The Crisis at the Red Sea
God arranged the crisis at the Red Sea to test His people's faith and to provide an opportunity for them to trust Him.
David Wilkerson emphasizes the divine orchestration of the crisis at the Red Sea, where God led the Israelites into a seemingly impossible situation to demonstrate His power and to test their faith. He highlights that God intentionally hardened Pharaoh's heart and positioned the Israelites between the mountains and the sea, leaving them with no escape but to trust in Him. This moment was not just about their deliverance from Egypt, but also about instilling in them a deep reliance on God's guidance and strength. Wilkerson points out that God had a purpose in allowing this crisis: to annihilate their enemies and to teach His people to stand still and trust Him. Ultimately, this event serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty and the importance of faith in dire circumstances.
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The Old Testament lists many times of testing for God's people. Perhaps the greatest example was the crisis at the Red Sea. This crisis was completely arranged by God, set up by His very own commands to Israel. Scripture says that it was God who hardened Pharaoh's heart, caused the Egyptians to pursue Israel, and allowed the Egyptian army to overtake them by the sea.
God told the people to camp between Migdol and Pihahiroth, a location situated between two mountain passes, with the sea bordering a third side (see Exodus 14). The only possible route of escape was back into the wilderness and that was blocked by Pharaoh's approaching army. The Israelites were horrified at their situation but their God had led them there!
Let me point out something here: God could have arranged to knock the wheels off the Egyptians' chariots at any time in the wilderness, stranding them and starving them to death. But, instead, He waited until they were between the walls of the separated sea.
God also could have sent the supernatural cloud down upon the Egyptians' camp to confuse them. Those soldiers would have run around in the confusing mist for days. But, instead, He chose to send the cloud behind the Israelites as protection.
Or, God could have sent a single angel to slay the entire Egyptian army in the blink of an eye. In fact, He could have chosen to destroy them at any point. But the Lord did not do any of those things. Instead, He squeezed Israel into a tight, alarming situation, a crisis that was impossible to escape by human means.
I believe the Lord had two purposes in allowing this impossible situation for His people:
He was determined to annihilate Israel's enemies; never again would they have to look over their shoulders in fear. God was saying, in essence, "I'm going to strew your enemies' bodies along the shore so that you can see every one of them dead. Then you will know I have all power!"
God wanted to provide an opportunity for His people to put their lives in His hands -- to stand still and trust Him to give them direction.
How do we know God arranged this frightful situation to test His people? His own Word says so: "Thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no" (Deuteronomy 8:2).
Sermon Outline
- I. The Crisis at the Red Sea
- A. God's people were placed in a seemingly impossible situation
- B. God's purpose was to annihilate Israel's enemies
- C. God wanted to provide an opportunity for His people to trust Him
- II. God's Arrangement of the Crisis
- A. God hardened Pharaoh's heart and caused the Egyptians to pursue Israel
- B. God allowed the Egyptian army to overtake them by the sea
- III. God's Methods of Intervention
- A. God could have intervened in various ways, but chose not to
- B. God's purpose was to test His people's faith
Key Quotes
“God was saying, in essence, 'I'm going to strew your enemies' bodies along the shore so that you can see every one of them dead. Then you will know I have all power!'” — David Wilkerson
“God wanted to provide an opportunity for His people to put their lives in His hands -- to stand still and trust Him to give them direction.” — David Wilkerson
“God''s own Word says so: ''Thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no''” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- We must learn to trust God in impossible situations and stand still, waiting for His direction.
- God's purpose is to annihilate our enemies and provide for our protection.
- Faithfulness and obedience are essential in times of crisis and testing.