Sometimes we are led into a "tight corner"
Exodus 14:1-4 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, [2] “Speak unto the children of Israel that they turn and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baalzephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea. [3] For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, ‘They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in.’ [4] And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD.” And they did so.
Have you been or are you currently in a “tight corner”?
Maybe you have taken to grumbling and complaining just like Israel did. Maybe you’ve wondered why you ever the left the “security of Egypt” to obey the Lord and go into a desert. Maybe you’ve had a hankering to go back – but you’re “stuck”! It seems the world and its cares are closing in on you; things seem hopeless!
Jesus said to His disciples: “In this world you will have trouble – but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”(John 16:33)
God is in control of even your situation and has brought you to the current situation for a purpose.
In our scripture we meet a nation who had just recently been delivered by the mighty hand of God from their years of slavery to the godless Egyptians of the day. The plagues God poured out on that nation had devastated the land and its people – but God’s people had been miraculously preserved throughout the entire event.
Now God had directed the nation into a “tight corner” – a place where there was no way out humanly speaking. He had put them into a “dead-end street”; a “trap”; a “pressure-cooker”. Behind was the Egyptian army. To the left and right were un-scalable mountains. To the front was the Red Sea, They were staring at utter annihilation at the hand of their enemy. No wonder some said:
Exodus 14:10-12 and when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD. [11] And they said unto Moses, “Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? Wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? [12] Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, ‘Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians?’; for it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.”
Have you ever felt abandoned and forsaken by the Lord? Has Satan whispered that God has brought you so far just to destroy you?
Worse yet; have you believed Satan’s lies?
God was about to show something to these people that they could never have learned unless they had been put into this “pressure cooker” situation. Here are some of the things they were to learn:
- The Lord would never leave or forsake them!
- The Lord controls each and every situation and will always provide a way of escape for His people.
- The Lord controls nature and is not limited by any situation or obstacle. (Jesus demonstrated this same power over nature when He stilled the storm that threatened His disciples on the Sea of Galilee.)
- God doesn’t lead His people into “tight” situations to destroy them or cause them to turn back, but to go through with faith and trust in the living God. (Jesus said: “No man who puts his hand to the plough and turns back is fit for the kingdom of God.) We’re “going through” – just follow the “cloud”; the symbol of His presence.
- The “tight corner” and “pressure cooker” situation was to:
o Take away all self-reliance.
o Cause them to turn to the Lord.
o Demonstrate the Lord’s sufficiency in all things.
What transpired was absolutely stunning and miraculous. Forty years prior, Moses in his own strength had killed a single Egyptian and had to flee for his life from Pharaoh. Here a humbled Moses in the hand of God with a simple rod destroyed the entire Egyptian army in one mighty blow.
This “tight spot” Israel was led into was the means chosen by the Lord to:
- Exalt His name and honour.
- Sanction His chosen servant as leader of this “Exodus” from slavery to the “land flowing with milk and honey.”
- Forever destroy these enemies.
- Demonstrate His ability and willingness to deliver His people.
Maybe you’ve been on the “path” for many years and are wondering why things are tougher now than when you started out.
Maybe it’s taken this long to get you in a spot where you have no resource but God.
Maybe it’s time for new direction; for a fresh revelation of the Lord to you.
Let God have His way – see Him who is never ever “stuck” or limited by circumstances at work. He controls the universe; don’t you think He controls the things that beset you? Don’t you think He has a plan that will utterly amaze you?
Whatever spot or situation you may be in today dear reader is by design of “Him who works all things after the counsel of His own will.” (Ephesians 1:11)
What to do?
- Keep you faith and trust in the Lord.
- Look and listen to what He is saying.
- “In everything give thanks…for this is the will of God.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
Let the “situation” do what God has intended for you.
Peter Crause
This is not copyrighted and may be freely used and distributed.
e-mail: crause.pd@shaw.ca
