it’s time to move forward — revisit.

Happy Wednesday, friend!! 

I don’t know where you live, but it is officially winter here in the South! 

This week, I wanted to share an older post that’s been on my heart to revisit. 

Enjoy!

Taking leaps of faith is hard. Have you ever found yourself praying for something for months, maybe even years, and when you finally take the leap, it looks almost nothing like you thought it would? As a matter of fact, it almost seems as if what you came out of is better than where you are now?

This morning I was reading Exodus 14. I love verses 13-14. The trusty verses of, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm, and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” 

These are great verses, but it’s verses 15-20 that ministered to me today. 

In this story, the Israelites had been in bondage for over 400 years. God handpicked Moses to deliver them from the Egyptians into the land of freedom. During their journey, they arrive at an obstacle.

A MASSIVE obstacle. 

The Red Sea.

I don’t know if you’ve ever tried to outrun someone, but I think if I got to the Atlantic Ocean and were looking to cross by foot, this would be the moment that I would begin freaking out.

As if the Red Sea problem in front of the Egyptians was not enough, they also had their former captors, the Egyptians, approaching them from the rear.

Naturally, “the Israelites were exceedingly frightened and cried out to the Lord. And they said to Moses, ‘Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you treated us this way and brought us out of Egypt?’” (v. 10-11)

Maybe you’ve felt the same way the Egyptians felt.

Maybe there’s a part of you that’s a little mad or bitter about where you are, and you’re wondering if you were led to this place to die in the wilderness.

 Friend, I believe that God is saying to you, today, what He said to Moses.

15 “The Lord said to Moses, ‘Why do you cry out to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward.”

1. The Lord is asking us today, in the sweetest tone, “Why are you of little faith, child? Have you come all this way to the edge only to be frozen in fear? I’ve created the provision for you. I know what the circumstance looks like. I’m with you. Step out. Move forward.”

16 “Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground.” 

2. What is currently in your hand that can help you to start? He will bless the works of your hands, even if you don’t think it’s significant. “Do not despise the day of small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin” (Zechariah 4:10). Not only will He create the miracle with what you already have, but because of your obedience, He will use you to pave the way for the people who will come behind you.

18 “And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”

3. Some people have seen moves of God, yet they don’t believe. Unbelievers are watching you, & in the end, they’ll know the true living God.

19-20 “Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel..... and it lit up the night without one coming near the other.”

4. The LORD is saying to each of us today, “I am coming up the rear, guarding you against your enemies. I am the barrier between what I’ve promised you and what is trying to hold you back. There is nothing to fear. I will light the way. Keep moving forward.”

Friend, you have not been abandoned in your circumstance.

You are not a victim to the wilderness.

The Holy Spirit is with you, and you have victory. 

God is parting the Red Seas in your life,

and it’s time to move forward.