Walking on Dry Ground

Recently I was reading in the book of Exodus. In Exodus, the people of Israel are delivered out of bondage in Egypt, and the Red Sea is parted for them to pass through. God had kept His promise to deliver the people of Israel. He is still keeping promises today. He is still delivering people from bondage of all kinds.

The people of Israel have survived 10 plagues in Egypt, and have made it through years of slavery. God delivers them safely out of that land, making good on a promise He had made to His people and one of the first things the people do is start to fear. I wanted so bad to judge the people of Israel right here when they start to fear. But, that would make me a hypocrite because I, too, get fearful from time to time. They respond to this fear by crying out to God. (Exodus 14:10) That's how we should always combat fear- by calling out to God.

However, two verses later, in 14:12, they have allowed fear to become doubt. If we are not careful, the same can happen to us. That little twinge of fear can become something so nasty as doubt.

The people of Israel start saying something like "Wow are we all out here in the wilderness just to die because there weren't enough graves for all of us in Egypt? We would've been better off as slaves." (Of course I paraphrased that but you can read it for yourself in Exodus 14:12)

But God. He tells us to fear not.

Moses reminds the people in 14:13-14, "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you only have to be silent."

Then do you know what God does? He lets them walk through a sea on DRY land. He could've made them have to trudge through mud or swim or build a boat but instead, He lets them walk on the dry land- WHERE A SEA JUST WAS. They make it through the sea, the sea is resumed to its usual state, and it swallows up the Egyptians that were after them. (Remember they were told they would not have to see those Egyptians ever again- another promise fulfilled.)

Then, after all of that, Moses is singing the praises of God and the people are still complaining (15:24). They are thirsty and they say something like "what will we drink?"

So the Lord, being the good God that He is, says " Here, let me make this water sweet for you, and if you are willing to listen, I'm going to give you freedom from sickness because I am a healer." (15:26- again, I paraphrased)

I think this is still an accurate depiction of how we are today. We are so quick to cry out to God when we need delivered and are oppressed or when we are scared. God pulls us out of those situations, and we complain. God is making all these different ways for things to be so easy for us, and we are determined to be stubborn and ungrateful.

He is still working and making a way. The way has already been made and just because His ways haven't been revealed to us in the instant, we feel like we should complain.

Essentially we say, "Hey God, I know you're in control and you're a big God but I think you forgot about this." or "Hey God, I hate to be the one to tell you, but there's a sea here where you wanted me to walk. "

"God I know you just brought me through something remarkable but I'm feeling a little thirsty, but this water is bitter. I'm going to need something a little sweeter. Are you still there? Hello??? Oh okay, so you're just going to leave me here in the wilderness to die. I know you've protected me in bondage for hundreds of years and from 10 plagues and a trip to the wilderness and let me walk on DRY ground through a sea, but right now, it kinda feels like I'm dying."

DRY LAND. SWEET WATER. And we have the audacity to ask what's next and complain that the water isn't the kind we like.

Maybe it's just me. Maybe I'm the only one who misses out on the blessings of God because I am so quick to complain and slow to praise. I was convicted over this passage of scripture.

Because guess what?

God doesn't owe me anything. He has already made a way. He already told me what to do and what not to do and I still mess it up. But He is merciful. He cares for me and still provides for me and He doesn't have to. He is still delivering me, He is still healing, still providing sweetness over bitterness. He is still making the land I walk on, dry. If I have to trudge through mud, swim, or build a boat, it's because I'm not crossing the right sea at the right time. He will make the way clear if I am where I'm supposed to be.

Isn't that amazing? How extra God's love is for us.