Backed into a corner

As some of you know, I'm working on a novel right now called Blossoms of Faith. The premise is the seed in the parable Jesus tells in Matthew 13 that falls on the rocky place where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, but when the sun came out, the plant was scorched and withered away. Jesus explains that this seed represents someone who hears the Truth of the Gospel, receives it with joy, but has no root, and when troubles come, that person falls away from God.

This reminds me of the story in Exodus, where Moses is leading the people of Israel out of Egypt and of slavery (Just as God leads us out of the world and out of slavery to sin) and what is the first thing God does? He backs them into a corner. I just love God. He has such a sense of humor. He places the people beside the Red Sea with no way to escape the Egyptian army coming after them. Why does He do this? To humiliate them? To allow them to be defeated? No. He does it as it says in Exodus 14, to "gain glory" for Himself. To show the Egyptians who He was and to show the Israelites who is the true God. God is not some egomaniac. He wants us to know Him. To know who He is. He wants a relationship with us, and He delights in providing for us, protecting us and preforming miracles.

Have you ever felt like the enemy was hot on your trail? Have you ever felt backed into a corner where nothing was going right? What did the Isralites do? They wanted to go back to Egypt, to become slaves again rather then be slaughtered in the desert. That's what happens to many Christians when bad things happen. They give up, walk away, decide they'd rather not be a Christian afterall. But you see, they'll miss the miracle. They'll miss everything God has in store for them.

Thank God for Moses. He told the Israelites to "Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring today... The Lord will fight for you: you need only to be still."

Well, you know the rest of the story. And as you know on the other side of the Red Sea, after God delivered them from their enemies, they all sang songs and praised God.

When bad things happen, when you're feeling like the world is against you, don't give up. Don't walk away. Get on your knees, talk to God, and then be still and watch His deliverance. It may not be today. It may not be tomorrow, but if you're faithful, God will come through for you. He can't do anything but that, for it would go against His very nature.

Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation. Psalm 91: 14-15