Advancing by faith

Mirian Montanari Grüdtner

“Your way was in the sea, Your path in the great waters, And Your footsteps were not known.” Psalm 77:19

The huge crowd of Hebrews had just left Egypt. They were surrounded by the barriers of nature. Camped by the sea, humanly insurmountable obstacles were around them. To the south, a steep and rocky mountain was before them, and it was impossible to advance.

Suddenly, they saw in the distance, reflected by the sun, the armor and chariots of a large approaching army. Trouble was on the horizon! They were being pursued by Egyptian soldiers! Terror gripped most of them! Few turned to God. Most complained, and in a mistaken and nostalgic way exclaimed: “We told you, Moses, it would have been better if you had left us in Egypt! Even if we were to die there!”

Moses knew that, humanly speaking, there was no way out. But he trusted that the same God who had brought them out of Egypt would give them deliverance in due time. That was why he rested in his trust in God. This confidence had enabled him to answer the people: “Do not be afraid calmly. Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”

However, the people were so spiritually undisciplined to the point that their disorganized and desperate imaginations drove them to violence.

As we mentally visualize defeat and indulge in weeping and wailing, we make no room for trust. And we begin to distrust even the most explicit signs sent by God.

What a challenge for Moses to strengthen the people’s trust in God! Soon the people began to discuss whether the pillar of cloud sent by God to protect and guide them had not moved the wrong way.

Regardless of the people’s exalted reaction, God’s longsuffering and mercy continued in action. As the army violently approached their prey in despair, the pillar of cloud rose, passing over the Israelites, and landed between them and the Egyptians. Suddenly, there was a wall of darkness between the two groups. The night intensified the darkness on the Egyptian side. But for the Hebrews, there was plenty of light.

Why couldn’t the people see by faith that God was guiding them? Had they not already seen so many miraculous manifestations?

Now hope was rekindled in their hearts. Miracles followed one after another as if to say: “Fear not, children! I can do something much greater than you can imagine!” As morning broke, as they saw the bodies of the brave enemies floating in the water and others thrown on the shore, and they with their women, children and animals, and without the slightest preparation to confront such an army were safe and sound, they could not help but praise God for the triumphant deliverance.

It was God’s providence to allow the Hebrews the seemingly hopeless situation so that His power could be manifested, humbling the pride of their oppressors. He could have avoided such a circumstance, but He wanted to prove their faith and strengthen their trust in Him.

What a great lesson for us! In the Christian life, we all face dangers, and moving forward in confidence seems difficult. We allow our fertile imagination to define our spiritual failure. But God in His mercy keeps acting and inviting us to move forward. We need to trust and move forward, just as we are surrounded by the problems. By faith, we can discern the powerful hand of God guiding us. If we don’t believe, the problems will not go away. Let us not postpone trust as long as there is danger. Let’s move forward by faith and wait on Him!