The Book of Exodus records the nation of Israel’s birth. It tells of God’s people fleeing Egypt and it is the most epic rescue story of the Old Testament. The Psalms have verse after verse saying such. But as important as it is for us to remember the exciting history of the Exodus, it’s not just exciting history, or Old Testament redemption. It is a divine revelation from God in His complete and inerrant Word meant for our edification so that we may grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (as it says in 2 Peter 3:18).
The Apostle Paul stressed this very thing in 1 Corinthians chapter 10 where Paul emphasizes the importance of contemplating the events of the Exodus. Paul wrote that the whole exodus experience happened for believers in all of history; that it was written down for our instruction, teaching us about Christ. It also teaches us how NOT to respond to overwhelming circumstances.
When the Egyptians were marching toward the Israelites, they became desperately afraid, panicked. They cried out as it is written in Exodus 14:12… “Then they said to Moses, Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” They were complaining that the situation was too hard and they wanted to take the easy way out; they seriously thought it would have been better to go back to being slaves of Egypt. But Moses said to the people in the next two verses, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” Dear Ones, when we’re overwhelmed and ready to give up on fighting to respond to situations God’s way, as revealed in His Word, we must remember that God has already won the battle by Jesus’s ultimate act of redemption on The Cross. We need only to surrender to His Lordship, repent of our unbelief, and walk in boldness of faith in Christ.
Questions to Ask Yourself:
- Where in your life have you felt overwhelmed and ready to give up, opt for an easier route, or go back to an old way of living that kept you enslaved to the world rather than to Christ your Redeemer?
- What will you ask God to help you put your trust in Him for, knowing that Jesus already gained the victory of our battles by living a perfectly sinless life, suffered and died then rose again to give you His strength to endure and hope for a future?
Let’s Pray:
O Heavenly Father, we are in awe of your plan of redemption of us that you ordained before the foundation of the world. Thank you for the richness of your Word which we believe is breathed onto its pages by The Holy Spirit. Thank you for your Son, Jesus, who by living a spotless life and taking on your full wrath on The Cross, delivered us from the slavery of Sin and conquered death for all who receive that gift through faith alone. Lord, help us in the times when we forget your promises, your goodness, and your sovereignty. Grant us repentance of any unbelief or pride when we complain that our circumstances are too difficult and the allure of going back to old ways seems too easy to deny. Empower us to deny ourselves and take up our cross to follow you, Jesus. We don’t want our preferences, we want you and your will – to live in holiness and purity of heart towards you; to trust you more fully and surrender to your Lordship. Have mercy and set our minds on righteousness, on Jesus. And it’s His righteousness that we present when we say… amen.