Obey God Even When...You Don't Want to Move {Part 3}

As we move on in Moses' story to the third aspect of obedience, we will be focusing on the Israelites' escape from Egypt (Check out part one and part two). From their behavior and the Lord's response, we learn that obedience moves us forward. God wants to do big things through us, but we cannot sit still. We cannot keep returning back to our old life, enslaved to sin. Obedience requires movement. Movement requires trust. 


Unless we completely submit to God's plan, we cannot move forward into it. 

Diving into Exodus 14, we quickly learn that obeying God is not all peace and ease...at least in the world's eyes. As soon as Moses leads the Israelites out of Egypt, they begin to question their decision to leave Egypt. Fear of the unknown makes them question God's plan. The Egyptians were coming after them and they wonder if entering the barren wilderness or dying by an Egyptian's hand is really a better option than slavery. As the Egyptians charge toward them, the Israelites panic. 

They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” Exodus 14:11-12

Wait what?! They want to go back to Egypt? What are these people thinking? The Egyptians beat them, over-worked them, and would not let them leave! God gave them their freedom! He punished the Egyptians, displaying His power. He gave the Israelites gold and silver. He removed their chains. Why do they want to go back to a life of bondage? 

But, wait a second. That sounds a lot like us sometimes. We often, in the midst of fear and discontentment, wish to go back to the "carefree" life of sin. I mean let's be real..the uglier life gets, the prettier sin appears. When suffering hits, we look to our idols. When discomfort arrives, we turn to the pleasures of the world. 

The Israelites had to leave their comfort zone. The more they moved out of Egypt, the better it looked. They were scared, tired, hungry, and impatient. Obeying God did not bring the results they wanted. 

Isaiah recounts the events of Exodus 14 in Isaiah 30. This passage reminds us that our own plan only brings shame and humiliation. Going back to our former way of life does not give us the comfort we think it will. 

“Ah, stubborn children,” declares the Lord,“who carry out a plan, but not mine,and who make an alliance,[a] but not of my Spirit,    that they may add sin to sin;who set out to go down to Egypt,    without asking for my direction,to take refuge in the protection of Pharaoh    and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt!Therefore shall the protection of Pharaoh turn to your shame,    and the shelter in the shadow of Egypt to your humiliation.For though his officials are at Zoan    and his envoys reach Hanes,everyone comes to shame    through a people that cannot profit them,that brings neither help nor profit,    but shame and disgrace.”

But God was taking care of the Israelites. Yes, a giant sea blocked their path, but God parted it (Exodus 14:21). Yes, an angry Egyptian army came after them, but God drowned their enemies (Exodus 14:26). Yes they had to travel the long way around to the Promised Land, but God was protecting them from war (Exodus 13:17-18). 

And Moses said to the people, “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. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent. The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to GO FORWARD.” Exodus 14:13-14

You see, obedience moves us forward. We cannot sit in the fear and bondage of sin. We have to move out of our "comfort zone" which is not as comfortable as it seems. When we choose to disobey God, we choose our former way of life and cannot move forward into God's protection. Obedience and trust moves us forward. God wants us to move forward into His plan, not our own. The Lord is continually fighting for you. Trust that obeying God is the BEST way, despite what the situation looks like. God is leading and guiding you. He knows the circumstance of your heart. 

For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel,“In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength"...Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you,   and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you.For the Lord is a God of justice;    blessed are all those who wait for him. Isaiah 30:15,18

What is holding you back? Don't miss out on His plan because you can't let go of sin or fear. Walking with the Lord means walking at His pace and in His direction. Ask God to create in you a desire for HIM that far outweighs your desire for the world. What is the "Egypt" in your life? Remember, sin promises to be comfortable and peaceful, but it ALWAYS disappoints. God may chose to take you the long way around to your "Promised Land". But, remember, even on hard, long paths, God sees the bigger picture. Be patience. He knows the circumstance of your heart. He is teaching you something worth far more than your comfort or fleshly desires. He is protecting you from evil and for good. 

I return to You, Oh Lord. Help me to obey you and submit wholeheartedly to Your plan. You will not lead me anywhere You will not be. Every step of the way, You will provide and sustain me. I wait on You, Lord, not for my pain to go away. I wait on You, Lord, not for my desert to end. I wait on You, Lord, not for my enemies to disappear. Thank you for lavishing Your grace upon me as I step forward in obedience. Amen

☎︎

The Girl Next Door