By Pr Isaiah White
The book of Exodus tells the story of slaves who, by God’s grace, were delivered from slavery of over 400 years.
This deliverance was by God through His prophet, Moses.
The Egyptians were hesitant to let the Israelites go. Due to their hesitation, the nation suffered consequences in the 10 plagues that struck their people.
But eventually, Pharaoh let the Israelites go. As they headed to the Promised Land, there were two routes to the destination; the Northern route that was shorter and the Eastern one, which was far and led to the Sea.
The Bible tells us that “God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea” (Exodus 13:18).
From the outset of their journey, the Lord became their guide.
“And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light” (Exodus 13:21).
No way
Exodus 14:9: “So the Egyptians pursued them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen and his army, and overtook them camping by the sea.”
The Egyptians trapped the Israelites between two mountains and a sea. There was no way; the only option was to surrender to their captors, the Egyptians.
In life, there are moments when it looks like it is over; when there is no alternative at all to succeed.
Moments when the only way is to surrender to death. This was the situation the Israelites were faced with at the Red Sea.
They were almost a million people with children and aged individuals, who could not run or fight the enemy.
The majority of these were scared, tired, thirsty, with hardly any hope left to find a way out.
There are similar scenarios in life. There are times when a believer is trapped; in diseases and debts, a jobless market, or in a violent community.
The world is filled with situations in which people find themselves stuck, with no way at all.
Have you ever been in a situation where there is no way out, in the best hospital, with the best doctors, but with no idea on how to heal; cornered in a house by thieves and you are too helpless to even engage in a fight for survival?
This is the situation in which the Israelites found themselves.
They stood before a massive Sea, between huge mountains, and there were enemy troops at their back, seeking their blood. It was a ‘no way-out’ situation.
Faith makes a way
Moses, as the leader noticed the fear and despair among his people, and immediately hopped in with an encouragement that said:
“Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today” (Exodus 14:13).
Prophet Moses, in such a situation, with such optimism, demonstrates that in a true believer, there is something that always cures their aching soul.
It is the faith and trust in their Master, one who has been taking care of them all the while, who is with them and will never desert them.
Whenever such a believer faces crisis, they utilize their faith and practice it even when the evidence suggests otherwise.
While all the evidence suggested that it is over, believers like Moses knew it was not over since God still lived.
This is the rationale of faith in action. We do not act upon our faith just because we can, we put faith in action because of the living God we serve.
The song by Gosper singer, Don Moen says: “God will make a way where seems to be no way.”
The truth is that our God is the way where there is no way. We must always remember that.
When the Israelites saw no way in the sea, the Lord instructed Moses to strike it with his rod and He became the way through the waters.
Exodus 14:21-22: “And Moses stretched out his hand over the see and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong East wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.”
Even in such an intimidating setting, the children of Israel proceeded. By faith, “they passed through the Red Sea upon dry land”.
Note that because God was the way through the Sea, only the believers, the Israelites had their way through the waters. The non-believers, the Egyptians drowned.
The Israelites, whose faith was in God, had Him as their way where there was no way.
