Power in the Face of Fear

Have you ever seen the power of the Lord first-hand? This morning, I would like for you to think about the power of water. It can be easy to underestimate. Because you can get into a stream and not even feel a current. But you submerge yourself in a moving river and you start to drift downstream against your will. You throw yourself into a rapid and you quickly drown. Even now, the images of the huge down-pouring of rain that we got a while ago are fresh on my mind. Days of pouring rain flooded parts of campus, streets, buildings, and homes. Flash floods and newly made rivers carried off cars, cargo trucks, churches, and people. Some people lost everything, some people lost their lives. All because of some wind and rain. Have you ever seen the power of the Lord first-hand?

Often, when we think about these types of natural occurrences, like wind and rain, we might not think about God showing us His power. But if you look at Scripture, you’ll see a lot of examples of God using the natural world as a way to reveal His power and authority. In doing so, He shows us that though the natural forces of the world are powerful, He is sovereign and has authority over all. Today we’ll take a look at probably the most famous example in the Bible. So if you’ll turn to Exodus 14, we’ll learn about the Israelite’s exodus out of Egypt and the crossing of the Red Sea.

Chapter 14 continues the story of Israel’s flight from Egypt. God had just sent ten plagues against the nation as a way to demonstrate His power. These plagues were the Nile turning into blood, frogs, gnats, flies, the death of livestock, outbreaks of boils, hail, locusts, darkness, and the death of every firstborn of Egypt, both man and animal. These plagues get more and more powerful as Pharoah continued to be stubborn. So, to combat his hard heart, God moved from signs that Pharaoh's magicians could replicate to those that they couldn’t. Eventually, Pharoah couldn’t take it anymore. He realized that he did not have the power, and that the authority of heaven and earth rested solely with God. And he finally let Israel leave.

Exodus 13 ends in the people leaving, but by a route that they would not expect. And not only are they leaving Egypt, but God is actively leading them. Exodus 13:21–22 says,

Exodus 13:21–22 NASB95

The Lord was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.

This is the scene that Exodus 14 begins with. God- leading the way in a pillar of cloud- and Israel- walking a way that they did not know and would soon become very confusing for them.

Exodus 14:1-2 says,

Exodus 14:1–2 NASB95

Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Tell the sons of Israel to turn back and camp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea; you shall camp in front of Baal-zephon, opposite it, by the sea.

They had only been on their journey for a few days and God was already telling them to “turn back.” That’s like getting on the highway for a road trip and then realizing 8 hours in that you’ve been going the wrong way. Yet here Israel is, already having to turn around. But there’s more to it than that. Normally when you turn around to correct your course, you get on the “right” way to your destination. But that’s not where God led them. Instead, He took Israel down a different path, where the only way to get to the promised land was over a body of water. Pharoah comments on this in Exodus 14:3

Exodus 14:3 NASB95

“For Pharaoh will say of the sons of Israel, ‘They are wandering aimlessly in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.’

Israel is walking a path that makes no sense to anyone, they just left Egypt for a better land but they aren’t even going the right way. This is part of what prompts Pharoah to change his mind. He realized that Israel was trying to leave for good but that they weren’t doing a very good job. He saw the Israelites as an easy target with no power.

And in part, he was right. The Israelites, though a massive crowd, were helpless on their own. But thankfully, they weren’t on their own. It says in Exodus 14:4

Exodus 14:4 NASB95

“Thus I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will chase after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.” And they did so.

They Egyptians still didn’t get it. They were ten plagues into learning but still didn’t understand. So, God gave them another opportunity to learn.

In response to this hardening of the heart and the Israelites seeming wandering around the wilderness in their flight, Pharoah gathered his army. Exodus 14:5-9

Exodus 14:5–9 NASB95

When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his servants had a change of heart toward the people, and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” So he made his chariot ready and took his people with him; and he took six hundred select chariots, and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them. The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he chased after the sons of Israel as the sons of Israel were going out boldly. Then the Egyptians chased after them with all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen and his army, and they overtook them camping by the sea, beside Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon.

Pharoah gathers not only his army, but his best chariots. He took the very best that he had to capture the Israelites and enslave them again.

