Hemmed In

“Then the LORD said to Moses, 'Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon. Pharaoh will think,’ ‘The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.’ "¹

At some point, everyone who calls on the name of Jesus Christ will find their faith challenged. Some may argue with this statement by asserting, “My faith in Christ has never wavered!”

Faith that wavers and faith that is challenged are not one in the same.

Often when my faith was challenged, I have felt as if I were hemmed in; as though I had no way out. I believe that the enemy of my faith wants me to regret my decision to trust God with the outcome; to somehow believe I can turn around and go back.

The Israelites experienced this challenge in Pi Hahiroth:

“As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the LORD.”²

Fear always accompanies a challenge to your faith. You feel trapped, realizing there is no way of escape. You can’t go back, you can’t go laterally to the left or right, and there in front of you is an obstacle with no visible pathway.

How do you combat fear?

All of us experience fear in some form. All of us deal with fear differently.

A woman waits nervously for her doctor to reveal the news of tests that were run. An athlete anxiously awaits the announcement of his name so that he can race onto the field of competition. A politician tentatively awaits her introduction to a packed audience. A family faces the uncertainty of losing their home unless they can somehow resume making their mortgage payments. A man waits for a job offer after enduring months of unemployment.

Each of these people found themselves in dire straits much like the Israelites were in this passage of scripture; they were hemmed in by their circumstances. God told Moses,

“Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp before Pi-Hahiroth, between Migdol and the [Red] Sea, before Baal-Zephon. You shall encamp opposite it by the sea.”³

Israel reached a dead end at Etham. It was here that God told Moses to turn back. They then camped between the three geographic points of Pi-Hahiroth, Migdol, and Baal-Zephon (on the opposite side of the Red Sea). Etham was impassable, as was the impassable rocky terrain of Pi Hahiroth. Migdol was a military lookout post that many believe sent word to Pharaoh of the Israelites location. From their present position, the Israelites could see Baal-Zephon, but the Red Sea formed a gulf between the shores where they camped and the mountaintop view of Baal-Zephon. To make matters worse, they were being pursued by the military forces of Pharaoh’s army.

They were hemmed in!

They couldn’t go back to that life they left in Egypt, and it appeared as though they couldn’t escape Pharaoh’s army.

Watching as the Egyptians approached, fear grabbed them by the throat.

In their fear, they cried out to God. They cried out to the One who is The God of My Salvation. I wonder if they prayed, “God save me!”

I’ve faced circumstances where I was hemmed in. Thinking about this passage of scripture, I can easily see myself in the position of Israel. I prayed for the God of miracles to rescue me. I called on the same God who provided a Pillar of Cloud and a Pillar of Fire, to demonstrate His miraculous power and might. Some may say that, “God works no miracles today.” Others may say, “There is no God.” But those who by faith trust in The Eternal God, believe that,

“…without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”⁴

I believe that God was leading Israel to a land of promise, but to get there, Israel had to go through trials. They face circumstances that pointed to The One True God as their Deliverer. Israel feared Pharaoh and his army. But God wanted them to move from the place of fear to the place of faith. To get them to the place of faith, God had to deliver Israel and demolish Pharaoh’s army.

To get you to the place of faith, God must deliver you and demolish what you fear.

While your circumstance may have you hemmed in, the place of faith lies ahead of you; to get there, you must move forward.

It doesn’t matter how God opens up your path, all that matters is that you trust Him with each step you take. Sometimes we may go through a Red Sea experience where the doctors have done all they can do, and the sickness has us hemmed in. We don’t know if we will escape, but God says,

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.”⁵

You may find yourself in the wilderness of the unemployed, hemmed in by the lack of opportunity. The bank may be ready to foreclose on your home but God is still the same. He loves and cares about every one of us.

