This will be a three part series on Exodus 14:13.In the first part of the passage,Moses gives them (Israel) some directions we all should live by when facing any problems that arise in our lives. As you know life is a series of problems,no one on this Earth lives a life problem free. The Bible starts out with a problem in the garden. When Adam and Eve seen they were naked, that was a problem.They tried to solve the problem with Fig Leaves! Every time we try to solve our problems without God,we are using Fig Leaves. In today's passage the children of Israel was faced with a problem which seemed hopeless to them. They were faced with a choice of solving their own problem or trusting in God to see them "through" the problem.The problem they faced was either go back to Egypt or to cross the Red Sea some how.To them both choices seem like certain death.There have been times in my life when I've felt the same way because of my fears.
God lead Moses and Israel out of Egypt to the edge of the Rea Sea. Everything was fine until they saw Pharaoh and his army.There was nowhere to run because there was a great sea in front of them and no time to make a way across it. Now I can imagine some of the solutions that may have been thought of. "We can try and build a boat to get across." "We can try and swim across." "We can try and go around to get across." Then there were the ones that said it would be easier just to go back to Egypt! The main thing that occurred was FEAR. The problem cause them to fear and fear will make us do things we normally wouldn't do.Fear was what made Adam and Eve sew those Fig Leaves and fear will cause us to sew some too!
Fear does several things to us because it makes us focus on the problem and not really the solution. My sister and I used to watch those old horror movies every Saturday when we were coming up. Sometimes I'd have a nightmare because I was focused on Dracula and not on the stake that was driven through his heart! Fear makes us want to run, it makes us want to do whatever it takes to resolve the problem. The first thing Moses told the children of Israel to do was to "fear not"!It probably didn't make any sense to them. "You must be crazy,Pharaoh is behind us and the Red Sea in front of us,nowhere to run and you say fear not!"
So how do we overcome our fears when the problems in life seem unbearable. When there doesn't seem like there is a way out.We have to turn our problems completely over to God.We have to trust that He has "already" fixed the problem. We have to remember all the other times that He brought us through the waters!(problems)You see Israel had forgotten what God had delivered them from. All they could focus on was the problem at hand. They forgot all the powerful signs and wonders God had use to free them in the first place. They became afraid because they had their focus on the problem and not on God!!
2 Timothy 1:7 reads: "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear;but of power,and of love, and of a sound mind."(kjv)Many times in life our problems have us fearing the worst. Some of us can't sleep because of them. We toss and turn all night and dread the coming morning. There maybe problems at home or at work. There maybe problems with health or even in your church. Whatever the problem, the first thing we must do is "fear not"! If you know God has made a way before, He will do it again if we just let Him. Someone today needs to know that no matter what the problem, God has a solution for it!Stop being afraid, trust God and give everything to Him in prayer!
"Father sometimes our fears keep us from waiting on your solutions to our problems. We run here and we run there trying to solve our own problems thinking we can do things without your help. Please forgive us for all the Fig Leaves we have sown in our lives and we ask you right now, in the name of Jesus, to take us "through" our problems! In Jesus name,AMEN!"
Next part II :"Stand Still"
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