07-12-98 ....."Between a rock and a hard place."..... Exodus 14

by Ronald E. George Jr.

Here is a modern version of the old account of Moses' crossing of the Red Sea.

As Moses got to the Red Sea with the Egyptians right behind him, God said, "I have some good news and some bad news." He said, "The good news is the waters will be parted and the land will be dry; you and the Israelites can walk across safely to the other side. The Egyptians are all going to follow; they will all be drowned. That's the good news, Moses. The bad news is first you must file an environmental impact report."

Moses’ example: Everyone must follow the Lord, Everyone must serve the Lord, Everyone must go with the Lord if we are to go.

Purpose: is to encourage the people to trust in the Lord and show that trust by moving on in their life with the Lord. (Put your hand in the hand of the man who stills the water. Put your hand in the hand of the man who calms the sea.)

Key verse: 15 And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:

Let's Go!

Scripture Text: Exodus 14:5-15

Exod 14:5 (NIV) When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, "What have we done? We have let the Israelites go and have lost their services!" 6 So he had his chariot made ready and took his army with him. 7 He took six hundred of the best chariots, along with all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers over all of them. 8 The LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out boldly. 9 The Egyptians--all Pharaoh's horses and chariots, horsemen and troops--pursued the Israelites and overtook them as they camped by the sea near Pi Hahiroth, opposite Baal Zephon. 10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the LORD. 11 They said to Moses, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Didn't we say to you in Egypt, `Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians'? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!" 13 Moses answered the people, "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. 14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." 15 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on.

  1. The Red Sea of Despair:

The Problem: We can’t save ourselves. You are caught between death and dying. You can’t save yourself. You are in an impossible situation at home or on the job. You have tried everything. You can’t save yourself. Some people at school are turning against you and you don’t know what to do. You can’t save yourself. You haven’t made any growth in your Christian life for some time now and you would like to know what is the best decision you can make. You want to move on, but where? You can’t save yourself, because you don’t know how. It seems like your life is going nowhere fast and you can’t stop the feelings of helplessness that you feel. You think you are going under for the last time. What should you do now? You can’t save yourself. You have been trying for years to get your friends, neighbors, and family to serve the Lord with you, but it seems like that every thing you try has back fired and you have a deep burden for them. You can’t save them. You need a miracle in your life. You would like to be baptized, but you are afraid to go forward. You would like to join the church or go forward and pray but you are worried what your friends will say. You can’t help yourself. Every decision that you make seems to be the worst one.

II. The Red Sea of Decision:

The choices:

  1. Turn and fight the Egyptians and surely die. This would constitute what we do when we try to fight our battles or solve our problems on our own. We can’t overcome the odds against us.
  2. Go back and return to the land of Egypt and become slaves again to the old ways we once lived in. Forget about God give up and go back.
  3. Stand there and not decide at all but try to continue to straddle the fence. In the land of indecision there is certain death.
  4. Complain that we wish that we had stayed in the land. Have a pity party. Oh me, poor me. I am doomed.
  5. Pray to the Lord and ask for his direction and for his help. This was the decision that Moses made when he called out on the Lord. This is a decision that shows your reliance on the Lord and dependence on the wisdom and strength that comes from the Lord that is available to all those that believe and depend on Him.
  6. Keep going into the Red Sea and swim for it. How good are you at swimming. Trying to save yourself is like trying to swim from the United States to England. It is an impossible task. You need a Lifeboat. You need a LifeSaver. We need a Savior.
  7. Commit yourself to God and to the way of life that he has planned for you. He wants the best for his children. Accepting his plan is accepting him.

Jere 29:11 (NIV) For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Roma 8:28 (KJS) And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.

III. The Red Sea of Destiny

The Solution:

Exod 14:13 (KJS) And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. 14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. 15 And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:

  1. Look for the Lord. Look to the Lord for your help and strength. Depend on Him. Has he ever let you down or not shown up when you need Him. The Lord has never left you alone and he never will.
  2. Listen to the Word of the Lord. The preacher and Moses will let you down, but when the Word of the Lord speaks it will never tell you wrong even though you may feel that it isn’t the right thing or the smart thing. God’s ways are not your ways and we can’t begin to understand his will, but we are to follow if we want to be delivered by Him. (e. g. David didn’t use human wisdom to defeat the Giant. The three Hebrew children who were thrown into the fiery furnace didn’t think that not bowing was the smart thing to do, but it was the best thing to do.)
  3. Launch out and Move on out with the Lord. It is time to go on in your commitment to God to experience the blessings and miracles that God wants to bring into your life. There are people who will be influenced by your decision to follow the Lord. The Red Sea of despair will be pushed back by the wind of the power of the Holy Spirit that will work in your behalf. God will make a way for your life and for your death. God will use you to minister/serve others that need guiding hand in their life. Pharaoh wants to take us back to the old life but now you stand on the edge the Red Sea of decision. Will you go forward or will you go back? You can’t continue to stand in the middle.

Invitation: Will you go forward with the Lord today? Where do you want to go today? Move on with the Lord as your guide. He will part the red sea of despair