When I’m hemmed in by fear and circumstance, I’ll remember to,

“Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”⁶

“Yet those who wait for the LORD
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary.”⁷

I may be hemmed in by my circumstance, but I’m not without hope. I’m not going to live in fear and hopelessness. I’ll trust God to deliver me. I’m going to walk right up to the shoreline; I’ll do my part and trust God to make a way.

Sovereign God,

I'm standing on the shores of my very own Red Sea experience; hemmed in by a circumstance, but I'm not afraid. You are the same, yesterday, today and forever; Jesus Christ, Lord of all. Though the enemy of my faith rages, I will not be afraid. You order both night and day, the dawn arises by Your word. You are The God of Miracles. You proved Yourself in the wilderness to Israel. You delivered them from Pharaoh and his army. You completely vanquished the enemy of Israel just as it is written, "The Egyptians you see today you will never see again." My life is in Your hands Lord; I put my faith and trust in You. I wait on You Lord. Open up the windows of heaven and pour Your blessings upon us. You give us more grace that we may resist the enemy. Thank You Lord for delivering us from our circumstance. We thank and praise You, we give You the glory You richly deserve. Amen.

Note: Several months ago, a blogger friend suggested I visit Charlotte and Ginger who host the blog Spiritual Sundays, and that I should link in with fellow bloggers who share encouraging and inspirational posts.

I believe you will find hearts ablaze with faith, love, compassion, kindness, humility, and fellowship in Christ. I encourage you to visit. You won't be disappointed.

Footnotes:

1. Exodus 14:1-3, NIV
2. Exodus 14:10, NIV
3. Exodus 14:2, Amplified Bible
4. Hebrews 11:6, NASB
5. Proverbs 3:5-6, NASB
6. Psalm 27:14, KJV
7. Isaiah 40:31, NASB

References:

1. King James Version, The Crusade Analytical Study Edition, Crusade Bible Publishers, Inc., PO Box 90011, Nashville, Tennessee 37209
2. The NIV Study Bible, Edited by Kenneth Barker, Donald Burdick, John Stek, Walter Wessel and Ronald Youngblood, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530, USA
3. The Ryrie Study Bible (New American Standard Version), Edited by Charles C. Ryrie, Moody Publishers, Chicago, Illinois, ISBN 0-8024-8920-6
4. Matthew Henry's Commentary, McDonald Publishing Company, McLean, Virginia 22101, ISBN 0-917006-21-6
5. Amplified Bible, BibleGateway.com

Show me what you got

I was watching this movie once and towards the end there was a scene between a man and a woman that went something like this:

Raquel: I have character.

Winston 'The Wolf' Wolfe: There’s a difference between having character and being a character.

For me, it was one of those lines you never forget from a movie. For the Christian, it is never a good thing to be viewed as a character. Elmer Fudd, Porky Pig and Mickey Mouse are characters but who among us wants to be labeled a “Mickey Mouse”?

What does it take to be a person of character? This question for me was enlightening because I initially thought about the positive qualities which one can demonstrate such as honesty, integrity and honor. But as I pondered the question I began to see that a person of character is one who doesn’t fear the light of truth. A politician mimics honesty, integrity and honor in an attempt to gain votes during an election campaign; but a scandal reveals who they really are and hopes for victory fall in embarrassment, shame and defeat.

A person of character doesn’t try to live shamefully, they will acknowledge falling short of their commitment. A person of character doesn’t talk the talk. They recognize that talk is empty, shallow and vain. A person of character realizes the importance of upholding what they say by the life they live. A person of character knows they are not perfect and will never convey to others that they are. For some Christians, getting snared in the Sprite Syndrome is a trap that becomes almost inescapable. We all know that the Sprite Syndrome declares that “Image is everything!” But is that true? Is image everything? I look in the mirror and see an image of myself but that image isn’t me. It looks like me, it mimics me but when I turn and walk away from the mirror, the image of me is gone.

