Influencers Weekly Devotional- Red Sea Moments

January 30, 2015

Red Sea Moments by Bryan Craig/John Aden RedSea “Moses answered the people, ‘Do not be afraid.  Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today.  The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.  The Lord will fight for you; you need only be still.”  Exodus 14:13-14 It is always a privilege and honor when Rocky asks me to write these weekly devotionals for Influencers.  Many times, when he asks me, I have a burning message that I have been wrestling with and journaling about, and it becomes a perfect theme for a devotional.  That was the case last week.  However, this week, I didn’t have a clear message ready to go.  Also, I have been battling the Flu since Sunday, so I can’t say that my thoughts are all too clear this week.  However, despite my weakness, God brought me a powerful message from one of our Journey brothers, John Aden, out of N.W. Arkansas.  We asked John to come to Tulsa to speak at a luncheon to a group of business leaders, challenging them to live out their faith at work more boldly.  His message struck me in such a powerful way, that I asked him permission to share his thoughts with you this week. John talked about how this culture needs strong Leaders who will stand up for their Faith in the marketplace.  He talked about his own experience as a CEO, where he was not exhibiting the Lord’s leadership and how God brought him to a point of crisis where he surrendered to Christ and then brought a Godly mentor into his life.  It began to change everything about the way he handled his influence in the marketplace.  He observed that God has a way of taking us to the edge of the “Red Sea”, where everything seems hopeless, and the enemy seems to be closing in on us, where our Faith is challenged to the max, where we must depend upon God to show up.  He calls these times “Red Sea Moments”, defining moments in the life of a believer. John drew upon the story of Moses in his “Red Sea Moment”, found in Exodus 14.  You most likely know the story of the Israelites exodus from Egypt.  God did signs and wonders and miraculously released His people from captivity in Egypt.  No sooner did they think they were free, Pharaoh changed his mind and the Egyptian army was in hot pursuit after them.  They reached the edge of the Red Sea, and suddenly, all seemed hopeless. “As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them.  They were terrified and cried out to the Lord.  They said to Moses, ‘Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die?  What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?  Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert.’”Exodus 14:10-12 In this most desperate hour, Moses exhibited great strength and leadership.  He encouraged the people with the words quoted at the top of the devotional and then, he stretched his hand over the sea all night.  The Lord showed up and split the Red Sea, giving His people a path of deliverance. So, what was the secret to Moses’ leadership? #1. He stayed close to God.  In Exodus 14:1-4, we read where Moses was spending time with God.  Moses was forewarned by God of the coming threat.  If we Abide with God, he will prepare us for the challenges ahead and when everyone else is panicking, He will give us a confidence and assurance that can only come from Him.  As leaders, we are always ready to go and do something.  We are great at making 4-point plans.  The most important thing we can do is to “Be Still” and listen to God. #2. Remember God’s Promises, Presence and Power. John noted that one of the Enemy’s greatest tactics against us is to convince us that our best days are behind us.  The Israelites wanted to go back into slavery rather than to trust God’s future.  They quickly forgot the miracles and the power God had just displayed on their behalf right in front of their eyes.  Thankfully, Moses remembered. #3. Encourage each other.  Many times, especially in our “Red Sea Moments”, our faith may falter.  We need other believers in our lives to help us stay strong in the storm.  In this moment of crisis for the Israelites, Moses encouraged the people not to be afraid and to stand firm.  He helped increase their faith with his faith that the Lord would deliver them.  Likewise, we cannot become isolated as leaders.  We must keep Godly people around us for mutual encouragement. #4. Step out in faith.  We may have spent time with God, we may have remembered his promises, presence and power, and we may have encouraged those around us….but the time comes when a man of God must take a big step of faith.  With all of Moses’ credibility and leadership on the line, the people saw Moses go stand on a rock and hold his hands up over the water.  This must have seemed an irrational move to the people and even to Moses.  Yet, Moses had Faith that God would show up, and He did! So, maybe you are in a “Red Sea Moment” today.  If so, God is about to do something amazing in your life.  Remember the lessons of Moses…
  • Stay close to God
  • Remember His Promises, His Presence and His Power (Your best days are not behind you…they are ahead of you!)
  • Draw on the Encouragement and Strength of others around you
  • Step Out in Faith
Be blessed my brothers!  Thank you, John Aden, for your message and your Biblical leadership.