Stepping Into the Sea
Notes
Transcript
This morning as we continue looking at the faith Hall of Fame in Hebrews 11 we are not looking at a single person but rather a group of people. The Israelites. Now if you have been in church for any amount of time I think you're probably surprised to hear about the actions of the Israelites in a positive context. We have a lot of biblical history showing the hard-hearted-ness, stiff-necked-ness and general lack of faithfulness exhibited by the Hebrew people. Much of the Old Testament is a recording of God’s dealing with His people because of their failures. — But not here.
In Hebrews 11:29 we read this:
29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
I think we could ask ourselves here, how much faith did the Israelites really have to have just to take a stroll across dry land. I assume that you're probably a lot like I am is that when you consider what happened with the Israelites crossing the red sea you have an image in your head that looks a lot like the movie, the 10 Commandments. Or maybe the animated movie the Prince of Egypt.
If you have you I was with you this morning flip back to Exodus chapter 14, I want to look at vv 21 and 22 where we find this event recorded:
21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. 22 And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
We can see here in Exodus that God caused the sea to go back. And how did he do it? He did it by a strong wind, a strong wind that blew all night. There are examples similar events occurring naturally today. This description of a strong wind coming in and parting the water is entirely consistent with God’s created order, we just observe it on a smaller scale.
In Lake Erie there is something called a seiche. It is a phenomenon where wind blows across the lake and pushes the water towards the other side of the lake. On the leaving side the water levels drop and you could walk out to areas that are typically covered by water. Never side of the lake you find large standing waves that are extremely damaging.
We don't know all of the details of exactly how God accomplished this miracle. What we know from scripture is there was wind and the water parted. The powerfulness and the strangeness of this situation no-doubt was terrifying to all who observed.
I don’t know exactly what walking along the bottom of the Red Sea would have been like, but I have been to beaches at low tide and I imagine that it would be something like that. This past week Kate and I celebrated our 15 year anniversary and on our Honeymoon we went to a place called Mont Saint Michel. It’s a 1000 year old abby located on an island just off the coast of Normandy in France. Before modern roads were built, the only way to get to the abby was to walk across emptied bay at low tide. — Kate and I went during low tide and it was honestly a strange experience to walk across the muddy bottom of the bay.
When you consider awesomeness of the scene and that the Shekinah glory of the Lord, this pillar of fire and smoke was there as well — I am sure that there was a tremendous amount of fear.
But — Hebrews 11 is a passage about faith. Every example in this chapter is an example of faith that isn’t the product of some extraordinary and unique piety — but an act of people just like you and I — that chose faith. Hebrews 11:1 says:
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
I would say it this way: Faith is action that comes from hope
Gareth Lee Cockerill says it this way:
Faith is living as if the things hoped for are real.
Our message this morning is entitled Stepping Into the Sea
Let’s Pray
Being the Multitude
Being the Multitude
There is the joke, in the zombie apocalypse who would you be. Will be honest the answer is probably one of the zombies. The same can be true for us as we consider the heroes in our Bible we could ask ourselves which apostle would be be the reality is we would most likely be the multitude. — very few people get to have a Damascus Road experience. Very few people get to have conversations with God like Moses did at the burning bush. Even when we consider the sign miracles recording scripture we find those come seldom and only at a few very specific times in history.
The Israelites are the proverbial multitude here. They are the unnamed masses they didn't have the clarity of someone like Moses when it came to fleeing Egypt. They had fears and I think they are fears that I might have in the same situation.
We find the Israelites state of mind in Exodus 14:10-12
10 And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord. 11 And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? 12 Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.
Look at this question in v12, it’s just dripping with sarcasm: they are asking was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us out here to die? — They had lost hope.
Later
Later
Mind you, this is the same group of faithful men and women who we end up finding melting down all of their gold to make the golden calf, a false idol to worship. — yet here they have landed somehow, in Hebrews 11 — the faith hall of fame.
Somehow, By Faith
Somehow, By Faith
During the course of the exodus Israel complained and complained and complained. The people pushed back against Moses, like I said they even worshiped an idol which they created with their own hands. I look at todays verse and I am glad that God doesn’t define us by our weakest moments.
