YAHWEH'S MOUTHPIECE

Welcome, and yes, we are still gleaning from Israel’s journey to Canaan. It has been a delight so far and a huge blessing. If you haven’t followed through in this series you can catch up here. Last, in this series, we considered the significance of the rod which Moses had, by which the Lord wrought a great deliverance for His people in Egypt and miracles as they journeyed through the wilderness.

Israel had been delivered from Egypt and were journeying to the land of promise. By God’s leading, they didn’t pass through the way of the Philistines, though it was a shorter distance. God led them through the way of the red sea. The reason for this route was that they might not return to Egypt at the sight of war.

One thing about God leading them through the red sea was that it was to mark a definite transition from the land of slavery to the land of promise. They had to cross the sea meaning goodbye fully to Egypt, and welcome to the promise. Well, the red sea was not what they could have passed through on their own. By the way, there was no alternative on that path through which God led them to avoid the sea as they were surrounded by mountains. So, it was definitely in God’s plan for them to pass through the sea. 

Everything that happened to them, and the mighty hand of God working for them was because He led them in that way. When God leads, He takes responsibility to sustain you on that journey. Many times, it appears complicated, uncertain and bleak, but you have the company of God who is THE LIGHT guiding you as you journey.

The words which Moses spoke were that the “Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them no more for ever” (Exodus 14:13). While Moses spoke in faith, he spoke prophetically too. He spoke the actual intention of God bringing them that way. Beyond the destruction of the Egyptians pursuing them that day, God intended that there be a thorough partition and separation between the people and Egypt. Things were going to be different from that point onward. They left Egypt in haste and the reality of their departure had not sunk deep into them. Just like Peter being led out of the prison yet he thought he was seeing a vision.

In the Scriptures, waters figuratively represent transitions. The red sea and river Jordan were transition points for Israel. When Elijah was to be taken up to heaven, God called him to go beyond Jordan. He smote the river with his mantle and it parted. Elisha coming back after receiving the mantle of Elijah passed through the river. Jordan also parted and those that looked from afar recognized that the spirit of Elijah was upon him. That also was a transition point. There is always a water to cross at every transition point. And our scaling through is made possible not by power, nor might, but by the Spirit of the Lord by the instrumentality of the rod (of God), the priesthood and the mantle.

When we come to such points as this, the waters appear insurmountable, the troubles unbearable. The transition might look difficult or even deadly. Anyone who dared to dive into the sea of his own accord will almost certainly not live to tell the story. The goal of the adversary is to keep you grounded in the past and not move on to the promise. The reasoning in the heart of the Egyptians was that they (Israel) are entangled in the land and the wilderness had shut them in. God’s intention on the other hand is to show forth His might and glorify Himself. Watch His ways. He will divide the sea and make you walk on dry ground. How you scaled through will be a miracle and a testimony. After that phase, you will sing and rejoice. You will not be swallowed up in the sea.

In Isaiah 43:2 God says, “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” In verse 19 of that chapter, He says, “I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” Introducing Himself, He says “Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters…”

From those verses, we see certain realities. If you will journey and move on to destiny, there must need be your passing through the waters. It is a matter of certainty. There is also the reality of our crossing over. Our direction is through the waters. We were not ordained to sink in the sea but to pass through triumphantly. If at any point we find ourselves sinking, it is because we have shifted our gaze and lost sight of the One who holds our hands as we journey through. He desires that we walk upon the waters as though on dry land. The way out is to call out to the Master of the sea to come to your rescue.

I will do a new thing, God says. He wants to bring you into the economy of the new. Your mind will have to be renewed and receptive to the reality of the new that He’ll bring to pass. That will be the subject of the next post.

God’s ability is infinite. He makes a way in the sea and a path in the mighty waters. It wasn’t recorded in history nor could it have been conceived by any man. The promise in verse 19 was the reality that God opened the Israelites to after their crossing through the red sea. The Lord will begin to reveal the greatness of His might and His ability to do the unimaginable. You will see it will bear witness that He is the LORD and there is none beside Him.

Trust God as you journey through. You will definitely see His awesome wonders made manifest in your life.