Taking Care Of Itself

As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the Lord, and they said to Moses, “Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt?  Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, ‘Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!’”

But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again.  The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”  Exodus 14:10-14

Who do I trust?  Where things are out of my control, I begin to ask myself that very question.  Do I trust in man or do I trust in God?  Sometimes, I trust in both.  When I first started my job at Thomson Reuters, there was a moment where I began to doubt if I truly fit.  Maybe I was not smart enough to do the job.  Perhaps at the ripe old age of 32, the world had passed me by.  I was having that discussion with a colleague who would become my mentor in a way.  Shortly after that day, he helped me get the opportunity to perform my tasks as everyone else, and over twenty years later, I find myself still helping others.  From then on, I trusted him, and even at times where he was critical of me, I listened and learned.  All this was before I gave my life to Christ.  As I look back, God was watching over me even then.  Why would he align me with someone who could help me the most?  How did He know exactly what I needed?  So, there are times where I am trusting someone, but it is not that I trust them over God.  Instead, I trust God leads my path where He puts someone there to help me.  To inspire me.  To teach me.  It’s like a prayer asking God to help me with the things I do know and to provide me with the people I need when I don’t.  The rest kind of takes care of itself.

We must always put our trust in God above man realizing at times God will give us people who will do His will for us.  In my journey through Exodus, the Israelites have reached the Red Sea, and Pharaoh has sent his army after them.  In reading this part, I happened to notice a subtle change in the complaints of the Israelites.  God had done all these amazing things that had both freed them from captivity and led them through the wilderness to the banks of the Red Sea.  Yet when the sounds of the Egyptian chariots had come, they trembled with fear, and began to blame … Moses?  “What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt?  Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, ‘Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness,” (Exodus 14:11a-12) said the Israelites to Moses. What have you, why did you, and didn’t we tell you became the talking points?  Talk about killing the messenger!  Their trust in God had fallen down and shifted to Moses.  But this is why Moses was such a great man of God.  He trusted God over the voices of man.  As we previously discovered, he learned to trust God’s voice even over his own (I’m no great talker, remember?).  He made the bold proclamation, “The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again.” (14:13b)  We often find ourselves putting our trust in the wrong people.  That is what happens when we look at the trees and not the forest.  God will provide us with vision to see what is possible, provisions beyond what our inner voice says, and faith to guide us to where we should go with or without someone.  All we need is faith in God.  He has never failed us.

We must always trust in God’s control of things.  We will often struggle trying to determine to either drive our lives or let Jesus take the wheel.  The reality is we need to trust Jesus already has the wheel and pray for wisdom that if we do choose to steer it, He is holding our hands guiding us.  So do not hesitate to linger or question God.  Trust that He has your back, and just move forward with the confidence Moses would lead the Israelites into the Red Sea.  Where are you trusting man where you should trust God?  How can you listen to God’s voice over your own?  My prayer is that we put our trust in God and let the rest take care of itself.  Amen.