ADVANCE

And the LORD said to Moses, “Why do you dry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it…” – Exodus 14: 15-16a

What do you do when your back is against the wall and there is no where else to face than forward? Fight or flight? Resist or try to run? Even forward looks impossible! That was the situation that Moses faced, leading millions of Jews out of Egyptian slavery. The armies of Egypt, perhaps the most technologically equipped fighting force of those days, were in hot pursuit to track down their escaping slaves. The people of Israel were hedged in by mountains on both sides. Before them was the intimidating barrier – the Red Sea. With no visible way of escape, they seemed to have been led into an absolute trap. Their liberty appeared to be short-lived. With the fast approaching horses’ hooves pounding the dirt, the Israelites cried out in fear, railing against Moses for bringing them into the wilderness to die, rather than be properly buried in Egypt. They began to reason as though God was not in the picture; already seeing themselves as mince meat for the Egyptians.

The Israelites had experienced miracles in quick succession, and had plenty of evidence to convince them that the LORD was for them so it mattered not that Egypt was against them. However, as soon as they saw the dust of Pharaoh’s chariots, they immediately assumed the worst – that Pharaoh’s army would slay them and leave them to rot in the wilderness. They cried out to Jehovah in fear rather than in faith (v. 10). They lashed out at Moses, whom they perceived as the architect of the impending disaster and destruction (v.11a). In the midst of the chaos and panic, Moses’ summed up courage to stir up the people’s confidence in Jehovah’s Deliverance Power: “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for your today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever” (V.13). They were to: “Stand, See, and Be at Peace”! Powerful prophetic declaration, yet God was not fully impressed.

Truly, He was about to fight for them without them lifting a finger, but this was not a time to stand still, wait or watch; it was a time to ADVANCE, to move forward, and to thrust into the seemingly impossible future! It was not the season for “sermonizing.” Therefore, God’s motivating Command boomed: “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to GO FORWARD” (v.15). Israel did not realise these truths, that: “When your life is led by God, every situation He leads you into, He will also lead you out”; and “When God is all you have, you will find that God is all you need.” That is: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom.8:31b). God was present to do for them what they couldn’t do for themselves – Make a way where there was no way. But what they could do was to ADVANCE! He therefore told Moses: “Quit praying and get people moving! Forward march!” (Ex.14:15 TLB).

Alas, the sea had not yet parted, nor had He yet revealed that it would be parted. There was not yet any path forward, and Pharaoh’s army was swiftly approaching from their rear. There was nowhere for the Israelites to go. They were trapped, and there was no way out – no exit – no hope…except in God! The God of Salvation that rescued the Israelites at the edge of the Red Sea has rescued you from every threatening enemy and every barrier standing against your destiny’s pathway. He is motivating you to “go forward” even if it doesn’t look like there is a way! You must begin to see His salvation with the eyes of faith (Heb. 11:1). It is time to MOVE FORWARD even if no pathway seems to exist. He says, “…I will even make a way in the wilderness…” (Isa.43:19). ADVANCE!