God of Miracles!

As my family and I have walked through this difficult season, God has been gracious enough to teach and show me many things. It's been in this storm season that I realized I thought I knew Him, but now I'm really just truly getting to know Him. Nothing stirs your roots in Christ quite like difficult trials. In trials, you can let your roots grow deeper and stronger. Or you can do the opposite and turn away, cut yourself off, and try to go at it alone. Since I've opted for the first option, I've come to realize certain truths or patterns pertaining to our need of a miracle and deliverance. I've pitched a tent lately in Exodus 14. In Exodus 14 the Israelites were in need of a miracle. I’m going to share a few points God has been speaking to me about this portion of scripture.

God sometimes detours us to the wilderness.

In the first two verses, God tells the Israelites to detour to the wilderness. This seems like such a weird request. Why would God do that? The Israelites finally have broken free of generations of slavery. They know the promised land is their destination, but now He's asking them to pitch a tent in a seemingly barren place.

First, let's look at what the wilderness is and represents. The Oxford dictionary describes the wilderness as "uncultivated, uninhabited, and an inhospitable region. A neglected or abandoned area." The location of this particular wilderness Pi-hahiroth, actually required the Israelites to back track to get there. Sometimes it seems God has us take steps backwards instead of forward. Sometimes it feels like the progress we’ve made gets erased. It may seem as though God has us go back towards where we’re trying to escape from. But it's oftentimes in the wilderness, where we find God's presence the strongest and obtain what we need for the next part of our journey.

In the wilderness Moses encountered the burning bush. (Exodus 3) In the wilderness is where Moses had his life changing encounter with God. In the wilderness is where he yielded to God's plan for his life. In the wilderness is where Moses's purpose was put back on track. Before that, Moses had killed an Egyptian and fled from his old life. This included not only the riches of being Pharaoh’s daughter's son, but also on his Israeli heritage and people. He started a new life getting married and starting a family. In effect, Moses made his own detour. Now God finally brought him to his wilderness detour moment and Moses was never the same.

In Exodus 14:4, God reveals why the Israelites needed to go back to the wilderness. He would show the Egyptians once and for all who He was. He would display His glory and power. God was using the wilderness to deliver a message to the nation of Egypt that He is the true God.

God may take us through the wilderness to prove Himself to others. People will see you going through lengthy trials, and periods of time where it seems like nothing is happening. There may be periods of time where it may even look like you've pitched your tent with the wrong thing or in the wrong area, but suddenly God shows up! Going through the wilderness is an opportunity for unbelievers and believers to see God's glory. When they see God show up in your wilderness there will be no doubt about His power and abilities. There will be no question that only God could have brought you through that situation. Due to this, it becomes vital how we respond in our wilderness season. Our response will draw people to God or away from Him. God wants to use our wilderness to draw His children back to Him in repentance and/or to deepen their relationship with Him.

The enemy may be allowed to catch up with you.

As the Israelites were detoured by God to the wilderness the Bible says they camped there. (verses 1,2) They actually stayed put so the Egyptians could find them. That would not be my strategy or what I would want God to do to me, but I realize many times it's what He does. Yet, it’s crucial to take this important distinction away. The enemy may be allowed to follow you, catch up with you, but will not be able to overtake you.

We do have a true enemy, the devil and his demons. However the bible has lots to say about his power and his abilities over us. In Luke 10:19 Jesus says "Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.” Jesus spoke that to the disciples, but it is for us today because we have become His disciples. Ephesians 6:11 says “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” And way back in Genesis 3:15 after man fell, God spoke satan’s fate. “ …Her offspring will crush your head, and you will bite her offspring's heel.” referencing Jesus’ once and for all victory. As believers we partake in that victory. Satan may be able to afflict our “heel”, but we ultimately crush his head!

Satan is foolish enough to think he can defeat us, However, we can be foolish enough at times to believe that too. This scenario of satan thinking he can overtake us makes me think of the song “He turned it” by Tye Tribbett. The bridge goes:

The devil thought he (had me)

Thought that my life was (over)

He thought that I would (give up)

He thought that I had (no more)

But that's when someone (greater)

Stepped in my (situation)

My morning now has begun....

HE TURNED IT!

Satan thought he could take the Israelites. As they fled and came to the Red Sea, he thought he had them cornered. He thought they’d give up and go back to their bondage. But then God stepped into their situation! He turned it! This leads me to my last point.

Miracles and deliverance do not come at convenient times. Miracles and deliverance come at the opportune time.

Exodus 14:10 says “'As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the Lord ,” There are times when it looks like we’re finished. It’s a done deal. We’re through. But as a friend Laurie Bolton spoke to me this week, “Miracles happen when miracles are needed.” The Israelites needed a miracle because they were trapped now in a life or death situation. That is when God stepped in. God had Moses use his staff to part the Red Sea allowing a means of escape and ultimate deliverance. However, there is a key secondary point I recently came across in this story of the Red Sea.

The Egyptians were able to follow the Israelites through the Red Sea and it wasn’t until right before dawn God finally destroyed their enemy once and for all. (verses 23-31) That means the Israelites endured a night of the Egyptians pursuing them through the Red Sea, in the midst of the miracle. Even though God is presently and actively delivering you, your enemy may still be following you. Even though God is presently bringing you into and through a miracle you may have to weather through a period of darkness. The reassuring part to this is that God is right there with you. He has assured us He will never leave us or forsake us (Duet 31:6, Heb 13:5). When Meshach Shadrach and Abednego were in the fiery furnace there was a 4th man seen with them. (Dan 3) God is right there with you at your darkest moments.

The passage goes on to say God caused right before dawn, the Egyptians to go into a state of confusion. Their wheels on their chariots twisted leaving them stranded in that dry ground of the Red Sea. (vs 24,25) Once all the Israelites reached the other side safely, Moses raised his hand over the sea and the waters went back. All their pursuers that followed them into the sea were killed. This all happened as the sun began to rise. It’s no mistake that the times of day are placed in this passage. They were delivered as the sun rose. The sun will rise on your situation! God will complete the miracle. He won’t leave you stranded and let the waters overtake you.

Another song that is relevant to this is “Hold out” by New Direction. There’s a line that says “The sun is gonna shine if I hold out”. I’ve been holding onto that line through the end of this season I’m in. I need to hold out. The bridge in that same song says:

Weeping may endure for a night.

Trouble don't last always;

Joy comes in the morning.

Just wait 'til the morning.

Pressing through and holding on while God delivers you doesn’t mean there won’t be tears. The presence of tears doesn’t mean the absence of faith. It doesn’t mean there won’t be pain or intense emotions. However, if we hold out we will make it through.

Today you may be approaching or are in the wilderness. Today you may be approaching or are in the middle of the Red Sea. No matter what position you are in, know that the God you serve has the power to deliver you. Take hold of God and embrace your wilderness season. In the wilderness is where we can often hear God the clearest. It’s where He equips us for the next leg of the journey. It’s also through our wilderness testimony people can be drawn to God. If the Red Sea is where you’re at, hold on for the sun to come. Cling to God in the darkness as your enemy thinks he’s gained the upper hand. Eventually as the sun shines, your enemy will be no more. You will make it to the other side. You will reach the dry land. The sun is gonna shine if you hold out!