At the Red Sea

A colleague, John,* read the foreclosure notice and then put it aside. He was about to lose the family home. This dilemma occurred during the Great Recession when so many things were going awry. His wife had been ill for some time and could no longer work. The part-time evening job John had been promised to supplement his full-time position fell through. It had been this family’s daily prayer that things would somehow improve. Now mounting bills, failing health, and possible homelessness threatened the couple’s future. John and his wife were facing their Red Sea.

Pharaoh had finally relented and allowed the Hebrews to depart Egypt. He had seen his people and their land suffer through ten plagues—water to blood, frogs, lice, flies, livestock disease, boils, hail, locusts, and darkness. Then the last plague: the death of the firstborn sons. Now with the Hebrews gone and on their journey beyond Egypt’s borders, Pharaoh rethought his decision and gathered an army to bring back God’s people. Moses and this great multitude spotted Pharaoh’s horses on the horizon. They had nowhere to turn. Pharaoh was behind them and the waters of the Red Sea were before them. Moses informed the multitude not to fear for the army behind them would be seen no more. Our Father parted the Red Sea!

Perhaps you are facing your own figurative Red Sea—the enemy is at your back and in front of you as a reminder that there is nowhere to go. We have all been there. Life with all its challenges of sickness, unreliable employment, marital disharmony, errant children, insurmountable debt, and broken dreams may haunt our every footstep, causing us to believe that only destruction lies ahead. But friends, we serve a God who is able to part the Red Sea and take us through on dry land.

Have you shared your problems with Him today? He is waiting to perform that miracle. Fear not. Hold on to your faith. Remember, God is able!

Yvonne Curry Smallwood