Faith Over Fear: Trusting God in Trials

 

Summary

In today's message, we explored the story of the Israelites' exodus from Egypt, focusing on Exodus 14. This narrative is a powerful reminder of God's deliverance and the human tendency to oscillate between faith and fear. The Israelites, after experiencing miraculous deliverance from slavery, found themselves trapped between the Red Sea and Pharaoh's advancing army. Initially, they marched out boldly, celebrating their newfound freedom. However, when faced with imminent danger, their confidence quickly turned to fear, leading them to question Moses and God's intentions.

This story highlights the destructive power of fear, which can lead to blame and self-pity, as seen in the Israelites' reaction. Fear is a tool the enemy uses to paralyze us, causing us to forget God's past faithfulness. In contrast, Moses exemplifies a different response. He stands firm, remembering God's promises and past deliverance, and declares that the Lord will fight for them. This act of faith is a testament to the importance of remembering God's past works in our lives, which can strengthen our faith in present trials.

God's response to Moses is intriguing. Instead of commending Moses for his faith, God instructs him to move forward, demonstrating that faith requires action. This mirrors Jesus' response to His disciples during the storm, emphasizing the importance of spiritual maturity and trust in God's provision. We are often faced with "Red Sea moments" in our lives, where the path forward seems impossible. In these times, we have a choice: succumb to fear or stand firm in faith, trusting in God's promises and protection.

The story also underscores God's protection and unexpected solutions. Just as God provided a way through the Red Sea, He offers protection and guidance in our trials. Our role is to position ourselves in faith, trusting that God will make a way, even when it seems impossible. This journey of faith is about choosing to trust in God's promises over the enemy's lies, leading to spiritual growth and maturity.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Power of Fear and Faith: Fear can quickly overshadow our faith, leading to blame and self-pity. However, remembering God's past faithfulness can help us stand firm in faith, as Moses did, declaring God's deliverance even in the face of fear. [01:20:19]

2. Faith Requires Action: God's instruction to Moses to move forward, despite the seemingly impossible situation, teaches us that faith is not passive. It requires action and trust in God's provision, even when the path is unclear. [01:24:29]

3. Spiritual Maturity and Trust: God's response to Moses and Jesus' response to His disciples highlight the importance of spiritual maturity. Trusting God in trials is crucial for our growth and understanding of His ways. [01:26:56]

4. God's Unexpected Solutions: Just as God parted the Red Sea, He provides unexpected solutions to our problems. Our role is to trust in His timing and methods, knowing that His ways are higher than ours. [01:28:44]

5. Choosing Faith Over Fear: In our "Red Sea moments," we have a choice to either succumb to fear or stand firm in faith. Trusting in God's promises and protection leads to spiritual growth and maturity, bringing glory to God. [01:30:15]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:14:19] - Introduction to Exodus 14
- [01:15:38] - The Ten Plagues and God's Deliverance
- [01:18:33] - Israelites' Boldness and Fear
- [01:20:19] - The Power of Fear and Blame
- [01:22:47] - Moses' Faith and Remembrance
- [01:24:29] - God's Call to Action
- [01:26:56] - Spiritual Maturity and Trials
- [01:28:44] - God's Protection and Unexpected Solutions
- [01:30:15] - Choosing Faith Over Fear
- [01:31:43] - Prayer and Worship
- [01:34:16] - Closing and Invitation for Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Exodus 14:6-15
- James 1:2-4

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Observation Questions:

1. What was the initial reaction of the Israelites when they found themselves trapped between the Red Sea and Pharaoh's army? How did their attitude change from boldness to fear? [01:18:33]

2. How did Moses respond to the Israelites' fear and accusations? What specific words did he use to encourage them? [01:20:19]

3. What was God's instruction to Moses after he declared that the Lord would fight for them? How does this reflect the need for action in faith? [01:24:29]

4. What role did the pillar of cloud play in the protection of the Israelites during their escape? [01:28:44]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the Israelites' quick shift from faith to fear reflect common human tendencies in facing challenges? What does this reveal about the nature of fear? [01:20:19]

2. In what ways does Moses' response to the Israelites' fear demonstrate spiritual maturity and trust in God's promises? How can this be applied to modern-day challenges? [01:22:47]

