Trusting God Through Challenges

Date: Thursday, January 22, 2015
Chapters: Exodus 13-15
Message Title: Trusting God Through Challenges

Hello My Friend, 

The word fight is defined as a battle or combat, to uphold or maintain, a will to resist. As Christians we are in a constant fight, a battle to maintain the good character that God has created in us. Think about it, if it is not people it is possessions, if it is not possessions it is careers, if it is not careers it is money, we are in constant battle with something that the world has to offer to keep ourselves right with God. God has given us everything on this earth to enjoy, He will gladly give it to us if we just have faith, trust Him, and stop fighting Him over the things we think we need. We can have a career, a family, anything that our hearts desire, as long as we seek first the Kingdom of God and let God do the fighting for us. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” - Matthew 6:33.

The Israelites were free, for the first time in over four hundred years they headed for the promised land, they had no idea how they would get there, but they had the best guide of the land, God.Before they departed God left a message and instructions on remembering the day they were set free. “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine. And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten. And thou shalt shew thy son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the LORD did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt. And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the LORD'S law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt. Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in his season from year to year.” - Exodus 13:1-3,8-10.

The Israelites were to do this in remembrance of the destruction of the first-born of Egypt, God required that all first born of man and beast be set apart for Him. Being ransomed from death, they were also to consider their lives to be consecrated to the service of God. Just as they were to keep in remembrance the day they were saved from death, every Christian is to keep in remembrance of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, for in it we are saved from death. “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” - Romans 6:4-6.

The Israelites were finally on their way to the promised land, right above them was a cloud, it was their guide day and night, and in it was none other than God Himself. While He could have sent them in another direction, He chose to make it a little more challenging. He led them to the Red Sea, and to make it more interesting, He let Pharaoh send his troops after them. “Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baalzephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea. For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in. And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD. And they did so. And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an high hand. But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon. And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD. And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?” - Exodus 14:2-4,8-11.

While the Israelites did cry out to God, they still complained to Moses. We must realize that part of being a Christian involves challenges where God will test our faith in Him, He will sometimes make those challenges so difficult that our only option is to come to Him. Why does He do this? He wants us to trust only Him. If we have any other route, we may choose that and forget what He did for us. Also, He wants to get the glory for all that He does in our lives. Whether we realize it or not, we tend to leave God out of the picture when things are a little easy for us. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” - Romans 8:28.

As they were complaining, God miraculously parted the Red Sea and allowed the Israelites to walk right through a path, and it was as dry as the land. He not only made a way for the Israelites to escape, He caused all the Egyptians going after them to drown once they made it safely across. “And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; 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. And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians, And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians. And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.” - Exodus 14:21-25,27,28.

Even the Egyptians knew that God was fighting for the Israelites, they headed back for safety, but the waters gave up on them and they all drowned. Isn't amazing that unbelievers know the hand of God more than we do? Well, perhaps it wasn't that they did not have faith in God, perhaps it was that they just wanted Him to hand everything to them. Ninety-nine percent of the people who get saved and walk away from God do so because they expect all their problems to disappear once they get saved. God does have the power to change our lives and situation, and when we let Christ live in and through us, He really does do that, but the only way we can see Him work in our lives is to let Him work in it. We have no one to blame but ourselves for the suffering we face if we have intention of removing any of the sinful things that bring it in the first place. Even Satan believes in God, but it is not enough to believe in Him that saves us. We must do what we can physically do to see Him work in our lives. “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” - James 2:14,18-20.

After the Israelites saw the Egyptians drown they rejoiced and began singing, dancing, and praising God, they dedicated a song to God. “Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him. The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name. Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea. The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone. Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.” - Exodus 15:1-6.

God does not want to see us suffer, but the truth is, unless we face some suffering we tend to forget that He is right there above us, watching over us, and fighting for us. It is time that we all stop and think about what God has given us, and the miraculous things that He has done for us, not only through our suffering, but even when things are going well too. WE NEED NOT WORRY ABOUT TOMMORROW JUST PUT OUR FAITH IN GOD. “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” - 1 Timothy 6:11,12. 

Today's Prayer: God, we do not have to fear the present nor the future when we place our complete confidence in You and recognize that Your plans prevail. Daily we make our plans but we know that You have the final say.  Help us to find comfort in You for the circumstances of life that throw us for a curve, knowing all the while, that You will supply us with the needed resources and spiritual support that leads us to victory so that we can truly proclaim from the depths of our hearts, “All is well, with my God!” In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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