“Between a Rock and a Hard Place”
Exodus 14:10-29
Rev. Clark Lynn Callender, 7/18/10
Have you ever heard the story of the little boy who, one day, in Sunday School class, learned the story of the parting of the Red Sea? That afternoon, as the boy and his parents sat down for Sunday dinner, his parents asked him what he learned in Sunday School that day. The boy said:
“Man, was it exciting! Today we learned all about Moses and the Red Sea: How Moses organized the Hebrews into an underground resistance group. They planned real carefully, and finally broke loose from their Egyptian slave masters. They moved as fast as they could toward Canaan. They drove every kind of vehicle they could get hold of – jeeps, half-tracks, Humvees, dirt bikes, 18-wheelers – everything.
“But Pharaoh’s army wouldn’t quit. They tracked down the Israelites with radar and infra-red night vision goggles. They exploded bombs all around them and shot at them with laser-guided missiles from supersonic fighter planes and helicopter gunships.
“When Moses and his people reached the Red Sea, they thought they were finished. There was raging water in front of them and the Egyptians right behind them. Suddenly, though, the Israelite Army Corp of Engineers came to the rescue and built a huge pontoon bridge over the Red Sea and all the fugitives crossed over to freedom.
“Then, just as Pharaoh’s forces were about to cross over the bridge behind them, the Hebrews blew it up with nuclear warheads and saved all the people. Then they all lived happily ever after in the Promised Land. What a terrific lesson!”
Needless to say, the young boy’s mother and father were more than just a little concerned about their son’s over-active imagination. “Is that really what they taught you in Sunday School this morning?” they asked.
“Well,” the little boy replied, “not exactly. But if I told you what they really taught me... you’d never believe it!”
An unbelievable rescue. An absolutely incredible escape. The people of Israel delivered out of a seemingly impossible situation.
Well, this is something of what I’d like to talk about this morning: Participating in God’s deliverance out of life’s seemingly impossible situations.
Today (in our study of the life of Moses), Pharaoh has finally agreed to release the people of Israel (following then ten plagues God unleashed against the Egyptians). So God leads the people out – but, curiously, not in the most direct route away from Egypt toward Canaan. Instead, as the text makes clear, God takes them in a rather roundabout path – this to avoid other potential enemies in the region which God knows the people are not yet strong enough to confront.
God is aware of their weakness and works with it. It’s a perfect example of how, often, in our lives, God’s ways don’t seem to make sense; but if we’ll just try to follow the Lord’s leading, the Lord knows what’s best.
Anyway... The people appear to be wandering aimlessly. Seeing this, the Egyptians think the Israelites are lost – and thus, vulnerable – and so they start wondering: “Why did we ever let them go? Let’s go after these losers and get them back as our slaves!”
Another classic example, this time on Egypt’s part, of how we all often learn a hard lesson one day and then seem to forget it the very next day! The Egyptians haven’t yet learned their lesson – but they are about to! They set out in hot pursuit!
Well, taking this rather circuitous route, the Israelites eventually wind-up face-to-face with the Red Sea. Thanks to God, they’ve actually ended-up in the WORST possible location imaginable: penned in.
The Israelites are trapped: sea in front of them, Egyptians behind them. They are between the proverbial “rock and a hard place.” The situation seems hopeless. But suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, God comes up with something nobody every thought of! Something not even imagined in the game plan: “Part the sea?! Give me a break!” God delivers them, by the most impossible means, out of a seemingly most impossible situation! God does the impossible in the impossible!
And this, I believe, is precisely the main point of the text: God seems to deliberately bring them to an impossible situation in order to demonstrate to them (and to us) a most basic fact that God wants us to know and to base our lives upon:
That, with God, there are NO IMPOSSIBLE SITUATIONS. God can do the impossible in the impossible!
This is the text for those times (in all our lives) when we find ourselves up against some seemingly insurmountable obstacle, when we find ourselves confronted by an apparently hopeless situation. Health problems, financial problems, relationship problems. It’s for when you get hit with that word cancer, or unemployment, or divorce, or loss... The path ahead seems impossible.
Well, with God, there are no impossible situations. God can deliver you through!
