A place that every Christian should visit is the Middle East. There are many interesting and fascinating locations in this region, including Egypt, Syria, and Lebanon and of course, Israel.
These biblical lands are full of mystery and enchantment. It was there where all the heroes of faith walked, lived and died. It was there where the nation of Israel prospered and then decayed. It was there where our Lord Jesus was born and died for our sins.
One of my favorite places to visit would be the area between Egypt and Israel known as the Red Sea or “Sea of Reeds.” This is the place that is portrayed in the movie “The Ten Commandments” when Moses is used by God to open the sea.
In a sense, I (and perhaps you too) have been to the Red Sea. No, I haven’t visited the Middle East yet (donations anyone?), but I have had many Red Sea moments in my life.
I am referring to those bittersweet days, when nothing goes right and everything gets worse and worse by the minute. You feel trapped and cornered every which way you turn. To make matters worse, the “Egyptians” are right behind you; ready to destroy you and there is a big sea all around you, making it impossible to escape.
I tell you that these must be God’s favorite moments. We are surrounded by enemies and obstacles and no one else can (or wants to) help us, but God. In those moments, when the sea is raging, the lion is roaring and our strength is gone; God appears at the last possible minute and opens the sea (Exodus 14), calms the storm (Mark 4:39) and shuts the mouths of lions (Daniel 6:22).
Perhaps you are IN a Red Sea moment right now. Everything is dark around you and you feel like God has abandoned you. I cannot tell you how long it is going to last, but I know three things:
One day, it will come to an end
God is with you now
God will rescue you.
He promised so in 1 Corinthians 10:13,
“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”
Alexander Gonzalez
