Hope in the Wilderness

       The Israelites were confused. I can hear them murmuring; “What are we doing here?” “Why did Moses lead us this way?” “Did God deliver us from Pharaoh, only to die here in the desert?” Gradually their murmurs grew louder as they cried out ““Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?  Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”

            With nothing but a vast expanse of water before them, a desert behind them and an army of 600 chariots bursting with armed troops, I know their knees had to be quaking. How could God possibly save them now? For that matter, where was God? The Bible paints a vivid picture of their state of mind: the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them (Exodus 14:10).

            Do you ever feel like there’s no hope in sight? A child who doesn’t seem to be reaching any of the goals or milestones you’ve set for him or her? A heart-rending prognosis? Facing bankruptcy or foreclosure? A hopeless marriage? A prodigal child? Problems looming overhead like dark storm clouds? If that’s you, then you understand what it feels like to stand in a seemingly hopeless situation.

            Chapter 13, verse 17 tells us that God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. Why the detour? Because God knows and understands the human heart. He knows we are frail and prone to doubt. He knows we are inclined to look at the temporal rather than the eternal. He knows our weaknesses, our insecurities. So God led the Israelites in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea.

            The problem with the Israelites was that they looked at their circumstances, not at their deliverer. They focused their gaze on the challenges all around them instead of looking to the Lord. Look at verse 21 of chapter 13; The LORD went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud, and he provided light at night with a pillar of fire. So why did they doubt their deliverance? Because they allowed those terrible twins, fear and doubt, to enter into their hearts and minds.

            Have fear and doubt knocked at your door? How did you respond? It’s so easy to open the door just a crack to see who’s knocking. But once that door opens, fear and doubt will push their way in and overtake your life before you even realize what’s happened. I know. I’ve been there. They are a terrible duo that take months to vacate the premises. Unless you call upon God and ask His Spirit to flood your life, washing away the ravages that fear and doubt made on your soul.

            Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the LORD rescue you today… The LORD himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” I love those words; don’t be afraid/stand still/watch/stay calm. The thing is, if the God who delivered the Israelites is the same God who precedes you on your life’s path (and we know He is), then that promise applies to you. And me.

            Are you staring at a mountain in your way? Do you see raging waters before you and foes untold behind you? Does it seem like your life is at an impasse? Then print out this promise and paste it on your bathroom mirror where you’ll see it every morning and evening. Memorize it. Make it part of your daily life. Claim it and live it.

“Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the LORD rescue you today… The LORD himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”

Exodus 14:13.

            I like the way this adventure ends. God parts the sea then tells Moses “tell the people to get moving!” (Exodus 14:15) I can visualize thousands of men, women and children just standing there, gaping at the dry path through the Red Sea while, behind them, horses’ hooves pound the hard desert ground. Hundreds of chariot wheels beat the dry earth, stirring up a great cloud of dust and armor clinks as cries of “Go! Go! Go!” erupt from soldiers spurring on their horses. Pharaoh’s army is quickly closing the gap between the two camps. Yet the people are so awed by this epic event that they are frozen in place. Inconceivable!

But God does work miracles. Not always in the way we’d expect or according to the timetable we’ve set for him. He assures us that He leads each one of His precious children and is working in each one of our lives. Sometimes we can’t see Him because of all the obstacles that appear to be in the way. But God’s thoughts are different from our thoughts and His ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8). They are far greater than anything we can think or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).  

Put your hope and trust in God. Give Him your heartache, your loved-one, your finances, your health, your future. Don’t see a way out? Give your dilemma to the LORD. He loves to work jaw-dropping miracles. I know. I’ve witnessed a few of them in my own life. And I know He can and will perform miracles in your own life, if you place your trust in Him.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5