Raging Seas

O.T. #171  "Raging Seas"
Nov. 18, 2013
Exodus 14-Part 3
The LORD is fighting for them against Egypt.  Exodus 14:25

LET IT GLOW

There are so many raging seas out there in life-rebellious children, marriages on the brink of divorce, illnesses and diseases, job losses and business closings, financial burdens. The list can go on. You are either in the midst experiencing it or have just survived it. Perhaps you know of someone there right now. It may be a life and death situation. Both my sister in law and sister face breast cancer. One came through two surgeries in order to remove it, while the other awaits surgery. Our church youth director has had it return for the third time, requiring extensive chemotherapy treatments. Will you please pray for my loved ones. (My husband is having a nuclear stress test to check his heart early this morning.)

Looking in chapter 14, it happened one night, the last fourth hour watch, between 2 and 6 a.m. before the sunrise. It was not an ordinary night, for millions of people experienced and saw the miraculous power of Almighty God.
We left the Egyptians camped on the dark side of the cloud near the Red Sea. God had placed a dark cloud between the Egyptians and the Israelites, who were encamped at the shore of the Red Sea. The LORD told Moses His plan and they executed it as follows:

• During that night, it remained light on the Israelites' side of the cloud, so they could see where they were going.
• Moses stretched out his hand, his rod, his staff, over the sea. (NIV verse 21)
• All that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry ground.
• The waters were divided and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.

The cloud of darkness on the Egyptians prevented the Hebrews from seeing the Egyptians so that their fear would not paralyze them. God miraculously created a path of escape through the Red Sea.
(Swindoll)

What a frightful time that the Israelites must have experienced-light at night, the Egyptian army waiting to capture them, stepping between two walls of water over their heads, and walking slowly in a crowd of 2 million people carrying your children on dry ground. It must have taken quite some time for those 2 million believers to cross over to the other side.

The crossing of the Red Sea is a type of the believer's union with Christ in death to the old life and resurrection to a whole new life. (Wiersbe)

Have you been there, sweet one? Are you facing your Red Sea, with no where to turn? Start walking forward to Jesus, and see Him part your troubled waters. His mercy will make the raging sea split open as you take Jesus' hand and you walk by faith through this problem with Him, safely getting to the other side. Give glory to your Savior.
One way or the other, friend, your safe shore is awaiting, either on earth or in heaven.

LET IT GROW

It must have been a long night for the Egyptian army and Pharaoh. Were they pacing back and forth in darkness? Was frustration and angry rage growing stronger by the minute?

How did it all end?

• When the time was right, they pursued the Israelites, Pharaoh's horses, chariots, horsemen entering into the sea.
• Then their wheels of their chariots came off so that they had difficulty driving. God did it.
• The Egyptians wanted to get away from the Israelites.
• The LORD is fighting for them (Israel) against Egypt! This realization came too late.
• As the LORD told Moses to stretch out his hand over the sea, God made the waters flow back to its place, thus not one of the Egyptians survived but drown.

Will we drown in our sea of trials and troubles, or will we walk by faith through them, and cross over on the other side? Are the waves taking you under? Hold onto just a little bit longer. Take Jesus' hand and He will help you get through this. Believe me! Trust Him!


LET IT GO

Walk by faith, not by sight.

Walk through my/our raging Red Sea by faith.

Hold onto Jesus as He holds onto me/us.

Remember that the Lord is fighting for me/you.

Look to the other side that awaits me/us.