Who knows what a day or a year will bring? Think back over the past 12 months. Many things happened that you had no idea would occur when the year began. Life happens.
You never know what a day will bring. If we knew what would happen to the stock market during the next year, we could become very rich. You may have some ideas about the economy, politics, family life, career, education, church or health issues, but no one really knows what will happen. In the days ahead, some of you will get married, some will have babies and some will die. You may have a calculated guess about what’s coming, but be sure of this: there will be some surprises and unexpected twists and turns in the road. Each of us faces a future that is unknown to us.
The key is this: while the future is unknown to us, the future is completely known to God. Our Father knows everything that will happen in the days ahead. God doesn’t need to learn. He knows every detail of your life and has already lived through every event of your future. We are his children and our future is in his hands. We can face the future with confidence. We can step into each new day with faith in a God who loves us.
Believers are familiar with the story of Moses and the Israelites when they were trapped before the Red Sea. The Israelites had been miraculously delivered from Egypt and were at the Red Sea on the edge of the desert. While they were camped there, Pharaoh made one last effort to stop them from leaving. Pharaoh, with 600 of his best chariots, his best officers and his best equipment, took off after Moses and the Israelites.
Israel was trapped. They were between a rock and a hard place. The Red Sea was in front of them and the Egyptians were behind them. They were trapped.
Not knowing himself what a day would bring, here’s what Moses told 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. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. Then the Lord said to Moses, Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. 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. (Exodus 14:13 16).
It’s easy for us to read these words now because we know the end of the story but it must have been a scary scene for the Israelites. They didn’t know what the next day would bring. They didn’t know if they had a future.
Notice five things from the story. Their story can teach us how to face the unknown future.
1. AT TIMES, DOING GOD’S WILL MEANS FACING CHALLENGES
Though the Israelites were trapped, they were in God’s will. They were exactly where they were supposed to be! Tell the Israelites … to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon. (Exodus 14:2). They were not in this predicament as punishment from God. They had not done anything wrong nor was this situation an accident. They were in the center of God’s will.
In all probability, you are going to face some challenging situations in the days ahead. Some of them you will be able to handle with your ingenuity and cleverness, but some may stretch you. Some will be beyond your ability to handle and will test your faith.
Be reminded that walking with God is not an insurance policy against challenges, trials and difficulties. When you walk with God, your faith will be tested. But think of the alternative. The person who does not walk with God, still faces a lot of difficulties and challenges. The big difference is that he has to face them alone!
Fix this clearly in your mind: God’s will often takes us into difficult places.
2. GOD DOES NOT TELL US IN ADVANCE EVERY DETAIL OF HIS WILL
God gives us all the information we need for each day. He tells us when and where to take the next step, but he doesn’t tell us every detail of what’s down the road.
When Israel left Egypt, all they knew was that they were headed for some place called the Promised Land. They knew their ultimate destination. God had described it as a wonderful place, a place full of blessing. God had told them he would get them safely to the Promised Land. God had told them their first stop was at the Red Sea. But when they left Egypt, God didn’t spell out all the details of the journey. He didn’t tell them all the logistics of the trip, nor did he tell them about the water shortages or the dietary problems or the battles they’d have to fight. He just told them, he had something beautiful for them. He had said in effect, I have a plan for you, now trust me, follow me and I’ll get you there! They knew where they were going but didn’t know the circumstances of the trip.
Perhaps if they had known, they would not have started out! Often, it’s good we don’t know a lot of what’s up ahead. Just because Israel didn’t know the details, did not mean that God didn’t know. God knew every detail of the journey. He knew every turn they would take, every challenge they would face and he knew it all before they left Egypt.
As believers, we know where we are going. We’re headed for heaven and we’re destined for a mansion in glory, but we don’t know all the details of what will happen between here and there. At times, God tells us some things that are going to happen. Paul was warned that imprisonment and hardship awaited him. We may know some things, but most things we don’t know. But remember what is unknown to us is known to God. This means we can walk in faith. We can trust our affairs into the hands of Almighty God.
3. LIFE’S CHALLENGES CAN BE EITHER OBSTACLES OR SOLUTIONS
Without question, life is going to throw you some challenges. Just being human and living in a messed up world means we will face challenges. Further, doing God’s will and following Jesus will mean facing challenges.
With every challenge, you have a decision to make. You have to check your attitude. You need to ask yourself if the difficulty you face is an obstacle or a solution.
Think about Israel’s situation. Was the Red Sea an obstacle or a solution? In the natural, the Red Sea was a problem. The Red Sea was a large expanse of water and the Red Sea was deep. The water stopped them from getting away from the Egyptians. It seemed the sea was a barrier to their progress and their freedom, but in reality, the Red Sea was their solution.
We know what happened. Israel crossed through the Red Sea. The path of escape was through the Sea. And the Red Sea was what finished Pharaoh and his army for good. The Red Sea was used by God to judge the Egyptians once for all. God said, You will never see them again. The Red Sea, which appeared to be an obstacle, was really the solution!
Some of the experiences God leads us through may not be pleasant but as you face interesting challenges, give yourself an attitude check. Ask yourself, “Is my challenge an obstacle or a solution?” Ask yourself, “How can I become a better person through this?” Ask yourself, “How can I bring glory to God through this experience?”
4. GOD HAS PREPARED A WAY THROUGH YOUR DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES
It’s easy for us to study this story now and see how it all worked out. It was more difficult for the Israelites back then. What they didn’t know as they stood by the Red Sea and what they couldn’t see at the time, was that God had prepared a safe way through the Red Sea for them. The path was there all the time. They just couldn’t see it!
Many years later, one of the psalmists referenced this event when he wrote Psalm 77. Here’s the key verse, verse 19, in three different translations.
Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen. (New International Version).
Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known. (King James).
Your road led by a pathway through the sea, a pathway no one knew was there. (Living Bible).
What does this verse teach us?
i. God always has a road. The psalmist talked about Your path. God has a path. God is never trapped. God always has a way of escape. God always has a way to victory
ii. God’s road may go through a Red Sea. The psalmist said, Your path led through the sea… God’s path may lead through the sea. Always remember that God’s path through the sea is always better than following your own path, as you try to solve life’s challenges.
iii. You can’t always see the road. The psalmist called it a pathway no one knew was there. The path was there all the time. The issue was not whether or not there was a path, it was just that it could not be seen by natural eyes. The only thing Moses and Israel could see was the water.
Rest assured, God has already prepared a pathway through your Red Sea, even if you can’t see it yet!
iv. He’s already walked the road before us. The Bible says, your footprints were not seen. God’s footprints are on the path that you are going to take. He’s already walked this way. In fact, God has already experienced every day of your life.
When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. (John 10:4).
5. FOLLOWING GOD MEANS MOBILIZING YOUR FAITH
The only way to face the future is with faith in God. It’s good to pray when you face challenging circumstances, but there comes a time when you have to put your faith into action. This is what happened with Israel.
Then the Lord said to Moses, Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. (Exodus 14:15).
Eventually we reach the point where we have to take action. Prayer is good. Faith is necessary. Trust is required. But when God is ready to act, we must respond with action. The time came for the Israelites to move on toward the Promised Land.
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