BETWEEN THE DEVIL & THE DEEP RED SEA

(Exodus 14)

         1. Why does God allow His children to be placed in troubling situations;

dilemmas that make us uncomfortable and often threaten to drive us to despair?

2. (Habakkuk 1:2) "How long shall I cry and You will not hear?"

3. (Job 3:11-26).  Why did I not die at birth? Why did I not perish when I came from the womb?

Why did the knees receive me? Or why the breasts, that I should nurse?

For now I would have lain still and been quiet, I would have been asleep;

Then I would have been at rest with kings and counselors of the earth, who built ruins for themselves, or with princes who had gold, who filled their houses with silver;

Or why was I not hidden like a stillborn child, like infants who never saw light?

There the wicked cease from troubling, and there the weary are at rest.

There the prisoners rest together; they do not hear the voice of the oppressor.

The small and great are there, and the servant is free from his master.

"Why is light given to him who is in misery, and life to the bitter of soul, who long for

 death, but it does not come, And search for it more than hidden treasures;

Who rejoice exceedingly and are glad when they can find the grave?

Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, and whom God has hedged in?

For my sighing comes before I eat, and my groanings pour out like water.

For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, and what I dreaded has happened to me.

I am not at ease, nor am I quiet; I have no rest, for trouble comes."

4. Let's see if we can come to some answers to this question by examining an Old Testament example.

 I. God's Plan

           A. (Exodus 14:1-4).

B. God's plan was not to lead them to safety, at least not right away.

C. God directs them to a place just south of several Egyptian strong holds, north of the desert, on one side is the Red Sea, and on the other side is the Egyptian army.

D. The reason: (v.4) so God could be glorified.

1. God put his people in a difficult situation to demonstrate His power.

2. Should we not view difficult times in the same way?

3. The world is watching.

4. (James 1:3-4). Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

II. The People's Reaction

A. (Exodus 14:10-12).

B. They reacted in two ways.

1. They looked up.

2. And they lashed out.

C. Notice the example of Jesus while suffering

(I Peter 2:21). For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:  

III. God's Protection

           A. (Exodus 14:13-30).

B. God was busy working on their behalf.

1. At times it was obvious.

2. At other times it was subtle.

C. Notice some of the things He did.

1. He protected them by the cloud.

2. He slowed the progress of the Egyptians.

3. Finally, He destroyed them in the Sea.

D. (I Corinthians 10:13).  No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 

E. Remember, the Red Sea opened and closed at God's command, not at the command

of the people.

1. God is not tied to our time schedules.

2. Hab 1:2-3 O LORD, how long shall I cry, And You will not hear? Even cry out to You, "Violence!" And You will not save. Why do You show me iniquity, And cause me to see trouble? For plundering and violence are before me; There is strife, and contention arises.

Rev 6:10-11 And they cried with a loud voice, saying,"How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?"

3. Be sure that He will deliver us, but not until He has accomplished what He wanted to

 F. Also remember that deliverance may not be temporal but eternal.

1. Dan 3:17-18    If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up."

2. Heb 11:8-10   By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.  

IV. The People's Reaction 

A. (Exodus 14:31).

B. Their difficulty brought them to reverence and belief in God.

C. Ps 119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word.

     Ps 119:71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes.  

Conclusion:

1. We will all have our "Red Sea Experiences".

2. This account was not simply written for our amazement, but for our instruction.

3. Some of the lessons we can learn from this account are:

a. Glorify God in difficult times.

b. When surrounded on all sides, look up.

c. God will bring deliverance to his people.

d. Allow difficult times to strengthen your faith.