Worship or Worry You Pick?

Big Idea of the Message: God will accomplish His purposes because of His unfailing love.

Trapped like a rat (vs. 10-12)

Have you ever felt trapped, like you had no way out of something that no matter where you turn disaster faced you head on;

Have you ever tried to blame someone else for this feeling of being trapped, you know “well if they would have just let me alone this would not have happened” or maybe “well if you would have listed to me things would have been different”

Yet all you can see is I have nowhere to turn my life is crumbling, I just want to go back from where I came because I feel “trapped like a rat”;

That is where we find the Israelites at this very moment of this narrative - they feel trapped, they feel like they are going to die, and they feel like it is all Moses’ fault;

They have the Red Sea in behind of them with no boats and no bridge and in front they have the chariots of Egypt coming to kill them - their perception is being “trapped like a rat”;

But remember this perception may not always be correct because it is a feeling and not necessarily a reality;

Their perception was that death was coming either by the Red Sea which is 7,254 feet deep or by the Egyptian army that was pursuing them;

But they did not consider the One who feed them, made sure they had water to drink, and a saved them from bondage - they did not consider the God factor in feeling “trapped like a rat”;

Are you considering God in your “trapped like a rat” perception today as you are faced with the Red Sea (your future) behind you and the Egyptians (your past) in front of you;

Or, like the Israelites, you consider Him for a moment and them begin to blame others instead of watching how God will defend you.

Play video Matt Maher “Your Love Defends Me (Acoustic)” Matt Maher

God’s Promise (vs. 13-14)

I am going to ask a question that may upset some, my offend others, and may bring others to the cross, it is a question that no one should just blow off because it is the root and the foundation of faith - do you really, in the absolute depths of your heart believe that God will defend you;

Why would I ask this question to a bunch of church folks - because if you, at your core for even a millisecond thought I am not sure, then your faith is build on sand that will crumble;

The Israelites started in the right direction - look at v. 10-11 again - in their terrified state they “cried out to the LORD” but then immediately blamed Moses that he did not “leave them alone”;

They focused on their situation and not God’s promise, their faith was crumbling which caused panic to set in;

However there was one among them that not only believed God’s promise but trust God’s promise beyond himself - Moses;

Moses was willing to stand on God’s promise even though his back was to the Red Sea and his front was facing the Egyptian army - why, because he trusted what was above everything, God;

He did not trust the crowd, the challenges or his perception he trusted God’s promise what or who are you trusting today?

God’s Protection Provided (vs. 18-31)

How hard is to sit and wait when you feel “trapped like a rat”;

On the other hand how easy is it blame yourself, others and yes even God for what has you “trapped like a rat”;

As we look at life with blinders, only seeing what is directly in front of us, we can miss how God provided protection;

The Israelites missed this provided protection because their current perception of the events unfolding in their blinder vision;

What was the biggest thing they missed, that God’s “cloud of protection” was now between them and the Egyptian army which put the Egyptians in darkness but provide light for them;

God’s protection will always provide light in your darkness, it maybe a small lamp unto your feet showing you one step at a time because you cannot handle more or a still small voice that says “I love you my child so cast your cares on me”;

Are you trusting God’s protection?

Worship After Victory

As we look at what we have discovered today, there are times when we will feel “trapped like a rat” however we have “God’s Promise” that He will remain by our side and then we can see “God’s Protection Provided” in the middle off blinder moments;

But how do we respond after this provided grace of victory, because our response is what deepens our faith;

In Exodus 15:1 we see how Israel responded they worshipped through song;

Exodus 15:1 NKJV

1 Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord, and spoke, saying: “I will sing to the Lord, For He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!

How will you respond to the truth of God’s word today will you worship Him through song, will praise Him with your heart full, how will you respond to His provided victory today?

Application Point: We can praise God continually because He loves us unfailingly.

Worship Service Music