A nation of ex-slaves defiantly marched out of Egyptian control. The entire Hebrew nation looked forward to entering the land promised to their forefathers. But the Lord told the Israelites to turn back and encamp near the Red Sea.
This order appeared unreasonable. Why turn back toward Egypt? The Promised Land beckoned, so why not continue marching toward Palestine?
God continued speaking to Moses. “Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are wandering…in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.’” God baited Pharaoh; he wanted Pharaoh pursuing the Israelites!
God added, “And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart.” Can you believe that? God purposefully and deliberately aroused Pharaoh’s desire to pursue the Israelites.
God led his people into precariousness; He placed them in harm’s way. The Lord arranged an unsettling, dangerous and frightening time for the people he loved.
Dear friends, God is love. Everything he does for us or to us springs from loving concern for our welfare. He only arranges precarious situations to help us overcome fear of precariousness. Overcoming fear of troubling, difficult times builds our faith in God and our confidence in his provision. Precarious times offer us an opportunity to find an enlivened relationship with our God and a stronger assurance in his promises.
When times were at their worst, God opened the Red Sea for his people. He used the same sea to destroy the pursuing enemy. Had he not promised Moses, “I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and his army?” God leads us into precariousness so he can demonstrate his powerful provision for all our needs. Then, we enthusiastically glorify our Deliverer.
Overcoming fear of precariousness builds into us an expectation of victory. Without tests and tribulations, our expectations of victory remain dwarfed. The act of overcoming fear of precariousness enlarges our conviction that victory awaits us. As fear of precariousness dies, faith in victory rises.
Scripture referred to: Exodus 14
