Exodus 14:15-20: a reflection

15The LORD said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Speak to the children of Israel, that they go forward. 16Lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. Then the children of Israel shall go into the middle of the sea on dry ground. 17Behold, I myself will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they will go in after them. I will get myself honor over Pharaoh, and over all his armies, over his chariots, and over his horsemen. 18The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD when I have gotten myself honor over Pharaoh, over his chariots, and over his horsemen.” 19The angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from before them, and stood behind them. 20It came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel. There was the cloud and the darkness, yet it gave light by night. One didn’t come near the other all night.

Trapped between the Red Sea and Pharaoh's advancing army, the Israelites are terrified, and Moses cries out to God. But God's answer is surprising: Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. The way ahead is blocked by the sea, and yet the command is to move toward it, to go forward, trusting that God will make a way. And as they go, God does: the sea divides before them, and his own presence, the pillar of cloud, moves behind them to stand between his people and the enemy.

Notice the command at the impossible moment: go forward. With the sea ahead and the enemy behind, when there seemed to be no way, God did not tell them to stand still and wait, but to move forward toward the obstacle, trusting him to open the way. The path through the sea appeared as they went, not before; faith had to take the first step toward the impossible before the way opened. And behind them, God's presence stood as a shield between them and their pursuers.

That speaks to our own moments when the way ahead seems blocked. Sometimes faith means going forward toward what looks impossible, trusting that God will make a way as we step out, rather than waiting for the way to open before we move. The sea parted for Israel as they went forward, not before. When you face an obstacle that seems to leave no way through, and you sense God calling you to move ahead, go forward in faith. The way may open only as you step toward it, and God's own presence goes with you, before and behind. Do not only stand and wait; when God says go forward, move, trusting him to make the way.

Lord, when your people were trapped between the sea and the enemy, you told them not to stand still but to go forward, and the sea parted as they moved, while your presence stood behind them as a shield. When the way ahead of me seems blocked and there appears to be no path through, give me the faith to go forward at your call. Help me trust that you will make a way as I step out, even when the way opens only as I move toward it, not before. Keep me from only standing and waiting when you are calling me to move. And thank you that your presence goes with me, before and behind, as I go. When you say go forward, help me move in faith, trusting you to open the sea.