Forward Faith
Have you ever come up against an insurmountable obstacle? That is what Moses and the children of Israel faced in Exodus 14.
Picture yourself during the time of the Exodus. Gradually, over a 400-year period, you have adopted the culture of the Egyptians. Though you are a slave, you enjoy a higher standard of living than the greatest chieftain of the Bedouins.
So in order for God to pry you loose from the “adoption” of this godless culture, it is necessary to take you into a wilderness—a wilderness requiring total trust in the provisions of an all-wise and faithful God. The journey will not be an easy one, but a necessary one.
Here’s an inside look at Exodus 14:
But the Egyptians pursued after them…
And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel… were sore afraid: and they… cried out to the LORD…And they said to Moses: Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness. And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will show to you to day: for the Egyptians whom you have seen to day, you shall see them again no more for ever. The LORD shall fight for you…
What I love about this scene is the drama—and my childhood memory of Charlton Heston standing upon the rock with his rod! But Hollywood got it all wrong. It wasn’t Moses lifting his rod that parted the sea. Note what the rest of the text says:
And the LORD said unto Moses, Why do you cry to me? Speak to the children of Israel, that they go forward. Exodus 14:15
Sometimes it is not until we are willing to move forward and get wet that the wall of water will part. Too often we’re waiting for God to remove the obstacle while He’s waiting for us to take the first step—of faith.
For a refreshing collection of faith-building and inspiring books, see the recommended reading below for our finest selections for boys and girls!
Recommended Reading:
Little Miss Moth (Ages 6-11)
The Haunted Room (Ages 9-14)
Peace in War (Ages 12-99)
