move forward – Moment to Moment (Bible blog)

The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. (Exodus 14:15)

In our lives, there are times we face things that are too big for us. And our natural response is to cry out to God, “Help!”

There is, of course, a time for that.

But the time also comes when we must simply trust God and his promises and move forward. To do the things that he has told us to do, believing that ultimately we will see his salvation.

That does not mean we will always see that deliverance here on earth.

Jesus never promised to take all our problems away. There are many people who have suffered and even died for his sake.

But Jesus won the ultimate victory on the cross.

And because of that victory, no matter what sufferings we may go through on this earth, we can be assured that we will eventually see his salvation.

So let us move forward in faith, doing all God has called us to do.

As Paul said,

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (I Corinthians 15:57-58)

Stand firm. Go forward.

It strikes me that Pharaoh probably never intended to let the Israelites leave Egypt.

Up until then, all Moses had ever asked was that they be allowed to go and worship God in the desert.

And when Pharaoh finally gave them permission to go after the final plague, all he really consented to was letting them go worship the Lord and to take all the sheep and herds that they needed in order to make sacrifices (Exodus 12:31).

So when he heard that the Israelites had fled and not just gone to worship the Lord in the desert, suddenly he roused his army to chase after them.

It must have been pretty terrifying for the Israelites.

Here they are, trapped against the sea, and they see the Egyptian army coming after them.

And so they cry out in panic to Moses (for the first, but by no means the last time), “Have you brought us out here only to die? If only we had stayed in Egypt.”

But Moses replied,

Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today.

The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still. (Exodus 14:13-14)

Then God told Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on.” (15)

“Stand firm.”

So often in life, we become shaken because of troubles in our lives. Health problems. Economic troubles. Financial troubles. Relationship problems.

But God says, “Don’t let these things shake you. Stand firm. Know that I am a rock that you can stand on. I will fight for you. I will deliver you. Know that these problems will eventually pass.”

How often have we faced all kinds of problems and stress in our lives, only to have these things pass?

How often can we look back and see how God has brought us through?

I’m not saying that God will always take away our problems completely. Sometimes in this life, we suffer through great pain and sorrow.

But how many times have you seen God bring you through even the toughest times?

So don’t be shaken when the tough times come. Stand firm.

“Go forward.”

Don’t let your problems paralyze you. Keep marching forward in your life.

Sometimes we face trouble because we’re following God, and as a result, the enemy attacks.

Satan will not just stand still when you’re making a difference for God’s kingdom. He will attack.

But don’t let him stop you from following God. Keep going forward.

God will deliver you from Satan’s attack if you’ll just keep following Him and move forward.

Many times we make bad decisions and troubles come as a result.

But when that happens, don’t keep looking back with regret. Go forward.

You can’t change the past. But you can affect your future if you’ll just go forward and do the things God has told you to.

As the apostle Paul wrote,

I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.

But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12-14)

Whatever you’re going through in your life, whatever you’re facing, stand firm.

Know that God is on your side.

Know that he’ll fight for you.

Know that he’ll bring you through.

And move forward.

Don’t let your problems paralyze you and keep you from doing the things he’s called you to do.

Keep pressing on.

Keep straining on toward what is ahead.

God will be with you, and he will deliver you.