A Voice In Your Ear

Then He shut the enemy's mouth forever.

THE ISRAELITES HAD BEEN FREED FROM EGYPT. Free, free, free, free, as the commercial says. They went out after an amazing display of God’s presence and took all the riches of Egypt with them. But God didn’t take them north, the quick way to the Promised Land, but south where there was one impenetrable obstacle impeding the future. The Red Sea. And there they stood, staring at those unpassable waters.

Today, we focus on the miracle of the Red Sea, and it’s awe-inspiring. But although the Israelites were set free by Pharaoh, although he told them to go and they’d traveled this far, the enemy (Pharaoh) had changed his mind and had followed at their heels. He’ll bring up their past. He’ll remind them of who they were. “You were mine.” “You were slaves.” Arrogant enough to think his troops, his chariots, could overcome some one million plus people, turn them around, and march them right back into bondage. Stupid enough to think his presence would undo the incredible miracles the only living God had done to free them.

Pharaoh was a reminder, a voice in their ear, the enemy trying to salvage what used to be. Nothing has changed. Pharaoh is still talking to us. We walk out of the situation and there, he is, speaking. “But you were …” Weak. Sick. Broke. Alone. Etcetera. “But you are …” Not strong enough. Not smart enough. He wants you to forget that God is with you and He will never leave you or forsake you.

God was with the Israelites right then, as a cloud by day, as the fiery glory of the Lord by night. He surrounded them on all sides and, amazingly, had a plan for their crossing of the Red Sea. Not a boat. Not a bridge. Not a slog through knee-deep waters. But a walk across on dry land. D-r-y soil, with the waters in a heap on either side of them.

And He executed the plan, and the Israelites crossed the Sea. But the enemy didn’t stop talking, didn’t stop his pursuit. Yap. Yap. Yap. “Come back here.” “You were building my kingdom.” “You were under my thumb.” “You’re nothing but a bunch of stupid Jews.” He followed them into the crossing, never stopping, never shutting up. And there they stood, watching him approach, when God did what God intended to do, only He’d waited until the enemy was in the middle of their escape. When Pharaoh stood between their trouble past and their promised future.

Not back in Egypt. Not on the way there. Not when it was convenient, and they’d think they had a part in it. No, God waited until there was only the Red Sea left. He waited until the last possible, most perfect moment. Then He shut the enemy’s mouth forever.


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com