Bethany Bullet - August 11, 2015

Walking through the H2Oh!

Before they set foot on the sea become dry land, the Israelites journeyed to the shore following a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night; signs of God's gracious presence.  Yet, as soon as the Sea is before them and Pharaoh's army behind them, they accuse God of abandoning them.  

The Lord in turn, as He always does, asks them to take their eyes off themselves and direct them to Him.  Stand there and behold the work of God.  As the Lord separates the waters and frees the Israelites from that which hemmed them in, the Trust and Follow, Follow and Trust.

Of course, the Exodus event is more than illustrative of our faith's experience, it is formative.  In Jesus, God has freed us from that which hemmed us in: guilt and punishment due, shame and tortured conscience, sin and Stan, death and devil.  In Christ we've escaped bondage and entered a land of promise, all because of what He did.

However, that is not all the Exodus has for us.  God who has secured our eternity still is present in the daily (even if we fail to recognize His presence). He, who has worked for our forever, will not abandon us in the momentary either!  Hence when hemmed in, whatever the cause: I do or start anew, transfer or new career, hospice or hospital, when hemmed in focus on Him and Trust and Follow, Follow and Trust.

The children of Israel trusted, it took some trust to put first foot and the place that had been wet moments before, but more and more with each step.  It is one thing when the wall of water is 6" high another when it is 6' high, 16', 60'.  Yet they trusted that God was with them, for them and in control and they followed.  The children of Israel followed where God led.  It is one thing to see the Promised Land it is another to be told it exists.  Their eyes could only see the sea; the horizon just a hallway of waves.  Yet, they followed where He led and had called them to go and trusted as He went.

When hemmed in, like them, trust and follow, follow and trust.

-Pastor Kevin Kritzer