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Friday... What to do when your back is up against a wall...


Friday... What do we do when our back is up against a wall? Good question and a pertinent question considering that our back has been up against a wall of pandemic, of political unrest, of economic failure. And we thought that it was over with the start of a new year. But the wall it seems is still there. So what do we do?

The Children of Israel in the OT had their backs against a wall. Finally, Pharaoh was letting then leave Egypt to go to their Promised Land but as they got closer to the Red Sea here Pharaoh came with his army. He had changed his mind. He wanted them to come back and be his slaves. Moses their leader had a problem.

Exodus 14:10-12 (MSG) says, "As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and saw them-Egyptians! Coming at them! They were totally afraid. They cried out in terror to God. They told Moses, 'Weren't the cemeteries large enough in Egypt so that you had to take us out here in the wilderness to die? What have you done to us, taking us out of Egypt? Back in Egypt didn't we tell you this would happen? Didn't we tell you, '"Leave us alone here in Egypt-we're better off as slaves in Egypt than as corpses in the wilderness."'"

Now that is one way to handle a wall, complain, grumble, bring up the past. Oh, I want to get back to normal. This is horrible. Why should I put my trust in God. He doesn't care. It doesn't work?

Exodus 14:13-14 (AMP), "Then Moses said to the people, 'Don't be afraid! Take your stand [be firm and confident and undismayed] and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; for those Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you while you [only need to] keep silent and remain calm.'"

He says, to take you stand, be firm, be confident and don't be dismayed. The NLT says, "Don't be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today." And that's what He did.

Verses 21-22 (NLT), "Then Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the Lord opened up a path through the waters with a strong east wind. The wind blew all night, turning the sea bed into dry land. So the people of Israel walked thought the middle of the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on each side." God took the wall and used it to protect them.

Why is it we complain when we have God on our side and in our life. He takes the wall that we are facing and uses it. Trust, Him, follow Him, believe in Him.

By the way the walls that God was using to protect them came down on the Egyptians and they were no more.

Whatever the wall that you are facing, God wants to use it. "Don't be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you." 

Verse 31 (NIV), "And when the Israelites saw the mighty power that God unleashed against the Egyptians, they were filled with awe before him. They put their faith in the Lord and in his servant Moses." Now that is the way to handle a wall. Let God use it! Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning


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