Pray or Complain - pt 1.

Life is always full of challenges. Just when we think that everything is going smoothly and according to God’s plan, we are faced with a challenge, something that causes us to feel inadequate once again, something that causes us to seek His direction and strength. It didn’t take very long for God to give Moses and the children of Israel some challenges that would stretch their faith and patience. With 2011 being just around the corner, I want to look at what Israel did when a problem confronted them.
When Joseph was originally in Egypt, he was an honoured guest – He and his family were exalted. Over time however, the Israelite s became more numerous and overstayed their welcome. - Life is a series of steps. And just like a step – it is a place provided for you to move. You've never seen a person living on a step, because that is not what a step is designed for. - And the Israelite s were not suppose to be living in Egypt – It was not the land that God had given Abraham – so God turned up the heat on Israel...sort of encouraged them to get back to where they were suppose to be.
Moses becomes their leader and leads them out of Egypt. I want you to think for a minute what that would look like...a few million men, women and children...with all their belongings....walking across the desert. Then they make it to the Red sea... Water in front – Egypt's military behind them..And what do the people do...Complain...Exodus 14 tells us about it....

10 As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the Lord, 11 and they said to Moses, “Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt? 12 Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, ‘Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!’”

13 But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. 14 The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”

Escape through the Red Sea

15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving! 16 Pick up your staff and raise your hand over the sea. Divide the water so the Israelite s can walk through the middle of the sea on dry ground.
God opens the sea and the Israelite s walk to the other side. Let's take a minute and look at this...Have you ever thought what it would be like to walk with 2 walls of water in each side of you?
After they safely made it across the Red Sea – they had a 3 month journey to the promise land. 3 months...
God had just delivered Israel from Pharaoh. They were free from the tyranny that they had been living under for 215 years...(430 years from the time God gave Abraham his promise). God had delivered them. They were ready to live a new life, in a new land. They were praising God and singing songs to Him…until there was a slight problem. There was no water to drink. Instead of continuing to praise God, they began to grumble.

What happens when the bottom drops out of your journey?

What happens when you see were you are to go, but you are not there yet.

Do you give up on your dreams?

Do stay stuck?

Do you go back?

Do you give up on your destiny?

What do you do when you are on your journey from Egypt to the promise land and plans drastically change?

To be continued....