This morning in church, I was reminded yet again how weak and inadequate I am. The worship leader read scripture from Exodus, describing the Israelites' complaints as Moses led them out of slavery in Egypt.
It's funny to think, really, that the Israelites would be complaining about gaining freedom. It doesn't make complete sense; yet, under the circumstances, we can begin to understand why...
"When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord. They said to Moses, "Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: 'Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness."
- Exodus 14:10-12 (ESV)
Alright, so the people didn't want to die in an unknown land. They would rather be slaves in a known land for the rest of their lives than journey into the unknown. They wanted to stick with the known, as horrible as it was, instead of allow the Lord lead through Moses. So look at Moses' reply to them...
"And Moses said to the people, "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 have only to be silent.""
- Exodus 14:13 & 14 (ESV)
In all of their fears, God was in control. He didn't need their help...He didn't need them to drag their feet...He just wanted them to be silent. Although they couldn't see the unknown, God could, and He wanted them to find freedom in Him. Right after this, God let them catch a glimpse of that freedom - He parted the Red Sea, and His glory was made known to the Israelites.
They didn't have to trust Him, but they did. The chapter goes on to read:
"Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses."
- Exodus 14:31 (ESV)
So imagine this...the image of a father, patiently holding the hand of a small child. The child is tugging the dad's hand here, there and everywhere - anywhere but the direction her dad is leading - while dragging her feet at the same time. This is the image that came to my mind this morning in church: my Daddy, leading me His way as I continue to pull against Him.
When this came to me, it was such a powerful picture...because I realized how true it was.
I know deep down in my heart that His way is the right way. I just continue to get distracted by the things the world tells us are important. I get distracted by what I want and forget that He knows the path so much better than I do.
In a world that strives to be like the Egyptians, we have to be like the Israelites. Not the Israelites who weren't sure of God's power and control, but the Israelites who saw God's power and believed in Him.
We are Israel. We are hopeless to the things of this world, yet we have been given an everlasting hope in the Lord. We are children, in need of the guidance and leadership of our Father. We can't see the whole path, yet we don't have to, because our Daddy is leading us down it. We are an imperfect people, forgiven and loved by a forever PERFECT God.
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