3. Why do you think God instructed Moses to move forward instead of commending him for his faith? What does this teach about the relationship between faith and action? [01:24:29]

4. How does the story of the Israelites' escape through the Red Sea illustrate God's unexpected solutions to seemingly impossible situations? [01:28:44]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a recent "Red Sea moment" in your life. How did you respond to the challenge? Did fear or faith dominate your reaction? [01:30:15]

2. Moses remembered God's past deliverance to strengthen his faith. What are some ways you can actively remember and record God's faithfulness in your life? [01:22:47]

3. Consider a situation where you need to take action in faith. What steps can you take this week to move forward, trusting in God's provision? [01:24:29]

4. How can you cultivate spiritual maturity in your life to better handle trials and challenges? What specific practices can help you grow in this area? [01:26:56]

5. Identify a fear that has been holding you back. What truth from God's Word can you hold onto to combat this fear and choose faith instead? [01:20:19]

6. Think of a time when you experienced God's unexpected solution to a problem. How can this testimony encourage others in your small group facing similar challenges? [01:28:44]

7. How can you support others in your community who are facing their own "Red Sea moments"? What practical steps can you take to offer encouragement and prayer? [01:31:43]

Devotional

Day 1: The Battle Between Faith and Fear
Fear can quickly overshadow our faith, leading us to blame others and fall into self-pity. The Israelites experienced this when they found themselves trapped between the Red Sea and Pharaoh's army. Despite witnessing God's miraculous deliverance from slavery, their initial boldness turned to fear, causing them to question Moses and God's intentions. This reaction highlights the destructive power of fear, which can paralyze us and make us forget God's past faithfulness. In contrast, Moses stood firm, remembering God's promises and past deliverance, and declared that the Lord would fight for them. This act of faith serves as a reminder of the importance of recalling God's past works in our lives, which can strengthen our faith in present trials. [01:20:19]

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a situation where fear has overshadowed your faith. How can you remind yourself of God's past faithfulness to stand firm in faith today?


Day 2: Faith in Action
God's instruction to Moses to move forward, despite the seemingly impossible situation, teaches us that faith is not passive. It requires action and trust in God's provision, even when the path is unclear. This mirrors Jesus' response to His disciples during the storm, emphasizing the importance of spiritual maturity and trust in God's provision. We are often faced with "Red Sea moments" in our lives, where the path forward seems impossible. In these times, we have a choice: succumb to fear or stand firm in faith, trusting in God's promises and protection. [01:24:29]

"And the Lord said to Moses, 'Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward.'" (Exodus 14:15, ESV)

Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you feel stuck. What is one step of faith you can take today to move forward, trusting in God's provision?


Day 3: Growing in Spiritual Maturity
God's response to Moses and Jesus' response to His disciples highlight the importance of spiritual maturity. Trusting God in trials is crucial for our growth and understanding of His ways. Spiritual maturity involves recognizing that faith requires action and that God's ways are higher than ours. It is about choosing to trust in God's promises over the enemy's lies, leading to spiritual growth and maturity. [01:26:56]

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." (James 1:2-3, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a recent trial you faced. How did it challenge your faith, and what did you learn about God's character through it?


Day 4: Trusting in God's Unexpected Solutions
Just as God parted the Red Sea, He provides unexpected solutions to our problems. Our role is to trust in His timing and methods, knowing that His ways are higher than ours. This journey of faith is about choosing to trust in God's promises over the enemy's lies, leading to spiritual growth and maturity. In our "Red Sea moments," we have a choice to either succumb to fear or stand firm in faith. [01:28:44]

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord." (Isaiah 55:8, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a problem you are currently facing. How can you open your heart to God's unexpected solutions and trust in His timing?


Day 5: Choosing Faith Over Fear
In our "Red Sea moments," we have a choice to either succumb to fear or stand firm in faith. Trusting in God's promises and protection leads to spiritual growth and maturity, bringing glory to God. This story underscores God's protection and unexpected solutions. Just as God provided a way through the Red Sea, He offers protection and guidance in our trials. Our role is to position ourselves in faith, trusting that God will make a way, even when it seems impossible. [01:30:15]

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9, ESV)

Reflection: Consider a "Red Sea moment" in your life. How can you choose faith over fear today, trusting in God's promises and protection?

