Sunday, July 15, 2012

The Way Out


Moses parting the Red Sea~
Boy, as a child I remember going to the Pitman theater to see THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.
It was a great movie, but I sat through the whole thing for the one moment when Moses was used by God to part the Red Sea. Pharaoh and all his army were hot on the heels of the Hebrews who now were camped against the Red Sea. Pharaoh was going to make them pay for what had transpired in Egypt. Fueled by anger, hatred and a double dose of pay-back, the entire army went after the Hebrews helter skelter. They were so blinded by their anger they could not see the hand of God. I guess there is a whole other posting just in that little bit of the story. I'll keep that in mind.

In the Scripture, what Moses tells the people just before the sea parts is a truth that we all need to lay hold of.  One that reveals the power and authority that God alone possesses.
Exodus 14:13 - As 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 who you see today, you shall see again no more forever."

What does this have to do with life today? Simple. These words from Exodus define for us the way we should live our lives everyday. First off, remember that you do have an enemy that stays on your heels and seeks to destroy you. Seeks to pull you back into that old lifestyle of misery, pain and utter hopelessness. I like the first words of Exodus 14:13----- Do Not Be Afraid. Don't let your emotions get the best of you. When we allow our emotions to have free reign in our lives, we make bad decisions. We blow things out of proportion to the way they really are. I especially like these words considering where the Hebrews were. To be honest with you, there wasn't any way out of this situation that they could see. Catch words here are that they could see. God doesn't see like we do. He sees things and ways that lie beyond our little bit wisdom. That is why I need not be afraid. God can and should be trusted. Either God is God or he isn't. If He doesn't possess the capability of carrying out His promises, then everything we've been told or read is a lie. I'm sorry! I'm just crazy enough to believe God is who He claims to be, and will do what He has promised to do.

Next part of the Exodus verse, Moses tells the people to Stand Still. Stand still physically....Stand still emotionally....and stand still spiritually. All through Scripture I have read where God told people to do this..this standing still. Don't be in a hurry. Activity without direction profits nothing or no one.  The lifestyle of addiction is one of constant movement. A wearing out of ones self for no purpose but destruction. Here, in Exodus, the Hebrews found themselves in the most dire of situations and the what do they hear....
1.) Don't be afraid
2.) Stand still.
Do you think some of them may have thought..."Hoo boy! Old Moses has got us a good plan here."

Then came the kicker.....
See the Salvation.
Did you ever think to yourself that maybe the reason you haven't see the hand of God work is because (here it comes) you can't see?
Let's retrace our steps here for one moment.
We are afraid....insert what ever situation or circumstance you want to that we are facing. Bottom line the fear meter is registering "danger".
We aren't standing still. We are like that hamster in the wheel....running and running and running....and getting no where. We're making good time...we're just not getting anywhere.
Standing still in our thoughts....
Standing still in our hearts....
Standing still in our actions, puts us in a place where we will see God's hand move. We will see the answers to our prayers. We will see God's salvation for us.

Now we have the Big One~
For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever.
In other words, when we let God work in our lives......His word is a complete work. His work is a work of Power that has no equal to stand against Him. 
After saying this, God, using Moses, parts the sea in front of the Hebrews and tells then that this is the way out if they want to live.
Daily at Rapha, God parts the minds and hearts of men who have been slaves to Addiction. They come seeking relief and what they find is a Red Sea Experience. There is only one way out....Addiction is hot on their heels seeking to destroy them. There is only one way out....
Don't be afraid....
Stand still.
See the Salvation of the Lord...
You'll not see your enemy again forever.
The way out?
Jesus.
The Cross of Christ became the parted way for us to enter into life, real life and relationship with God the Father.
Don't be kept by freedom and life because of fear.
Let Christ into your heart and life today....
Follow Him.

God on you.......
mb

No comments:

THE REALITY OF THE NAME OF GOD

Listening to Keith Green this morning as he sings "How Majestic Is Your Name". I had to  ask myself, "Do I truly unerstnd the...