Four and a half years ago, my Moses (aka Nancy) sat on my couch and listened as I poured my heart out and shed all the tears about the crossroads I faced. My marriage was in shambles and the options I was left with were equally awful. My life felt like a game of Would You Rather and I kept going back and forth in my mind with the decision to make.
Nancy brought so much wisdom. She encouraged me to wait and see what God was doing in this situation. She opened the Bible and walked me through Exodus 14, our reading for today.
She connected me to the Israelites, standing at the Red Sea they could drown in, or the Egyptian army to be murdered by. When you read the text, you can feel their anguish and fear. They didn’t know what to do – and it feels like they were living their own real life game of Would You Rather. And like me, the Israelites were limiting their decision to the two options at that moment in front of them – drown in the Red Sea or be killed by the Egyptians. They cried out to Moses and in verses 13 and 14 you see his reply, which was exactly what I needed to hear that day from my Moses:
“Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord… The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”
The Israelites didn’t want to choose either of those two options, and didn’t see a third different option. We don’t know exactly how much time spanned between them being at the Red Sea and realizing that the Egyptian army was after them, until the point God gave them a third option – parting the Red Sea. Some bible scholars think it was days… can you imagine each day the army getting closer and closer to you? Feeling so trapped and afraid? The enemy closing in?
In my marriage, I felt pressure to make a quick decision, and honestly, I myself wanted to make a decision quickly and start moving in some direction, as awful as both options felt. But my Moses encouraged me to wait. Wait and let the Lord work, and He will provide a third option, or transform one of my current options. Do you think the Israelites thought the very Red Sea that they saw as a drowning death barrier, would actually become their escape route?
This real event that took place 3,500 years ago brings us hope today that God can make a way when we see no way. Is your back against a wall today and you see no way out? My prayer is that you will be patient with yourself, and let God lead you, like He has the Israelites, and like He has led me. Don’t let the world rush and worry you to a hasty decision, let the Lord work. Let Him lead. Let Him heal. Let Him provide.
As we study Moses and the Israelites journey to the Promised Land, it’s easy to scratch our heads and wonder why they continue to doubt the power and provision of the Lord. He shows up every time for them, always coming to their rescue. And yet, every time trouble comes their way, they anguish and have so much fear. It’s humbling to think that all these years later I do the exact same thing. When I’m in the middle of a trial, do I first trust that God is going to bring me an escape route? Do I always trust that He will provide? Or do I try to solve and control everything quickly on my own? I can look back at my life and time and time again He was working when I didn’t know it. He was preparing me in ways I didn’t see at the time. He surprised me with provisions right when I needed them. I want to better leverage my testimony of faith, into the next battle, knowing God will show up with a better option than I could have dreamed! I’m encouraged and challenged to respond more like Moses and less like the Israelites.
Heavenly Father, Thank you for sending people like Nancy into my life, who have served me like Moses, to remind me of your goodness and faithfulness. Thank you for the escape route that you provide when we feel like our back is against the wall. You are the best Defender, Protector, and Provider. Amen.
