Through

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Many of you reading this have at some time stood by the railing at the top of the Rainbow Falls, being almost hypnotized by the water rushing over the brink. As much as I love swimming and being in the water, I find that spot above the Falls frightening and I usually prefer to view it from a distance.

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I wonder what the Children of Israel felt like standing by the edge of the Red Sea. Pharaoh’s army was rapidly approaching, horses and chariots making a terrifying noise and the Israelites could see no way to escape the certain slaughter.  But God was there.

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“Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, “ and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea…….The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen — the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived. But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.”  (Exodus 14:21-23 &28,29)     Notice the phrase “ and the Israelites went through”

 

It does not say “into the sea” or “into the mighty waters”, but THROUGH. That means to the other side. In other words God did not bring them to the edge of the sea and tell them, “Well, folks, I brought you this far; the rest is up to you.”  Nor did He take them half way and say, “O.K., far enough. I’ll see you on the other side.”

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I can almost see them, frightened looks on their faces as they heard the rumble of the chariots coming up from the rear. Would the walls of water come down on them while they were only half-way across?

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But God stuck with them and led them through.  When it says He led them, it means He went before them and got them safely to the far shore.   “He divided the sea and led them through; he made the water stand firm like a wall.”  (Psalm 78:13)

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A few verses later the writer of that Psalm refers to God freeing them from Egyptian slavery and taking them to the promised land. “But he brought his people out like a flock; he led them like sheep through the desert.” (Psalm 78:52)

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We don’t know what hardships face us in this coming year and beyond. We know they will come but we do not know what God’s plan is in helping us deal with them. Each time the verses above use the word “through” it signifies that we will come to the other side of whatever issues we face. No matter what dangers, temptations, trials you and I face, we have His promise that we will come through.  He doesn’t leave us stuck forever in the middle of it all. That does not mean that things will always work out the way we desire. Hardship comes – it’s part of life. But even though it may mean loss of life on this earth, the Lord is with us, guiding us through.  

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Scripture is full of such illustrations.  My favorite passage of that reassurance is found in Isaiah 43:2  “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”

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Keep that word “through” firmly fixed in your mind and with it the significance it should have for all His children.  I suggest you go to U Tube and visit the Booth Brothers as they sing the song entitled simply “Through”.

“When I saw what laid before me, Lord I cried what will You do

I thought He would just remove it but He gently led me through….”

 

 

B. Klassen               bea.k@bell.net