"... Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord ..." (1)

Trapped against the sea, the children of Israel cried out in terror as the chariots of Pharaoh descended upon them. Foolishly, they turned on Moses and railed on him.

"... stand still," Moses commanded, "and see the salvation of the Lord ..."

That night, God and Moses showed them His salvation. They parted the Red Sea, and they put doubting Israel to silence.

Now that miracle – it did not come until Israel had done all they were commanded to do, and had gone where they were told to go. And at that point when further progress seemed impossible, then God intervened and made the impossible possible. They escaped Pharaoh by walking on dry ground in the midst of an impassable sea. I don’t care who you are, that is an incredible story that survives across our collective Christian consciousness to this very day.

But I have wondered, why were they there in the first place? Why did God take them there – to the Red Sea? If you’ve looked at the maps, the closest route from Egypt to the land of Canaan was straight up the Mediterranean coastline. Had they gone that route, there would have been no need for a Red Sea Crossing, no struggles in the desert, and none of the experiences that happened at Mt. Sinai. So why did Israel take the long way home? I don’t know, but this much seems evident: Taking the long way was the best way – perhaps the only way – to prepare them as a people for the blessings of the Almighty.

Then 40 years later, Joshua led the people again to the water, this time to the banks of the Jordan at flood stage. And once again, God had brought them to an impossible situation, an impassable river. But this time maybe they’ve learned. There is no record of murmurings, doubtings, or revilings in the scriptures. The Priests stepped into the water, Jordan parted, and Israel crossed a flooding river on dry ground.

Just before that crossing, God said to Joshua, "... This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee." (2)

With Moses and again with Joshua, God used water to establish his power and their authority. Why? Because to a desert people who cherished water, that God with power over water was God. Perhaps that is why Jesus' first miracle in Israel was turning water into wine.

Now, when you are up against the impossible, when you have done in faith all you can do and you can go no further, "... Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee ..." (3) – also. And you, too, can "... stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord ..."