A Time For Action

Read: Exodus 14:5-18

The LORD said to Moses, "Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward." --- Exodus 14:15

The Bible In One Year:
Exodus 14-15
Matthew 17

The woman chuckled as she told me about the time she woke her husband to tell him she was in labor and needed to go to the hospital. He jumped out of bed, dropped to his knees, and said, "Honey, let's pray." She told him that it was not the time to kneel and pray. It was time to get dressed and head for the hospital. It was time for action!

I think this was the type of message God gave Moses when He said of the Israelites, "Why do you cry to Me?" [Exodus 14:15]. Not long before that, Pharaoh had permitted the Israelites to leave Egypt, but then he changed his mind [vv.5-6]. Wanting to bring them back, he and his army chased after them [vv.7-9]. The Israelites were terrified when they saw the Egyptians approaching. They were trapped at the shore of the Red Sea, with nowhere to go! But Moses assured Israel that God would deliver them. Now was a time for action --- not crying to Him. It was time to "go on dry ground through the midst of the sea" [v.16].

There's a proper time for everything [Ecclesiastes 3:1], including a time to pray and a time to act. When we see someone who lacks food and clothes, it's right to provide what they need [James 2:15-16]. Sometimes we need to trust God and take immediate action. --- Herb Vander Lugt

Lord, when I sense Your call to serve,
Help me to follow through;
I must not just stand by and pray
When there is work to do. --- Fasick

IF GOD HAS ALREADY TOLD YOU WHAT TO DO, YOU DON'T NEED TO ASK HIM AGAIN.