Of course, this deliverance doesn’t just happen by accident! As in the story, the people have to do their part, participate in it! They’re crying, whining, ready to turn back - they are about to give up and give in. You see, they packed light for this trip: all they brought with them were “party supplies” - that is: stuff for a PITY PARTY! “Oh, poor me!” But God speaks to Moses and Moses speaks to the people and provides them with what they need to do to receive God’s victory over this impossible situation. And from this, we learn what we need to do as well – how we need to “participate” in God’s victory.
Two basic instructions, to experience God’s deliverance, when you find yourself faced with an “impossible situation”...
(I)
Instruction #1: STAND FIRM.
The people are all in a panic, and Moses begins by saying:
This is Moses’ first instruction to the people: “Stand firm... Stand still.” It’s the same word with these two slightly different meanings...
First it means to simply BE MOTIONLESS, to STOP MOVING. It’s a very important instruction. The people are running around, freaking out – much as we all often do when suddenly confronted with some frightening situation, right?
Understand: Whenever we are faced with some sort of problem, our natural impulse is to ACT. “I need to do something to get out of this situation!” Unfortunately, our initial impulse isn’t always the best one – as with the Hebrews here: Their plan is to GIVE UP and go back and be slaves!
In a similar way, our initial impulse when faced with a bad situation isn’t always what asks the most of us and gets the best for us. It’s, more often, simply the most expedient. So Moses first says, “STOP! Just stand still for a moment!” Author Glen Young writes:
“Dan considered himself to be the best carpet-layer in his city. The job before him was a simple one, just one room, nothing complicated. However, due to numerous interruptions, completing the task had taken him an hour longer than he anticipated. He needed to get to another job, so he hurriedly picked up his tools and began to leave.
“But just as he was exiting the room, much to his chagrin he noticed a lump underneath the carpet. Being a smoker, he automatically felt his shirt pocket for his cigarettes and sure enough, they were gone. He didn’t want to spend any more time on this job so he took his hammer and just tapped down the lump until it was smooth.
“Heading outside, he opened the door of his truck and saw his cigarettes on the front seat. ‘If my cigarettes are here, then what did I leave under the carpet?’ he wondered. At that very moment, the lady of the house called out to him, ‘Have you seen my parakeet? She’s missing!’
“Overwhelming dread came over Dan. He raced back into the house, quickly tore up the carpet, and found there... a brown paper bag containing the garbage from his lunch. With that, he looked up and saw the parakeet watching him from the window sill.”
“Greatly relieved, he had learned his lesson: Life has lumps. Don’t always be in such a rush to get rid of them. Stop, slow down, and think.”
And that’s what’s really meant to happen here... Moses is saying “Stop, slow down, and think.”
Think about what? Well... THE LORD instead of your problem! Notice how Moses says:
He’s saying: “Stop and LOOK AT GOD! Stop and watch for God, see what God is up to – how God is at work on your behalf!”
And this really the first part of what it means to “STAND FIRM”: It means (when facing some terrifying, impossible situation) to first STOP and LOOK AROUND at your life, to LOOK FOR GOD - how God is present, what God is up to. To not just act, but stop and TAKE INVENTORY. Basically: COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS. It’s amazing what you see, how different your life appears, when you LOOK FOR GOD in your life. It’s like...
The great scholar, Matthew Henry, one day, was robbed on the road. An obviously terrifying experience. But of this experience, he wrote in his diary that day:
“I am thankful that though the robber took everything I had, it is not all that I possess. I am thankful that though he took my possessions he did not take my life. I am thankful that it was I who was robbed not one of those dear to me. And I am thankful that I was the one being robbed not the one doing the robbing.”
He focused on his blessings, how God is with him – and this turned something horrible into a cause for thanksgiving!
This is what it first means to “stand firm”: It means to STOP AND LOOK FOR GOD. When facing some impossible situation, to not just act impulsively, to not just look at one’s problems; but to look for God. Building upon this, we then move to the other meaning of the instruction “Stand Firm” which is: to ESTABLISH yourself on a SOLID FOUNDATION. That is...
The obstacles before you are trying unsettle you and take everything from you as with the Hebrews here: to have them fall and go back into slavery. When your life is falling apart in front of you, you have to base your life on STRONG, SURE things. And just what are the “strong, sure things”?
