Step Out In Faith

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Psalm 136: 13-15

The​​ Red Sea​​ is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean. ​​ It lies between Africa and Asia. ​​ It is more than 1,300 miles long and its​​ widest point is 220.6 miles. ​​ The average depth of the Red sea is over 1,500​​ feet​​ with a deep trough running through the center.​​ This information is taken from Wikipedia which also states that approximately 25% of this body of water is considered shallow, being under 164 feet deep.

 Ps 136:13-15​​ To Him who divided the Red Sea asunder, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,​​ 14​​ And made Israel pass through the midst of it, For His lovingkindness is everlasting;​​ 15​​ But He overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

In these​​ verses we​​ continue to see the power and protection of God towards His children.

 Ex 14:21-22​​ Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD swept the sea back by a strong east wind all night and turned the sea into dry land, so the waters were divided.​​ 22​​ The sons of Israel went through the midst of the sea on the dry land, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.

Ps 78:13 He divided the sea and caused them to pass through, And He made the waters stand up like a heap.

 We see God’s power in directing the water. ​​ Can anyone you know cause a body of water to part, making a pathway to cross​​ over​​ and forming a wall of water on each side? ​​​​ Consider the scene. ​​​​ The children of Israel, finally being let go under Pharaoh’s rule​​ in Egypt, take off into the desert, basically running for their life. ​​ Pharaoh’s army begins the chase and the Israelites come to an impasse – the Red Sea. ​​ They were tired, they were scared and now it seemed there was no way to continue their exit. ​​ 

We see God’s​​ compassion​​ as He​​ performs a miracle causing the deep waters to part. ​​ God not only provided a way of escape but, after all the Israelites had crossed, God then caused the waters to flow once again engulfing the​​ entire​​ Egyptian Army. ​​ 

Read Spurgeon’s comments on this text, “Men deny miracles; but, granted that there is a God, they become easy of belief. ​​ Since it requires me to be an atheist that I may logically reject miracles, I prefer the far smaller difficulty of believing in the infinite power of God. ​​ He who causes the waters of the sea ordinarily to remain as one mass can with​​ equal readiness divide them”. (Treasury of David)

 God also gives His children the faith to walk through difficulties. ​​ Can you imagine stepping​​ onto a path surrounded by high walls of water? ​​ The​​ path set out for the Israelites was unknown. ​​ They were to walk down into the deep center of the great sea and then trek up again as they crossed​​ to the other side. ​​ While they​​ were​​ stepping forward in faith, God kept​​ a dark cloud between them and the Egyptian army.​​ 

In​​ Christ, we can do whatever He deems necessary for His glory. ​​ Our God is great. ​​ Our faith needs to be great. ​​​​ We can step forward without fear in the paths set out before us. ​​ What we might see as an obstacle, God will use​​ for His glory. ​​ 

Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength,​​ a​​ very present help in trouble.

Isaiah​​ 41:10​​ ‘Do​​ not fear, for I am with you;​​ do​​ not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,​​ surely​​ I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'

Psalm 78:53​​ He led them safely, so that they did not fear;​​ but​​ the sea engulfed their enemies. ​​​​ 

“…and thus the Lord makes his people willing to pass through afflictions, he being with them; and able to bear them, he putting underneath the everlasting arms, even when in the valley of the shadow of death. He carries them safely through them, so that they are not hurt by them; the waters do not overflow them, nor the flames kindle upon them; nor are any suffered to be lost: but all come safe to land.” --John Gill.

When we think of defeating an army,​​ our mind conjures up pictures of​​ a​​ great battle and loss of life on both sides. ​​ Battles in the world begin with no guarantee of victory to either party. ​​ Strategy and strength and number and weaponry help to overcome the enemy. ​​ 

Psalm 136:15 says God​​ overthrew​​ Pharaoh and his army, meaning He shook them off or tossed them up and down. ​​ Visualize a dog playing with a stuffed toy, shaking it from side to side as if it were nothing! ​​ God has no problem subduing His opposition.

 Ex 15:4-5 "Pharaoh's chariots and his army He has cast into the sea;​​ and​​ the choicest of his officers are drowned in the Red Sea. ​​ 5​​ "The deeps cover them;​​ they​​ went down into the depths like a stone.

 ​​ Ex 15:10 "You blew with Your wind, the sea covered them;​​ they​​ sank like lead in the mighty waters.

There is never a debate if God will win. ​​ Victory is easy for Him. ​​ In this specific reminder of His care, not one Israeli life was lost and the entire Egyptian army was eradicated. ​​ This is the God I trust. ​​ Is this the God you know? ​​ Have you placed your complete trust in the one true God of the Bible? ​​ ​​​​ Would you, by faith, follow Him through a path that was unknown and made no sense in your human understanding?

Again, each of these three verses ends with the words, “For His lovingkindness is everlasting”. ​​​​ God does shower His mercy upon those who love Him but He is also great in His​​ judgement​​ against those who reject Him. ​​​​ 

 In Psalm 136:13-15, God’s power is seen in His command over the Red Sea; God’s compassion is seen in giving the Israelites faith and courage to move towards something​​ inexplicable; and His judgement is seen as He renders​​ His sentence over the wicked. ​​ Although this account took place in mid-15th​​ century B.C., we see God’s amazing attributes all around us today, working in our lives and the lives of others.

God commands all nature; compassion from God towards sinners is constant; and He will judge sin in complete righteousness. ​​​​ God is all-powerful and His protection is over those who follow Him. ​​ He will give to us the faith we need to step forward on the path He leads. ​​ Praise His Name!

 

 

10/17/2019

Author: Sharyn Balogh

You know it's difficult to write about yourself. The most important fact I can disclose is that I'm saved by God's grace through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. My desire is to live a life honoring to God in response for the gift of salvation I've been given. This is so much easier said than done! I struggle daily with right choices, right words, right thoughts, and right actions. My best and only defense against sin is the power of God in me and for that I am inexpressibly thankful. I have three amazing grown-up children who have responded to God's call in their lives along with their spouses. One of the great joys of my life is knowing my children and their families strive to serve and follow God. My grandchildren are another wonderful joy in my life! My husband and I are blessed with four beautiful grandchildren to date with another expected very soon on September 12th. We also are thankful for the comforting knowledge that an additional three of our grandchildren, a set of twins at three months gestation and a little boy, Isaac, at four and a half months gestation, are in our Savior's presence. I have attended the same church since the day my eyes were opened to Truth over thirty years ago. How fortunate it is to have been led by God’s hand immediately to a church body that follows the Bible, no man-made doctrines, just the Word clear and strong. My husband is my best friend, my confidant, my encourager, and I still can't believe how blessed I am by his example of love and generosity towards everyone around him. He is God-fearing, compassionate, and kind and I have learned so much from him. I am a daughter to my almost 92 year-old mother, sister to three brothers, a wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, aunt, great-aunt, neighbor and friend. That means, whomever is reading this, we probably have something in common! I love every unique role I have been placed in. I'm frequently stretched and sometimes feel like silly putty that wants to bounce right back into my comfort zone. My greatest ambition is to be a follower of Jesus; a light that shines for Him at all times, in all circumstances. So, there it is, a bit about me. I guess I was able to write about myself after all! However, my existence cannot be defined without Jesus Christ, my Lord and my Savior. His love has permeated my life to His glory and my eternal thankfulness.