Monday, February 2, 2009

Leaving Egypt

I used to wonder why the Israelites complained after their miraculous rescue from Egypt by the prophet Moses. I couldn't imagine how they would question God or Moses' word after all they had done for them. But I understand now.

I can picture them, having left the slavery of Egypt, having witnessed the plagues and passover and knowing God had provided the way for them to leave. They had hope in the promised land - one they would obtain after leaving the deserts of Egypt. They left in faith, following their prophet, heading anxiously towards the promised land. When suddenly they realize they are being followed - vigorously pursued by pharoah's guards intent on killing them. As they rush forward they are faced not with a path to freedom, but with the vast Red Sea. No boats. No bridge. No escape. Relentlessly chased by violent warriors. Is it any wonder they questioned? Is it any surprise they wanted to go back? I wonder if they could even see off in the horizon their distant land of Egypt. Surely they thought it would be better to go back and be slaves to a pharoah than to perish a bloody death or drown in the depths of the sea. Some of them likely had never even known a different life than slavery. If they went back, surely they could continue as they always had, despite all that had transpired.

All they had was the word of a prophet and the promise of God. Each of those people had to decide for themselves if that was enough. There must have been a pre-miraculous moment of decision, the time that required the ultimate faith of each of them before Moses lifted his staff. They surely couldn't have foreseen or imagined the undeniable witness of God's power that was about to occur before their eyes. They each had to decide whether to rush to the guards and plead for mercy or rush into the water and rely on faith. Faith that God would deliver them, faith that their promised land would be given them, faith that the words of a living prophet would be fulfilled, faith that moving forward - however insurmountable the path ahead seemed - would be better than going back.

"Some days we will be miraculously led out of Egypt - seemingly free, seemingly on our way - only to come to yet another confrontation, like all that water lying before us. At those times we must resist the temptation to panic and give up. At those times fear will be the strongest of the adversary's weapons against us."

" ' And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord. ... The Lord shall fight for you.' In confirmation the great Jehovah said to Moses, 'Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward.' "

"...After you have gotten the message, after you have paid the price to feel His love and hear the word of the Lord, go forward. Don't fear, don't vacillate, don't quibble, don't whine. You may, like Alma going to Ammonihah, have to find a route that leads an unusual way, but that is exactly what the Lord is doing here for the children of Israel. Nobody had ever crossed the Red Sea this way, but so what? There's always a first time. With the spirit of revelation, dismiss your fears and wade in with both feet. In the words of Joseph Smith, 'Brethren [and sisters], shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory!' "

(Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, "Cast Not Away Therefore Your Confidence, BYU Devotional, March 2, 1999.)

No comments:

Post a Comment