The Exodus

God speaks to me. I’m sure he speaks to you, too. And despite all the writing advice I've gleaned, I believe God can speak a cliché.

What did God speak to me? 

“I never promised you a rose garden.” Is He being sarcastic? Or maybe He's just disappointed in my fretting and worrying over something that He is in control of. Not only in control, but orchestrating.

“The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." Exodus 14:14

I have meditated on this word knowing the story behind it. The children of Israel have their backs to the Red Sea and Pharaoh is a-comin’ after them with a bitter vengeance. Moses speaks with bold confidence:

"Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” 

Let me tell you why Moses is so confident. God had previously spoken to him and assured Moses that He was the One orchestrating everything. Why? So they can be scared spitless? So they can be made an example of? So they will be scared into obedience? 

No, nope and no way.

Let’s back up a few verses and have a quick look-see:

V.4 And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD." 

Need I remind you that Pharaoh and the Egyptians are the villains in this story, the bad guys? I always thought God parted the Red Sea to prove Himself to the whining Israelites. To cause them to understand that He is the one that protects them and that is why they need only to be still. But this verse says: and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.

We have a Red Sea moment happening in our life. Our backs are against the Sea, fear has attempted to creep in, and the bad guys are pursuing us with a bitter vengeance. Like Moses, we know we are right where we are suppose to be, even if it is with our backs to the sea.

 So why are we going through this? So we can know fear? So we can be made an example of? So we will be feared into being better Christians? 

No, nope, and no way. 

He is doing this so that : the Egyptians (enemy) will know that I am the Lord.

The word of the Lord to me today is a cliché: I never promised you a rose garden.  

Which interpreted means: Life isn’t always perfect, battles and tough times will come, but I need only…to be still.