And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baalzephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea. For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in.
Exodus 14:1
All of us face obstacles in our lives... be they physical, emotional or spiritual. What we do when we encounter those obstacles.... is what makes all the difference.
In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock.
Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, not one of them did anything about getting the stone out of the way.
Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his own burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded.
After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway.
The peasant knew what many of us never understand. Every obstacle presents an opportunity... for each of us to improve our condition... it gives us the freedom to trust where God is leading us... and it gives us hope that He will work things out for our good!
As Moses and the children of Israel were on their way to the "promise land... they faced obstacles." However... their journey led them... exactly where God was taking them... they went through a very rocky land - with huge boulders on one side and mountain on the other. Ahead of them was the Red Sea... where they would jam into a small place. Still... this is exactly where God had called them to be!
God was telling the children of Israel in Egypt, “I am taking you to a new land, trust Me!"
Pharoah on the other hand saw where they were and declared, “The Israelites are hemmed in with their backs to the wall.” Apparently, he had not learned what God could do even though... he lost his son.
Have you ever had God take you... to the last place in the world... that you would choose to be in?
Yes, Moses and the children of Israel were truly in a difficult place... but God wanted them to be there... even if they did not understand... God wanted them to know they could trust Him!! They needed to trust God... even though they felt "trapped." Sometimes God allows us to be in places that seem difficult... because He has a great plan for us. What we think of as being trapped is God's way of saying, "This situation is going to teach you to trust Me and it will also bring Me glory."
I have been in those places where I have felt "trapped!" I did not see any way out... my circumstances were so overwhelming... I wondered, "Is there any hope left for me?" It was in those very places... where I determined to take a step of faith... and say, "God, I will trust you... I will obey you... no matter the cost... no matter how difficult." It was there that I found myself on the edge of what God could do... and I saw God move mightily!
If you know the story... You know that God parted the Red Sea... and the Israelites marched on through dry land. You know why... because they were in God's plan... and He was taking them to the "promise land." God's ways are not always the way... we think life should go... but there is purpose in His plan. It is in these very "trapped" places that we truly learn to trust Him. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. Isaiah 55:8
Are you in a place where you feel "trapped" right now? This is your opportunity to say, "God, I don't see a way out... but I will trust you and I will obey you! No matter how difficult... I know you will see me through... I know you will 'part the waters' for me." Then simply trust Him... and see what God will do for you!
Exodus 14:1
All of us face obstacles in our lives... be they physical, emotional or spiritual. What we do when we encounter those obstacles.... is what makes all the difference.
In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock.
Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, not one of them did anything about getting the stone out of the way.
Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his own burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded.
After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway.
The peasant knew what many of us never understand. Every obstacle presents an opportunity... for each of us to improve our condition... it gives us the freedom to trust where God is leading us... and it gives us hope that He will work things out for our good!
As Moses and the children of Israel were on their way to the "promise land... they faced obstacles." However... their journey led them... exactly where God was taking them... they went through a very rocky land - with huge boulders on one side and mountain on the other. Ahead of them was the Red Sea... where they would jam into a small place. Still... this is exactly where God had called them to be!
God was telling the children of Israel in Egypt, “I am taking you to a new land, trust Me!"
Pharoah on the other hand saw where they were and declared, “The Israelites are hemmed in with their backs to the wall.” Apparently, he had not learned what God could do even though... he lost his son.
Have you ever had God take you... to the last place in the world... that you would choose to be in?
Yes, Moses and the children of Israel were truly in a difficult place... but God wanted them to be there... even if they did not understand... God wanted them to know they could trust Him!! They needed to trust God... even though they felt "trapped." Sometimes God allows us to be in places that seem difficult... because He has a great plan for us. What we think of as being trapped is God's way of saying, "This situation is going to teach you to trust Me and it will also bring Me glory."
I have been in those places where I have felt "trapped!" I did not see any way out... my circumstances were so overwhelming... I wondered, "Is there any hope left for me?" It was in those very places... where I determined to take a step of faith... and say, "God, I will trust you... I will obey you... no matter the cost... no matter how difficult." It was there that I found myself on the edge of what God could do... and I saw God move mightily!
If you know the story... You know that God parted the Red Sea... and the Israelites marched on through dry land. You know why... because they were in God's plan... and He was taking them to the "promise land." God's ways are not always the way... we think life should go... but there is purpose in His plan. It is in these very "trapped" places that we truly learn to trust Him. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. Isaiah 55:8
Are you in a place where you feel "trapped" right now? This is your opportunity to say, "God, I don't see a way out... but I will trust you and I will obey you! No matter how difficult... I know you will see me through... I know you will 'part the waters' for me." Then simply trust Him... and see what God will do for you!
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