Your way was in the sea, Your path in the great waters, and Your footsteps were not known. You led Your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron. (Psalm 77:19-20)
When Israel emerged from the sea, the waters that had been stacked up in heaps returned to their natural state thus eliminating the armies of Egypt. Furthermore, despite the great upheaval that had allowed for this miracle, when the waters collapsed and settled back into normalcy, no trace of what had happened remained. In so doing, God made it clear that the path He prepared for them in the sea was a one way road; He did not intend that they should return to Egypt and the life they left behind. Instead, as a shepherd leading his flock, God prodded them to continue on, through the barren desert and all that it entails, toward the destination He had ordained for them.
In spite of the desolation and apparent lack of food and water, the Great Shepherd led them day by day, always providing their needs. Like sheep who have no shelter, they traversed the wilderness shielded from the elements only by the Pillar of Cloud and Fire. And as sheep are compelled to trust their earthly shepherd, the people of Israel were tested daily to trust the Almighty for direction; as He led they followed. Just as they had been completely unaware of the path He had prepared for them in the sea, the path through the wilderness was hidden from them. Each day the steps they took, steps ordered by the Lord, were taken with faith that the Lord was guiding them to greener pastures.
If most of us had our way, we would want to know where we’re going and how we are going to get there; in other words, we’d want each step to be evident to us. But as we all know, God doesn’t work that way. He may tell us where we’re going, but He doesn’t always reveal the steps that take us there. In fact, I think that if He did show us everything that lay before us, some would stop dead in their tracks — maybe be tempted to turn around and head back to Egypt. Again, that is in part why He caused the sea to return and conceal they path that had led them out of Egypt.
All of this is to say that, “We are His people and the sheep of His pasture” (Psalm 100:3), and that He will lead us as a shepherd leads his flock. Being sheep, it is not for us to determine the path that leads to life but to trust the One who leads us — even when we are surrounded by desolation and no visible means of provision. If we continue to take the journey, step by agonizing step, we will not be disappointed — the Great Shepherd has already been where He is taking us. Trust Him.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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