Flight or Fight

    When things get scary and you are backed into a corner, what is your natural instinct?  Take a minute.  Look how you have reacted in the past.  No one will know, but you and God, but it is important to take a real look at yourself.  These moments reveal a lot about your character and faith.  

    The Hebrews were at the Red Sea trying to figure out how to get to their promised land as a nation without being noticed.  It had been a week since they had left and the Pharaoh had had time to take care of the bodies.  He was no longer mourning.  He was mad because God had hardened his heart.  He had backed himself into a corner.  All he had to do was allow God's people to worship, but because he would not he lost his slaves.  His economy was at risk because he wasn't going to make his own people do slave work.

    He chose to fight.  He pursued the Hebrews, also called Israelites, with his army.  He took 600 chariots which would be like 600 tanks today.  The Hebrews saw them approaching fast and of course they were afraid.  They had no way of defending themselves.  They had no real human made weapon.  They did pray though which is the best and strongest weapon that can't ever be defeated.  It was only a half prayer because they were too busy blaming Moses for the situation they were in.

    God told Moses it was not time to cry out, but to gather the people and take flight.  He told them to calm down because God would fight for them.  God had Moses raise his staff over the Red Sea and it divided wide enough for a caravan to travel through.  On top of that the ground was dry, so they did not have to struggle as they ran away.  

    The flight instinct is not weak.  It can be smart to take flight instead of fight.  God was still in the cloud directing them and His angels followed behind to protect them.  They ran all night.  It was a long and exhausting night for everyone.  God used the wind to keep the walls of water up, ground dry, assist the flight, and exhaust the Egyptians.  

    It was daybreak when the last Israelite crossed/  God had Moses stretched out his staff again and the sea closed on itself.  It killed the Pharaohs army and destroyed his chariots.  God saved His people from a powerful and intimidating enemy. 

    There is not an army alive or a weapon created that is stronger than God.  He will prove Himself every time if you are willing to go to Him.  He can direct you to fight or flight.  He has a reason for everything.  The Hebrews trusted Moses and God after this.  It was vital that they did, but Moses trusted God completely.  That is what made him a good leader.

Exodus 14