The sharp sting of the wind whipping off the sea caused a chill to run from the top of their heads to the bottom of their toes. The constant hum of charging chariots filled their hearts with terror. The people cried out with complaints and questions. The Red Sea sat before them and Pharaoh’s armies closed in behind them.
Mothers gripped their children in fear. Some of the men banded together, ready to go down fighting while others said silent prayers, hoping that their lives would be spared.
What they didn’t know is they were positioned for a miracle.
Although we know how the story ends – the Israelites cross the Red Sea to safety and Pharaoh’s armies are destroyed – imagine this scenario from the Israelites’ perspective. You just left the only land you’ve ever known, and your future looks extremely bleak because all you see is an expansive body of water. It’s deep, choppy and wide. You don’t have the right equipment to get across and your swimming skills, even at their best, cannot save you.
Behind you is your past. A harsh life full of toil and hardship. It was a relentless, grueling, desolate past that you prayed and cried to be saved from.
At this time, the people of Israel had a choice.
And so do you.
You are currently in a situation and you can’t help but wonder, how did I get here? You have been praying about a new job for so long. You know there is more out there, yet- God has you here. Your boss seems to disregard or second-guess everything you say. You want to make more money and feel like you deserve it. However, every time you pray about it, God tells you to be still and that’s it. You recently heard that your old position just opened back up.
You have a choice.
Some of you having been walking this single and abstinent road for a while now. Your phone is extra dry and it appears as if everyone else is boo’d up. It feels like no one is checking for you and all you want is some attention or to feel special. You get a late-night text from your ex that reads, “you up?”
You have a choice.
You can either look at your current circumstance and believe God has you exactly where you need to be, or you can surrender to your past because it’s familiar and comfortable.
The Israelites had no idea God had strategically placed them between the Red Sea and Pharaoh’s armies. They did not have insight into His plan to harden Pharaoh’s heart so he would chase after the Israelites and God could show Himself strong.
It’s hard to imagine that any difficulty we face could be God-ordained. Why would God strategically place us between a rock and a hard place? Why does hardship precede breakthrough?
If you’ve ever asked this question, you’re not alone. However, you must remember His ways are not your ways and His thoughts are not your thoughts (Isaiah 55:8). God hardened Pharaoh’s heart to cause him to blindly charge after the Israelites into the Red Sea and into his destruction. God permanently removed the biggest enemy of the Israelites to position them for greatness in their future. And He’s doing the same for you.
He is positioning you to build endurance and experience in your current role because the next level He is taking you to will have greater challenges. He wants to equip you with the perseverance to withstand the difficulty, so you exceed the roles and responsibilities given to you without complaining. Your new leader values people who do exceptional work with a good attitude and will take notice and promote you even further than what you are qualified for simply based on how you work.
He has left you in your single season longer than you prefer because he needs you to develop patience and personal contentment. Your spouse is an imperfect person and will get on your nerves. He doesn’t want you to jump ship and get divorced because He knows the impact divorce would have on your self-esteem and the ability to open your heart again. Therefore, He has you in a place where you find contentment in the small, everyday things to keep you from looking to a spouse to provide your happiness. Once you realize happiness is not based on another person, you are willing to work within your God-given marriage. Your union is going to be an example of covenant to a future generation that needs to see the value in it. Connecting you with your spouse is also going to break generational curses for your future children.
Again, you have a choice. You can choose to surrender to your past comforts and become a slave again. Or you can brave the unknown road of faith ahead and walk in freedom.
God opened up the Red Sea and kept everyone safe, even with the enemy’s pursuit. He showed Himself strong and reminded them that He is in control of all things, even the elements of the earth.
He’ll show you the same strength because He doesn’t show partiality. If He did it for them, He’ll do it for you. Just trust Him. Don’t let your past run after you and play off of your fear. Instead, turn to God for direction, guidance, and provision. He’ll never let you down.
