I love reading about the crossing of the Red Sea. Can you imagine it? Here’s this large natural boundary parting and you walk or run across it? The movie, The Prince of Egypt, if my favorite depiction. You can see the fish swimming in the sea, but being held back as this wall of water is towering above the people. The path is even dry. God takes care of every detail. What a triumph of faith.
But what happens after the Red Sea moment?
It didn’t take the Israelites long to forget it. They rumbled and grumbled. They saw giants in the land God promised them instead of opportunity. They hated the food, they were ready to go back into slavery. Sadly, they are not alone.
You can search Scripture and discover many similar patterns. Elijah sees God perform incredible miracles and then runs away and feels a loss of faith. The great warrior David hides in the enemy camp. He’d seen God do such wonders in his life, but he lost his focus. He forgot the many “Red Sea Crossings” he’d experienced.
Unfortunately I’m not any better. God works out so much for me. He orders my steps. I see His provision, His kindness, His forgiveness, His blessing and His power. He sets me on dry land and He holds back the waters, yet, instead of remembering and resting in the Red Sea afterglow, I sometimes forget. I fall into the same trap as the Israelites, Elijah, David and many others.
Psalm 62:8 comes to mind, “Trust in, lean on, rely on, and have confidence in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is a refuge for us (a fortress and a high tower). Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! From the Amplified Bible.
How do I stay focused on God and not have post Red Sea letdown? I need to marinate in the presence of God and dwell in Him. I need to have confidence in HIM all the time, not just when I'm crossing the Red Sea. It’s simple. When I’m focused on Him, I don’t forget. David, Elijah and the Israelites took their eyes from God and put them on circumstances or emotions or thoughts. They pushed out the Red Sea moment and allowed negativity or doubt or pride or despair take its place.
We overcome Red Sea letdown when we choose to focus on Him and confidently trust, rely, lean on and dwell in Him. He occupies our mind, instead of the noise of emotions, thoughts and fears.
How about you? How do you keep rightly focused and avoid Red Sea letdown?
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