Well, first of all they are the GREATER CAUSES in the world. People who handle life’s problems well are always those who are involved in greater issues beyond themselves
Beyond this, the “strong, sure things, in life, are also the things that most matter personally to you, the important issues in your life. It may be family, work hobbies, whatever... You need to get yourself centered on the things that are important to you – because your problems are going to try and take these things from you – and with them, your life – for example: Joyful people who no longer laugh because of their hardships. Or people who, say, love music and sued to go out to concerts but no longer do because some problem makes it now difficult...
You mustn’t let your problems TAKE YOU FROM YOU. Get strong in what matters to you. Think of it this way:
Nine years ago, my wife, Traci, was diagnosed with cancer. Of course, when we first heard the word “cancer” we figured all was over... but here we are nine years later! And many things helped bring her through: Prayer, her faith, prayer, the love of many people, prayer, the church, prayer, great doctors and surgeons... prayer!
You get the picture!
But in all of this, one of the strongest things that motivated Traci was the fact when she was first diagnosed, our two daughters were still very young. Traci knew that the teen years ahead for them were very difficult. She said, “I need to be here to help see them through!”
Now, God, of course, doesn’t always grant what we wish; but still: This drive helped to bring her through to victory! It enabled her to endure treatments she might ordinarily have given up on, it empowered her to accept pain that normally would have defeated her. It saw her through to victory! Fight for what matters to you!
The “strong, sure things” in life are the great causes; the things that are important to you; and, most importantly, they are the WORD and PROMISES OF GOD! The strongest foundation of all!
People who “stand firm” amidst the worst that life can throw at them are those whose “foundation” is the WORD OF GOD – not the words of their own worrisome hearts, not the words of pessimistic friends, not the words of a cynical world, not the words of doom and gloom newscasters; but the word of God is their foundation! The universe was spoken into being by God. Our words create our reality. What words are you basing your life upon?
You want a really simple way to become an overcomer in life? Read your Bible every day! Memorize the verses that inspire you! They are God speaking to you! Promises he will fulfill. As God himself said: “My word does not return to me empty; but accomplishes the thing I propose!” Christian author Brian Jett writes:
“A remarkable thing occurred recently at work. It clearly put into perspective what the term ‘A walking Bible’ truly means as Brandon stated to me (though very hard for him to do with his degenerative disease) something profound and eternal.
“A few nights ago, Brandon and I talked during my one hour lunch break and I asked him how he was doing. Without a moment’s pause he stated, ‘I am doing good. I’m thankful!’ I did not solicit what he would say next which made an indelible impact on me and those who were within a reasonable range to listen.
“’I get on my knees every night and pray and I read the Bible too,’ he said. He went further to talk about a Bible Study he has in his home each week. ‘I take notes and put them in my pocket and keep them in my pocket all day.’ The notes he showed me were difficult to read as his motor skills as a result of his cerebral palsy make it hard for him to write. However, he knows precisely what he writes. Although my printing is more legible, it dawned on me that with this being the case, it made little difference as I sadly cannot think of the last time I took notes during any Bible Studies I’ve been involved in.”
Brandon, a young man with cerebral palsy kept scripture verses in his pocket to take out and read during the day – to find inspiration and support. His life was GROUNDED IN THE WORD OF GOD; and thus, despite overwhelming hardships that most of us would see as a CURSE, he felt BLESSED. It caused author Brian Jett to write the following poem entitled: ‘Who Has The Handicap?’ It goes like this:
“I’m learning each and every day, from a young man who can hardly speak. He teaches me something new each day, as I watch him mop and sweep.
“His staggered gait doesn’t stop him, from walking to work each day. And every time I talk to him, he has a smile and a nice word to say.
“As he struggles to open the liner, to empty the trash each night, I am reminded of how much he has, visioned clear with true insight.
“He has no degrees or education, but he is wiser than most I’ve met. And tonight I saw him sitting alone, head bowed - he seemed upset.
“’What’s wrong Brandon?’ I asked. He replied, ‘Nothing is wrong with me. I just feel bad for a kid I saw, he’s little and can’t even see!’
“So when I think I have it bad, feeling down and emotionally flat; I think of Brandon and start to wonder... Who has the handicap?”
Instruction #1 to experience God’s deliverance, when you find yourself faced with an “impossible situation”: STAND FIRM. And then...
