Following the Burning Bush episode, Moses made his reluctant and fearful return to Egypt, saying hesitantly at first, “Let My people go.” He said it several more times with ever- increasing forcefulness and ever-increasing back-up from the Lord. Moses and the children of Israel headed out of the country, with as much of the wealth of Egypt as they could carry. The plagues had left the world’s supreme power in disarray, the country in shambles. Upon arriving at the Red Sea, the Israelites discovered that Pharaoh must have changed his mind because the Egyptian army was in hot pursuit. Very quickly, the Israelites forgot the miraculous show of force Almighty God had displayed in systematically dismantling the national gods of Egypt. They accused Moses of bringing them out there to die.
Exodus 14:13-18 records Moses response as well as God’s, “But Moses said to the people, "Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you 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." 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.” (NASU)
Moses, the good and faithful leader, brought their case to the Lord. The Lord threw responsibility right back in the lap of Moses, "Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the sons of Israel to go forward.” Now was the time for faith in action. Moving ahead in trust and reliance on the Lord, behaving as if they believed that the Lord heard and had answered. Anything less exhibits disbelief in and distrust of the Lord. Move on, God says. Move on in the face of impossible odds. Move on in the face of danger. Move on despite your fears. This is what pleases God and gives opportunity for the watching world to see God at work. His response to your trust in Him causes the world to give Him praise, honor, and glory.
Why is it that I remain stuck in place, refusing to “go forward”? Why do I keep looking at the long odds instead of at the Savior for whom nothing is impossible or easy or difficult? Why do I fret and worry instead of praying? Why do I pray and then live as if I do not expect an answer? Why do I keep on praying the same prayer over and over again? Why do I pray and then act in such a way that indicates I do not believe that I received an answer? The Bible tells me that if I pray while doubting, I will be like the surf of the sea, tossed about by the wind. I must pray and “move on”. Moving on is far preferable to being tossed about. Let us move on in faith and trust.