infuse - Crossing Your Personal Red Sea

Email article to a friend. Crossing Your Personal Red Sea By Ruth Kerr How do the adventures of ancient nomads help you today, in the 21st century? The answer may surprise you. The Churches of God spend a lot of time focusing on the Exodus account this time of year. But how is the Exodus – and the crossing of the Red Sea – relevant to you, today? After all, the Exodus was over 3,000 years ago. Why should you care about it now? One reason is the Bible says the ancient Israelites faced trials as examples for us (I Corinthians 10:6). “Big deal,” you might say. “Examples of what? How does a bunch of ancient people crossing the Red Sea help me when my parents are getting divorced? Or when I watch my best friend become more involved with drugs? What do those Israelites have to do with my life?” In short, everything. First, let’s establish two facts. The Bible tells us: God knows the number of hairs on your head (Matthew 10:30). If God knows how many hairs you have, He knows you by name. He knows your interests, what makes you laugh and the burdens you carry. God looks after everyone – even simple wildflowers that live only a few months during the summer (Matthew 6:28). He makes sure these flowers have everything they need to live out their meager four-to-six-month lifespan. If God can provide such care for a plant, how much more is He willing to care for you? God may not change an “F” to a “B” on a chemistry test, and He may not return lost books to the library, but He is willing to help you through some of the toughest trials of your life. How can you know this? He’s already proven it to you – by leading ancient Israel through the Red Sea.
In his book “The Red Sea Rules: 10 God-Given Strategies for Difficult Times” (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2001), author Robert J. Morgan lists 10 valuable lessons God gave Israel during one of their darkest hours. These are lessons we can draw upon when we’re facing a Red Sea crisis of our own. For example, Morgan’s first lesson is: “Realize God means for you to be where you are.” God knows your family life is in turmoil or that your best friend is in trouble. Remember, if He knows you by name, He knows your worries. He may not solve the situation immediately, but He may have a purpose in letting you “sweat it out” for a bit. After all, if it were easy to cross the Red Sea, would it be obvious to the Israelites that God intervened? Moses told them, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today” (Exodus 14:13). When the Israelites saw the sea disappear, and then re-appear to swallow Pharaoh’s army, they had no doubt it was God who saved them (Exodus 14:31).	The Red Sea Rules Realize that God means for you to be where you are. (Ex. 14:1-2) Be more concerned for God’s glory than for your relief. (Ex. 14:3-4) Acknowledge your enemy, but keep your eyes on the Lord. (Ex. 14:5-9) Pray! (Ex. 14:10) Stay calm and confident, and give God time to work. (Ex. 14:13-14) When unsure, just take the next logical step by faith. (Ex. 14:15) Envision God’s enveloping presence. (Ex. 14:19-20) Trust God to deliver in His own unique way. (Ex. 14:21-22) View your current crisis as a faith builder for the future. (Ex. 14:30-31) Don’t forget to praise Him. (Ex. 15:1-2) The Red Sea Rules: 10 God-Given Stratefgies for Difficult Times by Robert J. Morgan, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2001.
God is prepared to do the same for you, if you will let Him. Who knows how God may act on your behalf? But if He chooses not to act, it doesn’t mean He’s ignoring you or He doesn’t care about you. If He doesn’t remove your trials, He will lead you through them. After all, the Israelites still had to walk across the Red Sea. God didn’t magically transport them to the other side. Morgan’s Rule #8 is: “Trust God to deliver in His own unique way.” Sometimes our times of crisis are opportunities for God to reveal Himself strong on our behalf. Oddly enough, this is one of the meanings behind the unleavened bread we eat during this time of year. “Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days [said Moses to the Israelites]. ... It shall be as a sign to you... for with a strong hand the Lord has brought you out of Egypt” (Exodus 13:7-9). You can bet your Red Sea crisis will make you stronger, too. Morgan’s Rule #9 states: “View your current crisis as a faith builder for the future.” You may not feel strong when things seem to be getting worse and you think you can’t face another day. But God knows how much you can take and He promises He won’t give you more than you can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13). As grim as it sounds, sometimes we can withstand more than we think we can! In times like this, it helps to remember what holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl observed: “God does not waste suffering.” Ask God to show you the way through your personal Red Sea. (Rule #4: Pray!) God found a way for the Israelites, and He will surely find a way for you. i