Moses at the Red Sea

Moses fled from Egypt because he had killed an Egyptian who was mistreating a Hebrew. Forty years later, Moses made his timid return to Egypt, saying hesitantly at first, "Let My people go." In the coming days, he would say it several more times with ever increasing forcefulness. When God was finished with Pharaoh, Moses and the children of Israel headed out of the country, with as much of the wealth of Egypt as they could carry. God's divine judgment in the form of plagues had left the world's supreme power in disarray, the country in shambles. Upon arriving at the Red Sea, the Israelites discovered that Pharaoh had had a change of heart and the Egyptian army was in hot pursuit. Very quickly, the Israelites forgot the miraculous show of force, the display of sovereign might, Almighty God had displayed in systematically dismantling the gods and the economy of the nation of Egypt. God's people accused Moses of leading them out to the shores of the Red Sea so that Pharaoh's armies could slaughter them.

I would likely have tucked tail and told the ungrateful brutes that they were on their own. However, Moses, the good and faithful leader, brought their case to the Lord. The Lord gave an interesting reply, "Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the Israelites to move on." (Exodus 14:15 NIV) Moses had the petitioned the Lord, now it was time for action. Not just any action, but obedient action, moving ahead in faith, behaving as if they really believed that the Lord heard and had answered with their best interest in mind. Anything else exhibits distrust of the Lord. Move on. Move on in the face of impossible odds. Move on in the face of danger. Move on even when you cannot see how victory is possible. It is in that moment that we exhibit the faith that God desires from us.

Forget the Israelites for a minute. Let's talk about me. Why do I pray and then not expect an answer? Why do I keep on praying the same prayer over and over again and take no action? Why do I pray and then act in such a way that indicates I do not believe that I received an answer? The answer will come. It may be yes. It may be no. It may be wait. The Bible tells me that if I pray while doubting, I will be like the surf of the sea, tossed about by the wind. I must pray and "move on". Moving on is far preferable to being tossed about. I am trying to move on; this sea-sickness is killing me. How about you: Are you moving on?