Last Sunday at church we discussed Exodus 14, when the Israelites cross the Red Sea. We covered quite a bit, but one thing in particular stood out to me as applicable to my own life.
The chapter revealed, among many other things, what the character of the Israelites is, and what the character of God was, is, and always will be.
You can see the sequence of their self-trust:
In verse eight, the Israelites go out defiantly (boldly) from Egypt. They are confident in their escape. They have the treasure from the Egyptians. They feel pretty good about themselves.
Meanwhile, the Egyptians pursue them. In verse ten, the Israelites see the enemy. Their gloating stops. They see the physical threat, and they fear greatly. They are terrified. Their immediate response to seeing the Egyptians is basically, "we're going to die" (verse twelve). All of their boldness has flown away in the face of the great Egyptian army. They cry out to the Lord and complain to Moses.
What struck me particularly is found in verse fifteen. God says, "why do you cry to me?"
Why do you cry to God? Do you trust Him? Do I trust Him?
He hasn't changed. He is the same as He was when you went out defiantly. He is the same God whether you are bold or fearful.
I know that when things are going "well", I tend to neglect prayer and reading of God's Word. I tend to be bold in my own self. Change in circumstances reveals just how fickle we really are. We see nothing wrong, and we are bold. We see a looming threat, and we are afraid, and certain that we are goners.
It seems that when my situation is bad, I think that God has suddenly changed His character. I know theologically that He does not change, but I act like He does.
It's a reminder of how faithful God is, even when we are not. When I say, "I'm dead! I'm dead! I can't live through this!", God says, "you don't have to do anything. Be still and know that I am God."
He has accomplished my salvation. He has brought me and will bring me through every trial, for my good.
"Why do you cry to me?" I should rather trust in Him, knowing that He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is as good in bad circumstances as He is in good circumstances. Praise Him! Trust Him!
I LOVE this sentence!
ReplyDelete"He has accomplished my salvation. He has brought me and will bring me through every trial, for my good."
We should cry out, but with praise and thanksgiving that God is doing what He promised He would do!! What a comfort to know that everything is a blessing, even if at the time we don't want to receive it humbly.
I know exactly what you are saying. I find myself doing the same thing: when things are going well I start to trust in myself, far too quickly. And God gently (sometimes not gently) redirects me back to Him, and I bang my head against the wall at my dullness. And marvel that He never gives up on me.
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