By Pastor William Y. K. Brown Ph.D
(Resident Pastor)
Seventh-day Adventist Church
Osu-Bethel.
Tel: 0244165628/0243310773.
wykbrown@gmail.com
THURSDAY
THEME: “WHY DO YOU CRY TO ME?”
SCRIPTURE: Exodus 14:15
“And the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward.”
REFLECTIONS
In several places in the Bible, God instructs His followers to call and pray to Him at all times, especially during stressful moments. For instance, God has promised in Jeremiah 33:3, ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’” This is a promise and reassuring statement of truth. A believer facing any challenge can claim this promise and prove the Lord. Many people have testified to the truthfulness of this promise, and there are many others.
However, Exodus 14:15 states – “And the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward.” God asked, “Why do you cry to Me?” Why would God, in this case, and during a frightening situation, query their call to Him? It is because His power was already revealed amongst them. His presence was leading the way; therefore, to wail, scream, and appear hopeless was an act of unbelief (read verses 10-12). His question was rhetorical and did not require an immediate answer; instead, it required thinking through. At that very moment, the people were crying, wailing, calling, complaining, and murmuring; God was in their midst, performing ongoing miracles. They closed their eyes to God’s presence and focused on the enemy who sought their destruction. In life, you can always choose to see God with you or, instead, the advancing enemy.
God chose the route they should journey on and clarified his intentions. He led them on a longer route instead for a purpose. God’s presence was with them leading the way. They clearly understood Exodus 14:4 – “Then I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, so that he will pursue them; and I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, that the Egyptians may know that I am the Lord.” And they did so.” As the Egyptian army drew nigh, verses 19-20 narrate, “[19]And the Angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them. [20]So it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. Thus it was a cloud and darkness to the one, and it gave light by night to the other, so that the one did not come near the other all that night.” If God could do this and put a gap between them and the band of enemies, why would they fear and call amidst complaints and doubt? Sometimes, instead of asking for more, it will be prudent to reflect on what we have and thank God.
Christians should be careful how they soon forget the immediate presence of God and take so many things for granted. Instead of crying, God instructed them that they should go forward. To go forward was their matching orders, the same for us today. Make spiritual progress daily in your Christian life. God is performing miracles in your life; do not look back – go forward. The Lord will clear the stumps on your path as you move forward. You cannot remain at the same point and expect God to fly you over. If He intends you to walk, do not let any obstacle deter you from moving forward. Walk, and He will pave the way – even in the sea, there will be a highway – He will construct the forward side of the dual carriage – a blissful highway for you.
MY SONG OF COMMITMENT
SDAH 111 – “It Took a Miracle”
LET US PRAY
– Praise and thank God for abiding presence; thank God for the daily miracles and the battles He fights on your behalf; pray not to forget His everlasting interventions in your life;
– Pray for Christians to demonstrate that every promise of God is real, sound, and life-saving; pray for others who work for the welfare of the weak in society;
– Pray for children across the world, out-of-school children, young people in apprenticeship, and young missionaries;
– Pray for retirees, the sick elderly, and patients with kidney complications; pray for food availability for people experiencing poverty, especially; pray for the peace and prosperity of the country.
