Go Forward

The Lord knew that the Israelites were not fully convinced of His person and power and because He knew that He needed to meet them where they were, He made it His business to showcase the glory and power they did not quite yet grasp. They needed something big for the place they were on their spiritual journey. The plagues tormented the Egyptians before the exodus of the Israelites but it wasn’t quite enough. It especially wasn’t sufficient when a familiar oppressor/temptation/sin began to pursue them again after they thought they were finally rid of it. This God whom Moses told them they should believe, got them out of bondage from Egypt but he must not be big enough to remove the struggle that hindered and oppressed them for centuries.

Among the many characteristics of God that the Israelites’ Exodus story in Chapter 14 displays, it vividly shows His incalculable mercy. When the Israelites realised that the Egyptians were still pursuing them, of course, they became afraid. The truth is that we don’t automatically switch to the mighty and brave hero when we get released from a temptation or bad situation. Flashbacks of the years of torment can cause us to cower, and cry out to God as the Israelites did. The truth is that we speak what we know and our hearts pour out from where we are spiritually. Therefore, I understand the Israelites bellows to return to the graves of Egypt rather than be killed in the wilderness. The wounds were too fresh to cry from any other place but a place of pain.

God, the all-knowing, all-wise, and compassionate Father had mercy on His people and through his servant Moses said, “Fear not, stand firm and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.” (Exodus 14:13)

Without the intervention of God, our weaknesses will continue to hold us hostage or pursue us when we try to break free. The memory of the might of the Egyptians was probably debilitating. On seeing the pursuit the people retreated to a familiar place of weakness and defeat, and were ready to surrender to the same thing, that the Lord worked mightily to deliver them from. God though, knew more was needed. If they couldn’t free themselves for 400 years, He was well aware that the liberation work was still in progress. He told His people and He still tells us today not to worry because He will never let a situation torment us forever. God promises that He won’t leave us in a place of oppression, depression, or hurt. He wanted His people free and not just partially free in body but free in their minds.

Moses said to the people, “The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent” (Exodus 14:14). God then stepped in with the might that you’d expect from the One who created everything and is everything. The Bible says, “Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel” (Verse 19). That scripture excited me so much, as in my native tongue I can almost hear God say, ‘Nah, you cyar be serious, you still trying to harass my people! Well, you’ll have to pass through me first!”

The Ruler and Lord of the heavenly hosts put a barrier between the torment, sin and pain of their past and the bright future He promised ahead. Most importantly, in verse 15 He told Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward”.

I am glad, God never asks us to be more or give more than we are capable of at any given time. With our weak knees and shaky faith, He still shows up in bigger and better ways so that we can see that He is able and worthy of your trust. He is gentle in His treatment of us but mighty in His defense of us. He never lets the skeletons of our past haunt us forever. If He says you are free then you are free indeed (John 8:36) and He will do whatever it takes to wrench away the grip that the enemy has over you and your loved ones.

Being afraid is normal, it’s even expected, but Go Forward because God has said that He is fighting for you. He is still sending His angels as a barrier between you and the enemy. It’s the reason the fiery darts and weapons of the enemy won’t ever prosper (Isaiah 54:17). The Israelites experienced their protection move from the front to the back, even as they were encouraged to keep going forward.

Take a moment and visualise the heavenly hosts of angels in rank before and behind you in your homes, on the roadway, at your workplaces, and everywhere your feet trod. God’s battalion is not resting and neither are they weary. The minute the enemy steps out of line, they adjust their positions to keep you and your families safe. Even with the bad things that happen to us or those we love, just imagine that without this protection from the Lord, you would have been gone from the face of the earth already. Satan’s job in increasing order of severity is to steal, kill, and destroy and he takes it seriously (John 10:10). As far as the enemy is concerned those are the only situations he wants for you.

God on the other hand has preserved you and protected you and increased you and continues to so do, because HE wants to give you Life and give it abundantly (John 10:10).

Go forward, the Lord will fight for you!

Love Ya!

Krystal Baynes-Hoseinee

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