Using Exodus 14:13-31 and Psalm 46:1
For Anxiety
About the Future
Exodus 14:13-31; Psalm 46:1 NIV
Commentary
Questions
13 Moses answered the people, “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. 14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
15 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. 16 Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. 17 I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. 18 The Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.”
19 Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, 20 coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long.
21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, 22 and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.
23 The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea. 24 During the last watch of the night the LORD looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. 25 He jammed the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites! The LORD is fighting for them against Egypt.”
26 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.” 27 Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward it, and the LORD swept them into the sea. 28 The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived.
29 But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. 30 That day the LORD saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. 31 And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the LORD displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.
Under the leadership of Moses, the people of Israel were leaving their slavery in Egypt and going to the Promised Land which none of them had ever seen. Their future was unknown, but they believed it was better there than as slaves in Egypt.
God had just freed them from their slavery with the ten plagues. They plundered their Egyptian owners under God’s direction when they left.
The ruler of the Egyptians, Pharaoh, was done mourning the death of his first born son. Now he wanted revenge. His chariots trapped the nation of Israel at the Red Sea. God allowed this to happen to teach the Egyptians and the people of Israel some lessons about His power and His love.
The people of Israel were very afraid. The sea was in front of them. The chariots were behind them. It seemed like they had nowhere to go that was safe.
But God saved them. Our Scripture reading tells us how God did this.
Click on the image to enlarge.
The nation of Israel was very uncertain that they could survive that night. It looked like they would be destroyed the next day. What disaster do you fear in your future?
“The LORD will fight for you; you need only be still?” How do these words in vs. 14 give you hope?
What lesson was God going to teach the Egyptians? You? Vs. 18.
How did God protect the Israelites as the sea waters parted and the dry land appeared? Vs. 19-21. How is God protecting you right now?
Vs. 21b -22 “The waters were divided, 22 and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.”
From this account you see how God protects the people He loves. He loves you and has sent Jesus to save you. God is with you to protect you. Now, the people were at the sea shore and the dry land was there in the morning. There was a wall of water on the right and a wall of water on the left.
Pharaoh’s army is behind them. But, now they had somewhere safe to go. It was on that dry ground that God had provided for them.
In Exodus 15 Moses sings a Psalm about this amazing and miraculous help from God for His people. He says, Ex. 15:13, “In your (God’s) unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.” This is God’s promise to you.
What is the wall of danger on your right hand as you face the future? What is the wall of danger on your left hand as you face the future? What is the army of Pharaoh behind you from your past?
Your God has redeemed your precious soul by the blood of Jesus. God loves you. I John 1:7 “The Blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.”
Think of yourself and your situation. From this Bible account, how do you know that God controls the future? From this Bible account, how do you know that God loves you? How do you know that God will provide the dry ground for you to walk on into your future?
Now, picture yourself as being in that first group of Israelites at the edge of the sea that God has parted. Take that first step with trust in your heart. God will be with you and open up His hands to protect you with His love.
Take that step into your uncertain future with God’s promise in your heart. Remember the promise to you that
God made you in Psalm 46:7 and 10, “The LORD Almighty is with us. The God of Jacob is our fortress….Be still and know that I am God.”
May God give you the courage and the trust in Him to take that first step into your future trusting in His power and His love.
God will bless you and guide you. Remember God’s promise to you. I Cor. 10:13 “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”
*From the writings of Rev. Alan Siggelkow.
The above exercise has greater benefit when working with a Christian therapist, your pastor, or a fellow Christian. Interaction and accountability with another person who can provide understanding and encouragement is reinforced in therapy sessions.
