Which Takes More Faith?

2/17/2021

Which takes more Faith?

1) To be the Israelites seeing the Egyptian chariots bearing down on them, trapped by the Sea, and to concede to death with calmness, instead of panic or fear? Or,
2) To Know God has work to do yet, and to face the Sea, lift your staff, and Declare to the Sea, “Open!!!”

Maybe both the same, since both require seeing the Unseen?

For me, I think #2 would take more because death doesn’t scare me too much knowing Who I know :) whereas #2, you have to defeat that tiny voice in the back of your head saying “You better hope this sea opens otherwise, everything you’ve ever believed and told these people will seem crazy, and God will become a laughingstock.”

I was thinking, what if God didn’t want you to concede to death because he had more work to do? So then 2 requires more Faith even though conceding to death seems to make sense in front of those chariots. I’m not sure if that was where you were going with it though. :)

Yes, I think for me, the second would take more Faith... to seek out and listen for what God wants to do and grab hold of that and make it happen! (by His Power and Grace)

The first seems like “Accepting the inevitable” whereas the second is actually CHANGING the direction it seems things are going. Which “seems” more challenging.

1) Requires at least general knowledge of God and trust in his character.

2) Seems harder to me because it requires knowledge of God’s current thoughts and objectives.

That said, maybe I don’t need to “see” everything perfectly in 2) to hold hands with you all and purge the hesitation, insecurity, and lack of holiness. Maybe Aaron and Hur didn’t “hear” God say to hold up the staff, but they were there, ready to do the work.

Embracing God’s plan and speaking to Him in that direction. If he wanted to lead us to the Red Sea and then have us slaughtered, that’s ok. But did he really destroy Egypt for that!?? Instead, God’s plan!

After going through 400 years of slavery and seeing the “10 whammies,” I can see how #1 would be challenging. “Though my body is as good as dead, and We’re miraculously free, I will believe!”

Maybe the same. But if someone has not up until then been cheerfully walking out one of those types of opportunities, then that type may feel more foreign and hence seem more challenging (though it’s the same Faith, I think). I’m encouraged to stop missing those opportunities of type 2.

#2 Takes more Faith. It is Proactive and not passive. Striking the arrows on the ground over and over.

I was thinking that with number 1, there is faith required, but it doesn’t seem as vulnerable as number 2 and, therefore, riskier and more faith required.

#1 You have to trust that God has a plan.

#2 You have to trust that YOU are God’s plan. :)

And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. 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.” And the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. And I indeed will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them. So I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, his chariots, and his horsemen.” (‭‭Exodus‬ ‭14‬:‭13‬-‭17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬)

I was struck by how Moses had the Faith to say to the Israelites that they were not going to die before God had told him to hold his staff out to the sea. He knew God’s heart before he knew all the details of the plan...it seems like...and had the Faith to act on that boldly.

Which, 1) or 2), results in “So I will gain honor over Pharaoh and all his army”? At least for me, in part because of an enduring flaw from having been hurt so badly in 25+ years of public abuse for the Way, number one isn’t very hard for me, for reasons that may not be as Spirit-led as they might have seemed to someone watching me face the oncoming slaughter with open arms and a smile. For me, number one is pretty much utterly UNspiritual, embarrassingly so. While I still wish to face death with a calm smile, WHICH ONE, 1) or 2), results in “So I will gain honor over Pharaoh and all his army”? Isn’t that all I should consider? What can advance him and his purposes best? Quitting won’t be the right answer very often. Facing unbelievable obstacles with head and arms held high will usually be the right answer, I’m guessing.

Yes! Abba, gain honor over Pharaoh and all his army!