Quotes

"Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will give you today. The Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. And this, Exodus 14 verse 14, truly this is one of my... my favorite verses in the Bible. Moses said, the Lord will fight for you. You need only be still." [01:17:48]

"And the result of that fear, I think, is really relevant to us as well. Because fear is the tool that the enemy, Satan, has used against his people throughout the ages. Fear is a deadly weapon. Which, if we're not wise to it... And aware of it, results in what the Israelites did here. What did they do? They suddenly just started pointing the finger back at Moses. Just resulted in blame and accusation." [01:20:38]

"Sometimes it comes back to us. It's my fault. Or it's God's fault. And that sort of pattern of thinking developed throughout those 40 years in the desert. If you read through the rest of the story, again and again the Israelites would forget and start blaming, start complaining, start grumbling. It is a mindset that's set in. And I think that's the first challenge for me. This mindset of fear and blame other people. It just paralyzes. And it really does not bring breakthrough." [01:21:34]

"But then if you look at the opposite of that, you see the response that Moses has, which was completely the opposite. He said, Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance of the Lord that He will bring to you today. And I think, again, the principle, one of the keys here, that Moses is a completely changed man from 10 chapters ago where he met God at the burning bush, where he was fearful." [01:22:04]

"And that's something which I think we need to do more. You know, this last year, I was given this journal by Malachi and Mimi as a Father's Day present. And I have never been very good at journaling, like writing down things and just remembering. But honestly, since I've started writing things down, prayers which have been unanswered, times where God has spoken to me, I can't tell you how important it is for us to start remembering what God has done for us in our history, in our own personal journey." [01:22:57]

"But what he actually says, if you go to verse 15, then the Lord says to Moses, Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move. That is a bizarre response. And actually, it reminds me of a similar response that Jesus had to his disciples. You remember in Matthew 8, the disciples are in the boat. The storm is all over the place, and they're terrified. Disciples are terrified." [01:24:15]

"I find that really challenging. Both those parallel stories, the way God responds to Moses, the way Jesus responds to his disciples, is a kind of wake-up call to all of us that God takes spiritual maturity really, really seriously. Like, it's not enough. It's not enough to come into Numa and just sing the songs. It really is not enough. You know, I mean, Moses had declared what's going to happen, but God was like, Why are you crying out to me? Move on." [01:25:07]

"So I think it's important. These are some of the keys, which as I was reading this story, again, there's points in our lives where we get to, like, a Red Sea moment, where literally it feels like there is no way forward. It is too complicated, too hurtful, whether that is business, finance, marriage, relationships, sickness, illness, whatever it is. Sometimes it feels like we're trapped in this kind of Red Sea moment. And it's like, Lord, what are you doing? I can't go forward. You can't go back. It's painful to be in those moments." [01:26:30]

"But I think there's a key here where God really, in his loving kindness, he gives us this incredible choice. Because it's up to us whether we either choose that path of what the Israelites did by hanging on to fear, which then turns to acquisition and self-pity, or what Moses did was hanging on to the promise on remembrance and truthfulness." [01:27:11]

"And then eventually leading to breakthrough, blessing, and in verse 12 of James 1, the crown of life. And so there's this. There's this really strange paradox where God allows us into these situations where he may not be moving as we expect him to, but he's giving us a choice. Either you hang on to this fear or you hang on to my truth and my promises." [01:28:10]

"It wasn't a clever way. Like Moses was not expecting the sea to part, I can guarantee. That was a real surprise. Nor was the disciples expecting the storm to completely be still. It's God's solution. God had actually came through and made a way. But that was up to God, that part. But our part is where do we position ourselves?" [01:29:16]

"And I think that's the freedom there is as walking out our Christian life, walking out with Christ, is God gives us that choice. No matter what is in front of us, no matter what that Red Sea looks like, God gives us the choice. We either choose one or the other. But he takes us to the other side. He takes our maturity so seriously. He wants us to grow up." [01:29:58]

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
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