Go Forward

by Pastor Mark
August 31, 2022

 

Facing the challenges ahead

In life, we face all kinds of challenges. Some can be easily overcome. But some can be overwhelming and extremely difficult to surmount. The fear of facing great difficulties can grip us and prevent us from moving ahead.

Moses and the people of Israel faced a significant challenge when they found the Red Sea obstructing their way and Pharaoh and his chariots hot on their heels (Exodus 14). How did they respond?

The problem of overwhelming fear

What was the perspective of the people of Israel?

  1. They became fearful and negative when they saw Pharaoh’s chariots rushing toward them.
  2. They complained to Moses that he had brought them to die in the wilderness (Exodus 14:11).
  3. They said it was better to serve the Egyptians than die in the wilderness. It was an illogical statement as they had forgotten how harsh life was under the bondage of Egypt (Exodus 14:12).
  4. Fear had overwhelmed them so much that they wished they were back in Egypt.

The first challenge in facing difficulties is never to allow fear to grip us and cause us to retreat.

Stand still

What was the perspective of Moses?

  1. Moses was much more positive and focused on the Lord.
  2. He told the people not to be fearful (Exodus 14:13).
  3. They were to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord (Exodus 14:13).
  4. He told them that the Lord was going to fight for Israel and utterly destroy the Egyptians (Exodus 14:14).
  5. Moses had faith in God as he declared all these things to the people.
  6. But he did not have the full perspective of the Lord.

Going forward

What was God’s perspective?

“And the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward.”” (Exodus 14:15)

  1. God asked Moses why he was crying out to Him.
  2. He gave a great challenge to Moses…to go forward.
  3. God’s logic was different from Moses’ logic.
  4. Moses and the people should not be standing still, but rather, they should be moving ahead.
  5. Their objective was to go into the land of Canaan.
  6. It would start with taking the first steps of faith into the Red Sea.
  7. God wonderfully parted the Red Sea, and Moses and Israel walked through it (Exodus 14:21–22).
  8. He fought with great power for Israel by destroying the Egyptian chariots (Exodus 14:27).
  9. This is the principle of going forward.

Let us be challenged to go forward by faith.

The faith principle of going forward

  1. It takes faith for us to move forward even though there are tough challenges ahead.
  2. Let us cultivate a greater sense of closeness with the Lord and know He is with us.
  3. We are not alone, no matter how difficult things may be, whether at work or home.

Let us be challenged to have the faith and courage to go forward into the future.

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