An image is an imitation of someone or something. People impersonate famous people because they look like them but the truth is they aren’t that person. A person can dress up and imitate Elvis Presley but we all know Elvis has left the building. As a child, I never knew the difference between butter and margarine because we never bought butter in our home. I don’t know why other than to say it costs more. But today, I know the difference between butter and margarine because my wife never buys margarine and she schooled me on the difference. Butter tastes different. It has a substance to it which margarine doesn’t.

That’s true with people too. People who imitate character lack substance and depth; they are superficial. It’s important for the Christian to understand that what people think about me is not the same as what people know about me. Jesus said,

“...and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”¹

Certainly Jesus was referring to the revelation of truth regarding who He is and His purpose for coming into the world but I believe that knowing the truth about myself, helps to liberate me from my fears. I say this because I believe that fear is what causes us to erect images of who we are to others. We become enslaved to an image instead of being a real person. Why must I hide that I struggle with alcohol? What would my family say if they found out my marriage is failing? What would happen if my husband found out that I was unfaithful? What would my church friends think if they discovered I gossip about them?

Does the truth really make you free? The answer is yes it does! There are three things that distinguish a person of character from a character: fear, shame and guilt.

Fear imprisons me. It forces me to believe that I will be rejected if others saw me as a flawed person. But the truth is that we only need to look at Jesus Christ to see that He was both despised and rejected for representing real truth. It’s not what others think of you that determines who you are, it’s what God says about you that gives your identity substance. Jesus calls His followers friend. God adopts the believer as His child; we are privileged to call Him Father (Abba). It’s when we face the fears about our failures and weaknesses, honestly confessing to God our need for help and deliverance that we begin to experience real freedom. I can dispel my fears by being honest with God, myself and others. A person of character does not live in fear.

Shame holds me in my prison of fear because I’m embarrassed by what I do. For some, it becomes a patterned cycle of behavior, do the deed and then feel the shame. I’ve fallen off the wagon but instead of seeking help, I pretend that all is well. Could it be that at the end of church service, there are people in genuine pain or trouble but shame keeps them from sharing the problem and seeking help? The notion of living up to the image that my life as a Christian is perfect is a false one. Christians have problems too. Christians face a crisis in faith, marital problems, unemployment, debt, homelessness, academic failure and many other problems. Certainly one does not speak of these things with a sense of pride but one should not shun the truth about having problems. A person of character is not stuck in shame.

Guilt sentences me to perpetual punishment for my failures. I will always suffer guilt when I cling to the accusation of what I did. Guilt is the ghost that haunts my life. Guilt is my very own personal boogeyman. Accepting real forgiveness and moving beyond guilt can be a most difficult journey for many. It takes belief that God has forgiven me and it takes commitment and determination to say no to repeat the sins that enslave me to guilt. Many think they deserve punishment but what they need is to experience forgiveness. The criminal who hung on the cross next to Jesus asked Him to remember him. Jesus said,

“…Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”²

That man obtained forgiveness and yet we still refer to him as a thief. No matter what others think of him, he died guiltless because of the forgiveness of Christ. That’s what forgiveness gives you; freedom from the condemnation and penalty of sin. When you experience freedom from sin, you begin living a life of substance. No longer imitating but actually being real; honest and open about who you are in Christ. A person of character is not haunted by guilt.

People want to be around a person of character. A character can be the life of the party but they get exhausted and tired being a character all the time. What a character really wants is to be able to say, "This isn't who I really am."

They want to take the mask off because they understand that people want to be around someone with substance; someone who is real. When someone says (literally), “Show me what you got”, allow them to get to know the real you.

Footnotes:

1. John 8:32, NASB
2. Luke 23:39-43, NASB

References:

1. The Ryrie Study Bible (New American Standard Version), Edited by Charles C. Ryrie, Moody Publishers, Chicago, Illinois, ISBN 0-8024-8920-6
2. Pulp Fiction, Movie directed by Quentin Tarantino, Written by Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avary

Where Are You Lord?

