Dear Beloved,
Greetings to the #steemchurch and everyone. Today, I wanna share an interesting story from the bible. The story of the people of Israel crossing the red sea.
The story of Moses and the Israelites crossing the red sea is part of the biblical narrative of Exodus. God commissioned Moses to deliver His people from slavery in the land of Egypt and lead them into the promised land which is Canaan.
At first, this task didn't go well with Moses as he gave a lot of excuses why he wasn't fit for the job, but God being God, knowing the beginning and the end knew he was the right man for this task.
This story is divided into four parts all showing the miraculous wonders of GOD. It does picture our spiritual lives, and crossing the sea by faith like the Israelites, or not, as in the case of the Egyptians. Before now, we all know the story that led up to this in the wilderness, God's miracles were happening back to back in His quest to lead His chosen nation out of Egypt. However, there are several lessons we could learn from this story and apply them to our daily lives as Christians.
GOD CAN USE YOUR ENEMY TO BRING VICTORY: God used Pharaoh to set the children of Israel free from himself. Sometimes, God sets a trap for our enemies through which comes victory. You may think the enemy is winning, but sometimes, you wouldn't reach your destiny without them, it's all in God's plan.
David was known as a shepherd because of Goliath, nobody knew who he was before now. Goliath was strategically placed in David's path, not to defeat him, but to make him known and promote him. Do not complain about your enemies, it may look like a setback, but it's really a set up for God to get you to your destination.
God lured Pharaoh and his army to go after the children of Israel. Pharaoh wasn't thinking straight, he should have known the people of Israel were far gone, but he was blinded to the truth. God holds all things in His hand including the heart of a king. He can turn any situation around.
Sometime last year in my office, I was unjustly treated by the HOD of my department who isn't a believer. I did everything within my power to be a good staff, but this man kept coming for my head. I couldn't bear it anymore so I had to take it to God in prayers and today, the man has been long gone, he was sacked by the management and I was promoted to his position to God be the glory .This is what God can do with our enemies, but it's important we trust in Him and let Him take care of those who bully, torment and frustrate our efforts. They are there for a reason and when the time is ripe, God will act on it.
Exodus 14:4
Then I will harden Pharaoh's heart, so that he will pursue them; and I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, that the Egyptians may know that I am the Lord' And they did so
GOD IS MERCIFUL: All through this journey, the people of Israel were disobedient to God. They would challenge Moses in any little thing and complained a lot, but God's mercy endureth forever. They lack patience to deal with GOD and His servant.
Exodus 14:11-12
Then they said to Moses, 'Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt?
12 Is there not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, 'let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians? for it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness
This journey was supposed to have lasted 40 days, but it lasted 40 years because of their disobedience to GOD. Oftentimes, we disobey God, get angry with Him, ask Him so many annoying questions, but He has never loved us less. David was the man after God's heart yet he committed a lot of atrocities.
Psalm 130:3
If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?
God's mercy is beyond human understanding, nobody is perfect and He knows we have fallen short of His glory.
Micah 7:18-19
Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy
19 You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea
GOD FIGHTS FOR US: In-spite of everything God fought for the children of Israel. Whether we believe it or not, God fights daily for you and I. The children of Israel couldn't have won this battle, If not for God's intervention. They were no match to Pharaoh's and his men, but God proved Himself.
Exodus 14:13-14
And Moses said to the people 'Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever
14 The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace
As Christians, we must always remember no situation is bigger than God. When it seems a situation is hopeless or overwhelming, do not doubt God for He will fight for you, In this story, God had it all planned out, but the Israelites were aware of this fact. They thought, they had lost the battle forgetting we serve a God who is a master planner. He does not leave loopholes. He has build a protective shield around us where nothing will be able to get through to attack us, but it's important, we don't take laws into our hands and decide to help Him win. He is capable of any fight and can comfortably win any battle for the battle is of the Lord.
Zechariah 2:5
The Lord has promised that he himself will be a wall of fire around the city to protect it and that he will live there in all his glory
GOD KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING: For most Christians, it appears God is not in control; this is not true for He knows exactly what He is doing. Even if the way He is leading does not seem to make sense and His timing seems off, He knows what He is doing, we just need to trust Him.
1 Corinthians 1:27
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
God can never be late to your situation, He will always come at the right time even when it looks off to us. Imagine, what will be going through the minds of the Israelites when they saw Pharaoh and his army getting very close, they must have felt betrayed by God, but God never disappoints. He is always on time! Do not give up, just keep praying and believing in Him, you won't be disappointed.
WHEN WE SEE OBSTACLES, GOD SEE OPPORTUNITIES: We often see mountains, but God sees a level ground. He will make a way where there seems to be no way. The bigger the troubles, the greater His power to shine right through it all. He has the whole world in His hands and can change any situation. We can only see this minute, but He sees beyond this minute.
Isaiah 45:2
I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron
While, we see mountains, He is already going before us to level the mountain, making it a plain ground before we even get there. Where we see crisis. He sees betterment and growth because He wants us to be strong and grow in the spirit.
In conclusion,
GOD works in ways we cannot understand, He is able, He is mighty. Trust in Him for He has a perfect plan.
Reference: chabad.org
Thank you for reading & stopping by!!!
God bless you all!!