The Sea

“But in order for them to walk in deliverance, they had to first walk through the waters. His footsteps were ahead of them even though they weren’t visible.”

“Your way was through the sea, your path through the great waters; yet your footprints were unseen.” (Psalm 77:19 ESV)

Whew—hey friends! It’s been a minute since the last post. Honestly, life and a new job took over. But I had the sweetest friend (shoutout to Erin) reach out today and ask about Moses. She said she was worried because he had just been drifting off in a basket for a while now LOL! But seriously, it was such an encouragement to pick up and get moving with the rest of what God has placed on my heart for this blog series. I honestly figured no one would notice that I hadn’t posted a new blog in at least a month, but she reminded me to continue and I am grateful. So, let’s get moving…

Sometimes deliverance looks nothing like what we imagined. Sometimes it leads us into the depths for a bit—the better way takes us through deep waters.

Moses didn’t stay in the basket (although he has been there for a while during this blog series pause!) He went on to identify with his people—the Israelites. And God uses Him to lead them out of Egypt—out of slavery—and into freedom. There are so many details in this part of the story, but I want us to meet them at the Red Sea, where they face a certain barrier to their freedom. There, God’s mighty hand parts the water. Imagine with me how it felt to take that first step.

Was it quiet there in the midst of the Red Sea? Did God lift it up and quiet its roar while His people walked through on dry land? Or was the sound so deafening that they trembled as they crossed through it? Was the wind so intense there in the depths of the sea that they had to brace against it? I just don’t know, but I think I know how I would feel either way—terrified. Can you imagine looking around, only to be enclosed by a wall of water that could utterly crush you if it was released?

They couldn’t see the Lord’s hands holding it in place. Read that again. Because sometimes, neither can we.

The Israelites follow Moses out of cruel slavery and into a cruel sea. When they first arrive at the shore before the parting of the waters, they begin to doubt this deliverance. How could Moses lead them here? How could he lead their children here to be trapped and brutally murdered by the Egyptians who were following closely behind? Wouldn’t it have been better to have never left Egypt? There was at least food there. There was a roof over their heads there. Sure, it was all under a yoke of oppression and slavery, but this couldn’t be the way to freedom. And I am almost certain these would’ve been my exact thoughts as I looked around for a better deliverance. I am also almost certain I would’ve considered jerking up my children and running off into the wilderness on my own. Because surely it would be better.

I want you to take in that last question above: Wouldn’t it be better to have never left slavery?

Don’t we say this sometimes, too, when we are up against a sprawling sea of doubt and our faith is tested? When our circumstances seem too hopeless for the Lord to handle? When we question if following Him was really the better way? They didn’t truly trust the Lord in that moment. But in order for them to walk in deliverance, they had to first walk through the waters. His footsteps were ahead of them even though they weren’t visible.

God delivered His people in a mighty way. He literally parted a sea so they could walk on foot to safety, and then He released the waters to engulf the enemy. But it isn’t until they see the victory that they respond in worship. It isn’t until the waters return to their appropriate place that the peoples’ hearts return to theirs—bowed to the God who is mighty to save. What if instead of worshiping after the victory, we begin to worship Him in the depths of the sea?

What if we worship Him in the sickness? In the grief? In the job loss? In the insecurity? In the heartache and stress and uncertainty?

Because maybe God is delivering you right now, even amid those seas. But when you look around, you ask all the same questions they might’ve asked: “Surely God wouldn’t bring me here? Why would He let this happen to me? It would’ve been better to stay where I was.”

It wasn’t better back there. Egypt wasn’t freedom. So walk bravely into the sea. Know His steps are ahead of you, leading you toward something better. And worship Him there in the middle of it all.