Pressed
Reagan cracked her ipod touch yesterday.
She was roller-blading and decided to sit for a rest. The only problem was that her tush was not enough cushion between the pavement and the force of her weight, so the ipod in her back pocket looks like a bulls eye that took a bullet. Her first thought was, Dad’s gonna kill me! Her anxiety rising, she yelled at Autumn, her friend, whose only offense was being present. She then rushed home, fleeing the scene, and tearfully sought my comfort. She had shattered her ipod, a friendship, and her Daddy’s trust. This girl was in trouble, and she knew it. But she also knew where to turn to to confess and find comfort.
Israel came to mind because some things never change. They had fled Egypt as fast as Moses could lead them, and they ran right into a dead end. Israel’s dream of freedom and rescue got squeezed between the Red Sea and Pharaoh’s approaching army. It shattered their faith.
As Pharaoh drew near, the sons of Israel looked, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they became very frightened; so the sons of Israel cried out to the Lord. Then they said to Moses, “Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us in this way, bringing us out of Egypt? Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness” (Exodus 14:10-12, NAS)
Do you find it interesting that they cried out to the Lord and then said to Moses…? They took their fear and frustration out on their friend because he was there. He was also a safer target than God. What they said reveals their hearts. They regretted having left at all. They wanted to go back. Israel feared and wanted to run home.
Moses advised them, “Fear not. Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord.” Moses, too, was pressed between two opposing forces: God’s will and Israel’s will. But he did not crack under pressure — he bent to both a little bit. He reassured Israel with, “…[the Lord] will accomplish [salvation] for you today.” The next verse (15) tells us he was crying out to God the whole time. What a great leader Moses is. When the people are in distress, he comforts them, but all the while, pleads their case silently before the Lord.
And just when you think you might have done the heroic thing by standing silent before the Lord in the midst of your fear, God says, “Go forward.” We might be able to muster the strength to stand in the face of our fears, but going forward always takes faith.
Israel took a step into the sea that was sure to be their ruin. That’s when God changed their geography. He cushioned their footfall with a firm foundation that miraculously rose up out of the sea to meet their timid faith.
Even when they regretted their choice, feared their circumstances, and wished to go back. God’s grace rose up anyway, to meet the weight of their next step into the Red Sea until they were safely on the other side.
Intact. Unshattered.
It may not have happened that way for Reagan’s ipod, but it always will when God’s people fall on his grace.
We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. ~2 Corinthians 4:8 (NLT)
Amen.
Yes, going forward takes more faith than standing still. I need to stop standing still at the computer and go forward in faith with other things I know I need to get done today! I also appreciated the insight into Moses responses …one to them and the other to the Lord…what wisdom.
Stepping out in faith without knowing the outcome can be scary. But knowing that God is on our side, helps.
Thank you Dawn for this illustration that we are never wrong to take a step of faith.
Thanks Dawn for this encouraging word! I am reminded that our Heavenly Father knows all those places we are and will be pressed ahead of time. He knows how to bring forth faith out of His children while at the same time expose our weaknesses so that we will ultimately cling and trust only Him. He is our refuge, strength and deliverance!