Israel was trapped with seemingly no escape possible, and it caused a panic throughout the camp. Wives and children wept, and a group of irate elders descended on their leader, Moses, accusing, "Were there not enough graves in Egypt? You dragged us out here to die. We told you in Egypt to leave us alone. Better for us to have been slaves to Pharaoh than to die in this miserable wilderness!" (Exodus 14: 11-12)
Moses' response was one of true faith when he said, "Fear not, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will show to you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more forever. The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. (Exodus 14: 13-14)
We all know the rest of the story. God parted the sea and the children of Israel marched across to safety on dry ground.
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Pastor Dan Inches
Then when the Israelites saw what happened they broke out their tambourines and began singing a glorious song of praise to God. It was the right song, but God's people sang it on the wrong side. The right side is the testing side of the Red Sea. Instead it was sung after they saw God's power working and after their deliverance came.
God is looking for our songs of the night, songs in the dark hours, songs of faith before we even can see any light at the end of our tunnel.
Hebrews 11:6 says, "For without faith it is impossible to please him."
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I think of Paul and Silas in Acts 16: 22-25, "And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God." They didn't wait for their deliverance to sing praises to their God, and on top of all of that, they had just been severely beaten, Verse 23: "And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison..."
But oh! Look what happened when they sang the right song on the right side; the heavily bound and painful side. Verse 26: "And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's bands were loosed."
Did you catch that? Everyone's bands were loosed.
We, as Christians, have a responsibility to trust and believe God's Word and promises, not just for our deliverance, but for the deliverance of everyone around us.
I know many homes and lives were devastated by the flood of 2011. My own home was not spared. Many are still not back in their homes and some still don't know what their future holds for them.
I would like to challenge those who have given up hope to sing your song of praise and victory now on the right side of your struggle, even if it seems senseless to do so, do it by faith and then stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.
May the God of peace comfort your hearts.
Dan Inches is pastor of Lighthouse Church, 1400-5th St. SW, Minot.