Tuesday, August 5, 2003
Our family has had the wonderful opportunity of visiting some of the most beautiful places in America, and taking in some incredible views in America. From the top of towering mountains, from the edge of the Grand Canyon, and in my wife's estimation, often too close to the edge. There's good news and bad news about getting real close to the edge. The bad news: it is dangerous at the edge -- you can fall off. But the good news is -- the view from the edge is spectacular!
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "When You're at the Edge."
For you, that might be right now. You are at one of those points we all reach several times in our life -- sometimes several times in a year! You're at the edge -- financially, with a son or daughter you don't know what to do with, or maybe in your marriage. It could be you're at the edge emotionally; you're not sure how much more you can take, or your responsibilities have gotten so heavy that they're taking you to the edge.
Being close to the edge is dangerous, and it's an exciting place to be, too. If you're not so sure about that "exciting" part, you need to spend a moment in our word for today from the Word of God in Exodus 14 beginning in verse 9. If ever a group of God's people were at the edge, it's here. The ancient Jews have been delivered by God from their enslavement in Egypt and now they have made camp with the Red Sea in front of them. And the Bible says, "All Pharaoh's horses and chariots, horsemen, and troops pursued the Israelites and overtook them as they camped by the sea." Oh, great! Red Sea in front of them ... the most powerful army on earth behind them, in hot pursuit. We are at the edge, folks!
But remember -- it was God who led them to the edge. It usually is. If you're in the middle of a Red Sea Moment, it is most likely part of the great and loving plans of God for you. You know what happened when God's ancient people were at the edge. The Bible says, "The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground with a wall of water on their right and on their left." Then when Moses stretched out his hand over the water, the Bible says, "the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward it, and the Lord swept them into the sea."
So why did God bring His people to this dangerous edge where there clearly seemed to be no solutions, no rescue? For the same reason He has brought you to the edge -- so you could see a more spectacular view of Him than you have ever seen before! Exodus says, "When the Israelites saw the great power of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in Him" (Exodus 14:31).
It's interesting -- the Chinese word for "crisis" is the word "wei chi." The word has two figures in it - the top one means "danger," the bottom one means "opportunity." Now, in many ways, that's a Biblical view of a crisis moment you or I face. Yes, there is real danger. But, even more, there is a real opportunity for God to do something that will bring Him great glory and allow you to see His power in amazing ways, and to tighten your grip on His hand as never before.
If God has led you to this edge, then you have every right to expect a miracle - which you would never need or never see if it weren't for this scary, overwhelming moment. In any Red Sea moment you will ultimately see God part it. And once He does, you won't remember the danger much. What you'll remember is that spectacular view of God, and you'd never see it if you didn't go to the edge! It will change your life forever!