Israel was not guiltless in the Exodus account in Exodus 14-15. In reality, Israel was just as guilty of rejecting God as Pharaoh was. Even while God was saving Israel, they complained and said it was better to be slaves of God’s enemies than to trust God even when it seems dangerous. I wonder if you have every thought that way. I wonder if the thought of “It is better to live worshipping yourself, knowing it is not truly fulfilling or life giving, knowing that it is against God, rather than it is to trust and follow God because it is difficult” has ever crossed your mind. We certainly even saw Pharaoh have the opportunity to let God’s people go and his response is “Who is the Lord that I should listen to him?” Israel is saying the same thing!! Israel is saying, “Who is the Lord that we should listen and trust him?”! You, have probably also voiced the same thing.
When we begin to think that way, we forget something so important: IT WAS GOD WHO BROUGHT YOU INTO THAT SITUATION!! It is in these times that we often feel like God has abandoned us, but he actually has not at all. God is using this situation for your good, and for God’s glory.
The Egyptians were coming after Israel because God changed their hearts to do so. God had not abandoned Israel! God was with them the entire time. God lead them to the Red Sea, and not by accident. God works so that the world will know that He alone is God. He does that through situations in your life where you are called to trust God, even when it seems dangerous and difficult. God shows his glory in this world through the lives of his followers. And that is not a bad thing, that is a glorious thing!! Even when you are facing difficult circumstances, know that God does not abandon his people in difficulty! God delivers his people through difficulty, for the good of his people and for God’s glory. We do not need to return to sin, like Israel wanting to return to Egypt, we need to follow God. We need to trust him, especially when life is quite difficult.
We have a choice. We will either respond in anger towards God, or we will respond, like Israel in this situation, in fearing God and believing in him. This situation was not simply to show God’s power and faithfulness to his people, but it was “written for our instruction that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope,” (Rom. 15:4)
Maybe your life is falling apart before your eyes and everything you hold dear is falling away. And you begin to wonder, “Where is God in my circumstance?” I’ve been there. Perhaps your circumstance is so bad, I cannot relate. But I know someone who can. Jesus has been there. Jesus has faced more difficulty than you and for those who would trust in him.
Jesus says in this world, you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world. That Jesus calls you today, in the midst of your difficulties, to trust him, even when it seems dangerous and scary, and to say, “Not my will, but yours be done.”
The result we see, is that it turned out for the good of Israel. They grew in their fear of the Lord. They grew in their trust in God and of his servant Moses. They trusted God more in this situation as the result. Today, see the goodness of God by trusting him despite your circumstances, despite your temptation to reject him because it is dangerous, and then know that in trusting God, you will be better for it. I promise.
Reforming the City of Roses 