Water in their face and Pharaoh at their back... But God.

     I woke up this morning and my heart was so heavy, I felt a bit like the children of Israel standing at the brink of the Red Sea. The waves ahead  seemed so high and yet they were right smack dab in the middle of the rescue. I wonder when they were facing the waves and feeling the spray of water on their faces if they thought back to the morning that they were packing up their belongings, unleavened bread and all. Were they remembering what an incredulous feeling it was to actually be leaving Egypt? They didn't just leave with the clothes on their back, in fact scripture tells us they plundered Egypt. The Lord had given them favor in the eyes of the Egyptians so that when the Israelites requested it they gave them gold, silver and clothing. It must have felt a bit incredulous and now it really did seem to good to be true. There really was no alternative for them. They would either die at the hand of Pharaoh or at the hand of the sea. But God....

    The Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart so he would chase them and he would be honored through Pharaoh and his army. So they would know that He was the Lord. When Pharaoh drew near it says the Israelites became very frightened and cried out to the Lord. But God...
     Moses responded to the people, "Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today;for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again. The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent." (Ex. 14)
      I love this verse! In Exodus 14:19 it says," The angel of God , who had been going before the camp of Israel , moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them. The Lord changed the position of the angel from one of guidance to one of protection. He knew He was making a way forward for them and would need to become their rear guard to protect them from the evil advancing behind them. He was making a way where there was no way! To the Israelites it may have still appeared to be frightening but God had it well in hand.

      Today as I wrestled in prayer for situations very close to my heart, the Lord reminded me that there are all kinds of suffering and all kinds of lack. We live in a broken world that seems to be growing more broken by the day. But God... I went to my morning Bible Study at church and came away with so many good and timely words but the one outstanding that I must not forget is this, He will never leave me! So, afterward I drove home and the Lord took me here, " Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you, he will never leave you or forsake you." (Deut. 31:6)

 
 That truth undid me and I wept for all the things that were not right yet in my world and the ones I hold dear. I wept for the hearts of the women around me and for those who read this blog and for those across this globe I don't know by name. For we all have a story from the youngest to the oldest but what we forget is that He is right there in the midst of it all!

"Though the fig tree should not blossom
 And there be no fruit on the vines,
Though the yield of the olive should fail
And the fields produce no food.
Though the flock should be cut off from the fold
And there be no cattle in the stalls,
Yet, I will exult in the Lord,
I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.
The Lord God is my strength,
And He has made my feet like hinds feet,
And makes me walk on my high places." (Hab.3:17)

"Yet" is a stop me in my tracks word kind of like "But God". It doesn't matter what is going on in my life or yours. We may be experiencing gail force winds but they are no match for our God. And, in the midst of it all, He doesn't leave us, in fact He becomes our rear guard! On top of that even though our knees may be knocking and we feel crazy weak, He makes our feet stand firm. When you have done all else beloved, stand!