Looking Up To Fear

In Jesus’ prayer to the Father for all who will follow Him, there are three distinctly articulated facts, which can be gleaned from what He is saying about those who are His disciples. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world, but that you protect them from the evil one. John 17: 15.

Jesus is not praying and asking God to remove us from the world. No! All the work which we have been called to do, all the fruit bearing we have been called to produce, must be while we are living here in this sinful world. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. John 15: 8

Jesus wants us to be in the world, but we are not to be of the world. Has He not told this to His Father in Heaven? They are not of the world any more than I am of the world. John 17: 14b.

Jesus, knowing the deceitful cunning, unscrupulous enticing and great force of power Satan wields, has asked His Father to protect us. Protect them from the evil one. John 17: 15b

So we look at the children of Israel, God’s freed children, who are going along as God is dictating to His servant Moses, their leader. These are all, feet of obedience, and it is precisely in their obedience, not one bit of disobedience in their following, that they look up to a horror scene. It is on this path of obedience, the road chosen for them by God Himself, that they look up and the enemy is approaching. They are angrier, fiercer, more intense and more determined, to take back the children of God to be their slaves. What a fright! What a sight! What utter despair and desperation! The enemy is coming, with all his well-armed and strong army. As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the LORD. Exodus 14: 10.  

Oh! God may not be seen, but He makes His Presence felt. God is faithful and ever present, to help His children who call out to Him.

We are told that the children of God looked up. Does it mean that they were looking at the ground all the while? Does it mean that they were not paying attention to what was taking place before them? This verse gives us some of the information we need. We are told that the children are not travelling at this time, for they have camped out. Yes, they were travelling and making good progress, when God told Moses to have them turn back. Then the LORD said to Moses, Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon. Exodus 14: 2

The children of Israel were in a camp mode, relaxing no doubt and very thankful for the rest, after going some ways and having to turn back. Can you see them all sitting outside their tents, or lying down at the entrance of their tents, just in their open tents making the most of this rest time? Lo and behold, as they looked up, the enemy is charging at them.

They could only cry out to God. To make a run for it was impossible. To try and defend themselves was futile. They had no human defence, but they could cry out in fear to Almighty God, and that is exactly what they did.  They were looking up from a low, stationary position. It was the position God wanted for them at that particular time.  

We continue ...