I’d like you to notice something interesting that we see. At the end of verse 9 it says that the “sons of Israel were going out boldly.” The Israelites, in this moment, had faith. The ten plagues had taught them something and they were not afraid. Unfortunately, this would not last. As the Egyptian army caught up to them and trapped them in the wilderness, they began to become afraid.

Verses 10-12 say,

Exodus 14:10–12 NASB95

As Pharaoh drew near, the sons of Israel looked, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they became very frightened; so the sons of Israel cried out to the Lord. Then they said to Moses, “Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us in this way, bringing us out of Egypt? “Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”

Israel, in the face of opposition and seemingly impossible odds, loses faith in the Lord. Even after all that has happened for them to be able to leave, they again started to doubt. But their reaction to this fear is actually a good one. The very first thing that they did was cry out to the Lord, because even in the face of their fear, they had not abandoned all hope. But they still did not believe.

They cry out to Moses and blame him for the situation that they are now in. They believed that they would die in the wilderness and that all that had happened would be for nothing. But Moses does not lose faith that God will protect them. He says to them in verse 13 and 14, “‘Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for your today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent.’”

It is interesting that Moses has to say that last line. Because that’s how God usually fights for us. In times when we need His power and His saving grace, He fights for us even when we say nothing, and sometimes, especially when we say nothing. God even seems a little confused when everyone starts calling out to Him. He asks Moses “‘why are you crying out to Me?’” God sees the threat of the Egyptians, but unlike the people of Israel, do not think that they are anything to be concerned about.

God then tells Moses His plan on how to deal with the situation. In Exodus 14:15-18 says,

Exodus 14:15–18 NASB95

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the sons of Israel to go forward. “As for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, and the sons of Israel shall go through the midst of the sea on dry land. “As for Me, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. “Then the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord, when I am honored through Pharaoh, through his chariots and his horsemen.”

He tells Israel what to do, Moses what to do, and then says what He will do. The job of the people of Israel is to trust that God will protect them, they’re supposed to just go forward to the path God has prepared for them. The job of Moses is to be a conduit for the power of God, he is supposed to lift up his hand and staff and show Israel the power of the Lord. God Himself will glorify His name and will make sure that all know that He is the only true God. God makes it quite clear that He is the One and Only actor, the only One who is doing any actual work. All Israel has to do is stay silent while the Lord fights for them. And He does.

In verse 19, the cloud- the very symbol of God’s presence among the Israelites- shields them from the advancing Egyptian army. Moving from in front of them to behind them, it brought darkness to the Egyptians so that they could not find their way to Israel.

This reminds me of what it says in Isaiah 52:11-12 when it says

Isaiah 52:11–12 NASB95

Depart, depart, go out from there, Touch nothing unclean; Go out of the midst of her, purify yourselves, You who carry the vessels of the Lord. But you will not go out in haste, Nor will you go as fugitives; For the Lord will go before you, And the God of Israel will be your rear guard.

When Isaiah is speaking, he is talking about how Israel has been captured and taken from the promised land by Assyria. But even though much time has passed and they have strayed from God many times, He is still faithful to them. He will show the same kind of power to His people, even when they remain silent and fearful. The Lord will protect His people and will glorify His name through them. He will lead the way and protect the most vulnerable of His own.

Back in Exodus 14:21-23 says

Exodus 14:21–24 NASB95

Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord swept the sea back by a strong east wind all night and turned the sea into dry land, so the waters were divided. The sons of Israel went through the midst of the sea on the dry land, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. Then the Egyptians took up the pursuit, and all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots and his horsemen went in after them into the midst of the sea.

In a miraculous display of power, God parted the Red Sea so that Israel could walk on dry land and escape the Egyptians. And when He does, He only uses the natural world to do it. He didn’t need to use anything other than what was right in front of Him. Using an east wind, he parts the sea, showing His complete and total dominion over creation. Now that Moses had followed God’s instructions, and Israel their’s, God fulfilled His promise.

As night ends and Egypt can see where Israel has gone, God allows the army to follow Israel onto the newly dried land. But He still does not allow Pharoah and his chariots to get close to Israel. As they ride onto the path that God created, He throws them into a confusion, stopping them from catching up to His people. This confusion has such a great effect that the Egyptian army finally recognizes that the Lord is with Israel. It says in verse 25,

Exodus 14:25 NASB95

He caused their chariot wheels to swerve, and He made them drive with difficulty; so the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from Israel, for the Lord is fighting for them against the Egyptians.”

