What steps can we take to strengthen our faith in God's deliverance? The Scene at the Red Sea “ ‘As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and saw the Egyptians marching after them, and they were terrified and cried out to the LORD.’ ” (Exodus 14:10) When terror rose, Israel’s first reaction was to cry out. That honest moment frames each step we can take today to strengthen our faith in God’s certain, literal deliverance. Step 1: Turn Panic into Prayer • Admit the fear instead of pretending it doesn’t exist (Psalm 34:4). • Redirect the surge of emotion to God immediately: “In my distress I called upon the LORD” (Psalm 18:6). • Make the cry specific: name the threat, then name God’s character greater than the threat (2 Chronicles 20:12). Step 2: Remember God’s Track Record • Israel had just watched ten plagues topple Egypt; faith grows when we rehearse past victories (Psalm 77:11-12). • Keep a written record—journals, stones of remembrance (Joshua 4:6-7). • Share testimonies aloud so others’ stories reinforce your own (Revelation 12:11). Step 3: Anchor in God’s Word, Not in What Eyes See • “We walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). • Memorize promises of deliverance—Isaiah 43:2; Romans 8:31. • Speak them aloud when the enemy’s approach seems louder than God’s voice (Proverbs 18:21). Step 4: Stand Still and Let God Fight • Moses said, “Stand firm and you will see the LORD’s salvation” (Exodus 14:13). • Stillness is active trust, not passivity—Psalm 46:10. • Refuse rash fixes; let God’s strategy unfold (Isaiah 30:15). Step 5: Obey the Next Command, Even When It Looks Impossible • “Tell the Israelites to go forward” (Exodus 14:15). • Faith grows when feet move in response to God’s word, not after the sea parts (Hebrews 11:29). • Look for the specific, present-tense instruction God gives and act on it promptly (James 2:22). Step 6: Keep Your Eyes on the Deliverer, Not the Pursuer • The pillar of cloud moved between Israel and Egypt (Exodus 14:19-20). • Pray for fresh awareness of God’s nearness; His presence disorients the enemy and calms His people (Psalm 125:2). • Shift mental focus: rehearse who God is rather than replaying what the enemy plans. Step 7: Celebrate and Preserve the Memory of Rescue • After the Red Sea, Moses and Miriam led a song of triumph (Exodus 15:1-2). • Worship cements the victory and fortifies faith for the next battle (Psalm 40:3). • Teach the next generation exactly what God did so their faith starts with evidence (Exodus 13:8-9). Putting these steps into regular practice trains the heart to expect literal, powerful intervention from the same God who opened the sea. Faith muscles strengthen each time we cry out, remember, stand still, obey, and celebrate. |
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