Forward in faith

As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and saw them— Egyptians! Coming at them! They were totally afraid. They cried out in terror to GOD. They told Moses, "Weren't the cemeteries large enough in Egypt so that you had to take us out here in the wilderness to die? What have you done to us, taking us out of Egypt? Back in Egypt didn't we tell you this would happen? Didn't we tell you, 'Leave us alone here in Egypt—we're better off as slaves in Egypt than as corpses in the wilderness.'" Exodus 14:11 (The Message)

When things look their worst it is so easy to lose hope. The Israelites had just witnessed ten of the greatest plagues/miracles written about in the Old Testament which lead directly to their release from bondage at the hands of cruel Egyptian task masters. But even then they had so little faith at times that they were more afraid of the unknown wilderness in front of them than the known horrors behind them.

Sometimes my own wilderness seems so overwhelming that my life before Christ began to lead my life rather than just occupy space in it looks attractive. Things were so much simpler then. All that mattered was making more bricks. Now that I’ve left the bondage of sin to the freedom in Christ, the way is less specific; there are new challenges daily and new paths to decide upon. And even though I know that my needs will be met there is sometimes that gnawing question about which way to go forward or backward, part of the freedom that I have.

What kept the Israelites going, what keeps me going? One simple word, Faith. Faith that God has something great planned for me if I follow the Spirit. All the saints before me, whether they were wandering in a seemingly endless desert or marching around and impenetrable walled city behind priests blowing horns, felt the same call, move forward in Faith. God’s plan is for us to follow in faith, “God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be make perfect.” Hebrews 11:39

Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.

Jerry M. Gill

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