I can't count how many times I have heard someone say that the life that they lived in the past excludes them from being a follower of Christ, or that they could become a Christian because they believe it would be hypocritical. What would be their news flash to any real believer that human perfection, or really any level of human goodness is not the criteria for the faith. Look at our heroes: Moses was a murderer, David was an adulterer and a murderer, Paul the apostle was complacent and maybe even the catalyst for the martyrdom of early Christians. But God doesn't judge them by their worst he judges them by Christ's best.
I don't know why this story has always stuck with me, but for any of you that have participated in any of the way of the master programs you will know that one of the first questions recommended to be asked of an unbeliever is the question “are you a good person”. Most people tend to respond that they are. The follow up questions are based upon God’s standard of good using the 10 commandments and asking if the person has obeyed them all. — after all the consequence for Sin, which is nothing less than rebellion against God, is eternal death in hell. And if anyone can say that they have not lived fully up to the standard of the 10 commandments, they should be afraid and looking for a Savior.
Someone who ascribe to the way of the master evangelism technique was on a Holy Land tour and happened to see famous preacher John MacArthur. They took their chance and asked Pastor MacArthur “Are you a good person” — MacArthur’s response was “I have an imputed righteousness” — what that means is that he didn't find himself to be good based upon his own merits but the merit of Christ was good and that marriage was extended to him as a follower of Christ. That is really the gospel in a nutshell. And I am glad the wind god looks at me he doesn't see all of my feelings because the imputed righteousness of Christ is present with me. And so the meager faith that I have the present to the Lord can be acceptable.
Israel started pretty bad. They kept making mistakes, and so did everyone that followed after them. So much so that if they didn't our Bibles would probably weigh about half as much as they do for all of the accounts of their mistakes that are included in scripture. — yeah here they are: By Faith
Taking a Step
Taking a Step
So, what seas are you going to walk through? I don't think it would be fair here to just wag our fingers at those silly Israelites always lacking faith. And I say that believing that in a similar situation we would probably fair just about as well. — but what is your sea? — because I think a lot of us find ourselves in a situation much like Israel was in here where we know the suffering and heartache that lies behind us. — we keep doing the same things and making the same mistakes. If we're honest with ourselves we know that we need to change our lives. — and we like Israel are given instruction from God. In our Bible study or through the preaching of the word. In someway the Holy Spirit makes it clear to us the things we ought to be doing. — But it’s a bit scary. Taking that first step into the sea, stepping out on faith isn’t easy.
Stepping up in a ministry isn't easy. Making a decision to be faithful with our time and with our money isn't easy. Waling away from gossip isn’t easy. Pushing back against our friends and our coworkers and family when they expect you to behave in a way that is unbecoming a Christian isn’t easy. Taking a stand isn’t easy. — But you have to ask yourself this question: Is God where I came from, is God where I am now, or is God where I need to be going — Where God is, that is where you should be also.
Faith and Doubt
Faith and Doubt
Published in a Christian magazine years ago this was written:
Doubt sees the obstacles.
Faith sees the way!
Doubt sees the darkest night,
Faith sees the day!
Doubt dreads to take a step.
Faith soars on high!
Doubt questions, “Who believes?”
Faith answers, “I!”
Action
Action
If everyone please buy their heads and close their eyes for just a moment. My guess is that the Holy Spirit is guiding all of us in some direction. I don't know what it is for you. I don't know what decisions that you need to make, I don't know what sees you need to step in. Sometimes, you don't have a choice: you can't turn back so the only way to go forward. Other times God may have something great for you planned if you would just exercise enough faith to be a little uncomfortable for a season. — what I want you to ask yourself this morning is: where is God? I understand that God is omnipresent, what I mean by that is: what does God want for my life. If you can answer that question you know what you need to do, you need to go wherever God is. For Israel turning back meant returning to slavery, going back under the Egyptian whips. Going forward was into the unknown. For Christians going back means being a slave to sin and while going forward maybe scary you can take confidence that God will bless your faithfulness.
Let’s Pray