(II)
Instruction #2: MOVE FORWARD.
Moses has been speaking to the people – trying to keep them in line and hold them together, and in the midst of this, we then get this funny little, apparently internal interaction between God and Moses:
In other words, while Moses is busy giving his “pep-talk” to the people – trying to convince them to be strong and have faith and not worry, and so forth; it seems that Moses himself is SCARED TO DEATH – HE’S NOT SO SURE! That is, as the text seems to imply: Moses is trying to pump-up the people; while inside he’s crying out: “Oh, Lord, we’re in deep... you know what! How are we ever going to get out of this one?”
He’s apparently internally crying out to the Lord, so the Lord says to him: “Quit crying out to me, and tell the people to go forward.” A little scolding here. And notice the key final instruction: to GO FORWARD.
Now, as noted at the outset, this seems a most bizarre instruction. “Go forward... into the sea?! How is that going to help anything?!” Well notice what this command reveals:
First, that obstacles need to be confronted not avoided. Secondly, that God’s method is to confront – to provide us with a way not around our adversities but a way through them. Third, that the way “through” is through obedience – doing the often outrageous command God presents us with...
But, most especially, fourth, that what God is saying here is that LIFE IS ALWAYS AHEAD OF YOU NOT BEHIND – “MOVE FORWARD!” The Hebrews want to GO BACK – but that’s DEATH. Life is AHEAD, you have to risk going there to find it. You have to risk having something new, something greater asked of you to reach it.
The final lesson here: When in some seemingly “impossible situation” have that situation MOVE YOU FORWARD in some way: to grow deeper in faith, to grow closer to the Lord, to increase in discipleship, to increase in knowledge, to become closer to those you love, to become more giving, more serving, more understanding, more loving... whatever. To have it move your life “forward” in some way.
When facing an impossible situation, resolve to MOVE FORWARD! Go into the hardship to have it ask something more of you. As it has been said: “Don’t pray for fewer problems, pray for more skills. Don’t ask for smaller challenges, ask for greater wisdom. Don’t look for an easy way out, look for the best possible outcome. When life gives you a kick, let it kick you forward.”
When life gives you a kick, let it kick you forward.
Christian author Joseph Mazzella writes:
“I pulled an old photo album from its shelf yesterday and wiped the dust off of it. It is one that I rarely open, but something moved me to open it then. Inside of it were baby pictures of my youngest son from the day of his birth until he was 18 months old. Looking at them made my heart ache, not with nostalgia but with loss. You see, the reason I hardly ever look at these pictures is that I can see in them the normal child my son could of been. When I look at those happy, intelligent, and shining eyes in the photos I can see all the years of learning, growing, and becoming that my son could have had before the autism came.
“The severe autism that came upon my son in his second year stole his language, dramatically changed his personality, and forever clouded his mind. It left him with a life of endless frustration, mood swings, compulsive behavior, and mental pain. Each day now is a profound struggle for him and although I try to make his life easier and give him as much love and joy as I can, in the end the autism is always there keeping him from being the person he could have been.
“When the illness first came, I ran from it. I retreated into myself – I retreated from my son, I retreated from my wife, I retreated from the rest of my family, I retreated from God who I hated for letting this happen.
“However, as the months and years passed, I began to see how my son’s inner gentle spirit could still, occasionally, break those autistic walls around him. Sometimes it is in a laugh, sometimes it is in a smile, sometimes it is in a hug, but it always lets me know that that same loving soul still lives within him. I learned to live for that. And from this, I became a much better father than I ever thought I’d be, a much better husband, a much better Christian. I don’t look at anyone superficially anymore - I look deep within to find the gifted soul that lies within and I am always blessed by it.
“I’m not afraid to open the old photo album anymore. It’s not a collection of picture of some other person who might have been. It is photos of my son who I love so dearly. And one day in the life after this one I hope to get to talk to that sweet spirit and thank him for all the love he gave me and all that he taught me about patience, compassion, and life.”
It has been said: “Life is full of great obstacles. But it is also full of God overcoming them.”
Often in life we encounter situations where we seem hemmed in behind and before – trapped! But God can deliver us. God can do the impossible in the impossible.
Let God do this for you, today. When you face a seemingly impossible situation: Stand firm. And move forward.
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