"Then the Lord said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to Me?" Tell the Israelites to move on. Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground."
Genesis 14:15-16
It's never easy taking the first step of faith. We often wait, hoping that we will have a nice straight smooth path to walk on. But that's not always the case. Most of the time the Lord requires that we first step out and then He confirms His will making each step known to us when it's needed, and not always when it's wanted. One thing that I've come to understand about the way the Lord works is that He doesn't open paths before we come to them, nor does He provide help before it's needed. He allows us to take the first step and then He works miracles.
When my kids took their first steps it was something they worked up to. They started crawling, then creeping, then pulling themselves up on the table, and finally taking baby steps one at at time. I was there cheering them on and holding my arms wide open in case they fell....which they did , plenty of times. But they got back up again and did it again and again until they mastered walking. I knew that my kids needed to learn to walk eventually and the only way this would be accomplished is by encouraging them to stand up and take their first step. Soon after, they were not only walking, but running!
Likewise, It was when Moses in obedience stretched his hand over the Red Sea that it was parted and the impossible was accomplished as he stepped in on dry land. It was when Abraham stepped up to the call that God answered radically by providing a ram in the thicket. And it's when Joseph stepped out revealing who he was to his brothers that there was restoration with his family.
When my kids took their first steps it was something they worked up to. They started crawling, then creeping, then pulling themselves up on the table, and finally taking baby steps one at at time. I was there cheering them on and holding my arms wide open in case they fell....which they did , plenty of times. But they got back up again and did it again and again until they mastered walking. I knew that my kids needed to learn to walk eventually and the only way this would be accomplished is by encouraging them to stand up and take their first step. Soon after, they were not only walking, but running!
Likewise, It was when Moses in obedience stretched his hand over the Red Sea that it was parted and the impossible was accomplished as he stepped in on dry land. It was when Abraham stepped up to the call that God answered radically by providing a ram in the thicket. And it's when Joseph stepped out revealing who he was to his brothers that there was restoration with his family.
All three of these men exercised faith and obedience, therefore received a blessing. It takes obedience to receive the blessings of God. We often grow weary while we are waiting thinking that God has forgotten about us...that He somehow has grown deaf to our hearts cry. But oh how much He loves us. He loves us so much that He patiently waits to answer, to provide, to part, and to restore what's broken in His perfect timing. He does this that He may receive the most glory. Many times, He allows us to exhaust our resources, waiting until we come to the end of ourselves, and our backs are to the sea...that we step out of the way and allow Him to lead the way! It's then, that He leads us, provides for us and makes our path clear to us.
Has God asked you recently to take a step out or in or up? You will never know what you could have accomplished until you are willing to obey and take that first step. I wonder if Moses had never stretched out his hand and trusted God, or if Abraham had never believed God, or if Joseph stayed paralyzed in his fear....how their stories would have been so very different. We tend to forget that the same God that parted the Red Sea for Moses is available to part our circumstances and do a miracle. Do you believe in the God o Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? Then trust Him to part the Sea for you...take that first step and watch your GOD work...I dare you to trust Him!
" The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety." -George Mueller
Has God asked you recently to take a step out or in or up? You will never know what you could have accomplished until you are willing to obey and take that first step. I wonder if Moses had never stretched out his hand and trusted God, or if Abraham had never believed God, or if Joseph stayed paralyzed in his fear....how their stories would have been so very different. We tend to forget that the same God that parted the Red Sea for Moses is available to part our circumstances and do a miracle. Do you believe in the God o Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? Then trust Him to part the Sea for you...take that first step and watch your GOD work...I dare you to trust Him!
" The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety." -George Mueller