice and praise louder than before. The man turned to ask the reason for this resumed jubilation.

“Wow!” exclaimed the boy happily, “God is greater than I thought! Not only did He lead the whole nation of Israel through the Red Sea, He topped it off by drowning the whole Egyptian army in 10 inches of water!”

The Old Testament book of Exodus shows, over and over again, that nothing is impossible with God. Nothing! Moses was an ordinary man who was chosen by God to do an extraordinary task. On the far side of the desert in Midian, high on the mountain of God, Moses met the LORD face to flame. God appeared to Moses “in flames of fire from within a bush.”

I would imagine that Moses was probably dirty, sweaty, and stinky from shepherding as he stood on holy ground before the LORD. I’m sure he was keenly aware of his filth and stench, both physically and spiritually. As he slipped off his shoes, he hid his face in fear. Moses did not feel adequate for the assignment that he had been given. He wasn’t confident in his abilities to get the job done. In fact, he even pleaded with God to send someone else! Moses said to God in Exodus 4:10, “O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”

But God had a plan and Moses was His man. Through 10 plagues and many signs and wonders, God flexed his muscles through Moses. Once Pharaoh had finally let God’s people go, Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt. No compass was necessary. God led His people through the desert with a pillar of clouds by day and a pillar of fire by night. It must have been an amazing sight. It must have been thrilling…up until the point where Pharaoh’s army was closing in on them as they approached the Red Sea. Talk about being stuck between faith and a hard place! Talk about being faced with a seemingly possible situation! Moses and around two million of his closest Hebrew friends stood at the edge of the water with nowhere to go. They were trapped. “They were terrified and cried out to the LORD” (Exodus 14:10). BUT GOD! God was on time for the miracle show. He had a plan. He made a way. Nothing is too difficult for God.

“Moses answered 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). God purposed this extravagant rescue for His glory.

The Israelites were saved, and Pharaoh’s army was destroyed - all under the watchful eyes of the LORD. God wanted to be glorified through a seemingly impossible situation. He wants to be glorified through the difficult situations that we face, too. “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31) When we stand with Christ, we stand with power. What Red Sea are you facing? Nothing is impossible with God. Nothing! Set aside your doubts today. Call on the name of the LORD. Face the water with confidence!

Red Sea

Lyrics and Music by Gwen Smith

A battle is raging, the stage is set

Rivers edge, they’re placing bets

Facing the water, I’m fighting doubt

I need Your hand to help me out

Part this Red Sea, deliver me

The tide is high, still on the rise

Secure my feet and guide my steps

I won’t retreat from this duress

I’m movin’, I’m pushin’, I’m constantly pressin’

Approaching these waters with holy aggression

Show me Your power, I need intervention

Come and rescue me

Part this Red Sea

Minute by minute new circumstances

Uncharted water, taking my chances

I’m trying to get up the nerve to move

With You on my side, I know I can’t lose

Pillar of fire by night on this desert road

Pillar of cloud by day with my heavy load

Its big, its big, I hear it mocking me

But You are bigger and You can part this sea

Let’s Pray

Dear God, like Moses, I often feel ill-equipped to handle the assignments You have given me. You know exactly what waters I face today. As I stand at the water’s edge, I commit to trusting Your strength. I will not give in to the fears, frustrations, and doubts that mock me. You are far more powerful than the circumstances of my life. Thank you for reminding me that nothing is too difficult for you.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen

Now It’s Your Turn

Grab some paper or your journal and list some “pillars of fire and pillars of clouds” God has placed in your life to give you direction on your journey.

Take a moment to thank God for His leading and seek His heart about direction for your next steps.

Do you have a friend who is facing a seemingly impossible situation right now? Give her a call, write her a note of encouragement, make her a meal, and/or pray for her!

More from the Girlfriends

I love sharing my music with you! I wish I could fit all the GiGs onto my living room couch, give you a hot cup of coffee, and sing for each of you personally. Obviously, I can’t. But – praise God – we have instant access to music via the Internet. J I’d love for you to hear and be encouraged by Red Sea. So…turn up the volume on your computer and click here!