-Exodus 14:13
The Israelites were stuck between a rock and a hard place. Really, they were stuck between a huge army of their captors and a vast sea of water. Here they were, on their way to the fulfillment of God's promise, and now their situation seemed all but hopeless. Surely this could not be what God had intended!
Long story short: the Israelites had been slaves in the land of Egypt for many years. God sent Moses to lead them out of Egypt and into the Promised Land of their home country. Finally, the ruler of Egypt agreed to let them go. However, soon after the Israelites left, he changed his mind and, gathering up an army of his best soldiers, went after them in hot pursuit.
When the Israelites saw the approaching Egyptians and realized they were trapped between Pharaoh's army and the Red Sea, they complained to Moses, "It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!" Can you relate? I sure can. In fact, I caught myself thinking along the same lines not too long ago. God told me to do something. I stepped out in faith. Now, I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. Impossible situations surround me on all sides. Surely this can't be what God intended?
What the Israelites saw as hopeless, was actually God-ordained.If you read the beginning of Exodus 14, God tells Moses exactly where to set up camp. In fact, God told them to "turn back" and "encamp by the sea". He even had them turn back instead of continue to move forward. You see, the Israelites were right where God wanted them...in a place where only He could help them. Only He could deliver them.
Only God could get the glory.So how does it end? God parted the waters of the Red Sea and the Israelites walked to the other side on dry ground. As Pharaoh and his men pursued them into the parted sea, God released the waters and all of the Egyptian army were lost. God had delivered His people out of an impossible situation.
Many people have faced discouraging and impossible circumstances and dead-ends while following the will of God. But it was exactly where He wanted them. Don't give up prematurely! Just because something APPEARS to be hopeless doesn't mean that it is. It isn't over until God says it's over. He has the final say.