But at this point it was too late for them. They had defied the Lord for too long.

God then tells Moses to stretch out his hand again, closing the waters on top of the mighty Egyptian army. The waters that had previously been the way of deliverance for Israel had now become a grave for Egypt. Verses 28 and 29 say,

Exodus 14:28–29 NASB95

The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen, even Pharaoh’s entire army that had gone into the sea after them; not even one of them remained. But the sons of Israel walked on dry land through the midst of the sea, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.

The rescue of the God’s people and the utter destruction of their enemies is a testament to the overwhelming power of God. The sea, for Israel, is described as a wall around them. It is a protective place where they’re safe from harm and could walk unhindered. But for Egypt, the sea swallowed them so completely that not even one of them remained. God left no room for Egypt to doubt Him, He proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that He was the Lord of all heaven and earth.

Chapter 14 ends with verses 30-31 saying,

Exodus 14:30–31 NASB95

Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. When Israel saw the great power which the Lord had used against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in His servant Moses.

What began as a harrowing and seemingly precarious situation, where the freedom of the Israelites rested on a knifes edge, ended with the miraculous and resounding defeat of the Egyptians. God showed the world His power and renewed the faith of the His people.

The whole story is a contest. It was a contest on who has the authority to claim ownership of God’s people. Pharoah, in coming back to reclaim his slaves, was saying that he had the authority over Israel. But God, who was leading Israel out, was claiming that He had authority over His people. It was a fight. And Israel had no say in the matter.

Israel, much like followers of God today, had a very simple job. They were to remain obedient and trust that the Lord would protect them. The battle was not for the nation of Israel to fight, it was entirely up to God. And God had been trying to prove that to them for a while. He had sent a whole host of plagues and had already secured the escape of Israel. And while they thought that they believed that, their disbelief was quickly proved.

Verse 8 says that the “sons of Israel were going out boldly.” At first, they were confident in God and His ability to save. But just a few verses later, in verse 10, it says that “they became very frightened” and they lost all faith that God would save them. In the course of just a few days, they went from total trust to total desperation.

This isn’t a phenomenon that only the ancient Israelites experienced. It’s something that we can too. When times are going well, it can be easy to ride the momentum, forgetting all of the hard times that God has seen you through. And as soon as times get difficult, it can still be difficult to remember what God has done for you because we begin to focus on the moment. Oftentimes, we can forget that we are constantly in the presence of God, as Israel learned that day.

As the former slaves were crying out in fear, God was acting. He secured a way for His people to escape and destroyed the opposing army. This account does not say what the Israelites felt while walking through the Red Sea, but it does describe how they were feeling after seeing the army destroyed. Verse 31 says that, “the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in His servant Moses.” Even though we see the same word “fear” it does not mean the same thing as before. Earlier, Israel was afraid that God’s power was not enough, but now they understand that He is more powerful than anything that they can imagine. And because of this, they grew to fear the Lord. But this type of fear is not something that separated them from Him, instead it made them grow closer to Him. It was a respect and deep-seated belief that no matter what might happen and how afraid and unable they might be, God was powerful enough to protect them. And God was demonstrating that He would never let His people perish.

Hebrews 11:29 says,

Hebrews 11:29 NASB95

By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned.

The reason that Israel was able to pass through the Red Sea when Egypt couldn’t was because the Israelites had faith in God. It is because of faith that they were able to weather the storms that came against them, even when they were afraid. Because in the face of their fear, God showed His power.

Do you have the faith to weather the storms of life? Jesus says in Matthew 7:24-27

Matthew 7:24–27 NASB95

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. “And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. “The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”

Jesus makes it clear that if we want to be able to handle the floods and the winds that life will bring against us, we have to have a firm foundation of faith. We have to build our lives on the power and promise that has been given to us through Jesus. Through His death on the cross and resurrection into new life we have recieved a new way to salvation. God has made a new path through the waters of sin for those who have the faith to take it. Jesus has already raised His hands on the cross, making the way for us to continue forward. Will you take it? Will you trust and obey? Will you have faith in the promise and power of God? If anyone has any needs, please come forward as we stand and sing.