Thursday, May 3, 2012

May 4, 2012

"As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. They said to Moses,“Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!” Exodus 14:10-12

If I asked you to put yourself in the place of the Israelites, I bet you could do it. Not that you have ever stood between a charging army and a sea with no way of escape. But you know the sense of vulnerability they felt. Panic was setting in as they heard the approaching hooves and the rattling chariots growing ever louder. As the volume increased so did their sense of helplessness - and hopelessness.

Maybe it was that rebellious out of control teen-ager that made you feel powerless. Perhaps it was the catastrophic health issue that stole your strength and threatened your future. It could have been that unwanted divorce despite your best efforts to salvage the marriage that left you feeling powerless. Or, possibly it was the ordeal of losing your house because you couldn't keep up the mortgage when your hours were cut at work.

There are so many things in life that make you feel vulnerable. No one likes feeling vulnerable. You despise weakness. You want to feel strong and in control. These moments in life that force upon you unwanted situations, remind you of just how vulnerable you are.

In this familiar and beloved story of Moses at the Red Sea there is a lesson to the people often missed by Sunday School teachers and preachers. I want to zero in on that truth. For the people of God vulnerability leads to victory!

Think about it! Name for me one miracle or one great victory in the Bible that did not arise out of a vulnerable situation. I can't think of one, can you?

Abraham and Sarah couldn't have a son - but they did!

David couldn't kill a giant like Goliath - but he did!

Here are several more who were weak and vulnerable but won great victories: Gideon, Elijah, Noah, Three Hebrew Children, Daniel, the little boy with the lunch and most of all - Jesus on the Cross.

People of God must thing like kingdom people! In His kingdom life comes out of death and strength comes out of weakness and victory comes out of vulnerability.

One of the strong messages that comes out of this powerful story is God's strength works best through your weakness! Don't fear weakness! Don't despise vulnerability! Let God be your strength. Walk in His will and He will always make a way through your difficulties!