Have you ever had that feeling that you’re all alone? I once watched a very sad movie about two guys who found themselves lost in a desert with no means to make it through. A series of decisions had put them in this predicament that would ultimately cost the life of one. The movie begins with two friends driving along an isolated road through the desert. For some unexplained reason, they decide to go on a hike with no provisions. They finally reach a point where they decide to turn around and head back to their car but by this time, they’ve lost perspective and direction. They are lost but refuse to admit it.

One seems certain in the direction and the other seems skeptical. They separate going off in different directions but ultimately find each other again. By now, hunger, fatigue and physical stress have taken its toll. Both can barely walk another step but sheer will seems to propel one, while the other is ready to give up and die. It’s one of the saddest movies I’ve ever watched because there is very little dialog; just images that convey the emotions felt.

Life seems that way at times. We make decisions that at the time seem innocent, but later on we find ourselves in a place that offers no shelter or sympathy. We reach a point where we decide that we’ve gone too far to turn back but we have no idea where we’re headed. We’re lost but either we don’t realize it or we refuse to admit it.

Recently, I was in that kind of desert; not physically, but certainly spiritually and intellectually.

“As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for Thee, O God.”¹

“O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.”²

I cried out in prayer, and yet, I could not sense the presence of God. It made me feel alone, forgotten and questioning.

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?”³

I found myself asking God, Where are you Lord? Why don’t you answer me? I don’t know my way; I’m leery of taking another step unless you give me direction. I’m glad the Lord knows me and allows me to express my doubts and fears. As a man, it is an area I’ve struggled with. Trust, it’s a word that sounds so simple but when my mind and my experience stand in opposition to it, I find myself in the desert; waging war with myself.

I begin to imagine things that aren’t real; things good and bad. I searched the scriptures for direction, for help and for relief. I began to read the third chapter of Ecclesiastes which discussed the timing of everything in life. Even in the midst of disorder and chaos, there is an order, structure, symphony and melody to all of life’s events. I asked myself, What is the timing of this present experience? What is it that I’m not seeing?

“To a man belong the plans of the heart, but from the LORD comes the reply of the tongue. All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD. Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”⁴

“…casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you.”⁵

Suddenly, it finally hit me where I was; my questions had been answered. The simplicity of God’s truth so often blows me away; especially when I’m looking for some cool oasis, filled with all kinds of food, desserts and cold, clear water. God keeps it simple for me, because I couldn’t handle it any other way. Technologists strive to establish a Standard Repeatable Process (STR) which is a sequence of procedures that are performed manually or using automation. It is the principle which drives the assembly line approach to manufacturing.

The bible says,

“Casting the whole of your care---all of your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all---on Him; for He cares for you affectionately, and cares about you watchfully.”⁶

But when faced with adversity, worry, doubt and fear, the human mind says, cast my cares on me. It is a process which we have experientially repeated numerous times throughout our life; so much so that it is involuntary. We don’t even think about it!

God doesn’t want me internalizing my doubts, fears, anxieties and worries; He wants me to voluntarily hand them all to Him, every time. This requires a change of habit and a change in thought process. Three keys to changing the process would be:

1. Focus on God and not on the problem.
2. Trust God is working the situation out in my best interest.
3. Remember how God has proven Himself before.

Focus:
By looking to God for the answer, I am training myself to measure the problem against God. Regardless as to how immense my problem may seem to be, it can never measure up to the infinite size, strength and ability of Almighty God. The bible says,

“…fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith,”⁷

This takes discipline but over time the thought will become part of a new way of thinking. Looking to Jesus serves as a spiritually healthy reminder whenever I face a problem.

Trust:
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God…”⁸

“Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it,”⁹

God is concerned about each of us. So much so that He wants to guide us throughout the course of our life. Supplying us with peace and contentment; living above our fears.

Remember:
God is not forgetful but oftentimes, we are. That is why it is so imperative that we remember how God has demonstrated Himself to us before. What if I don’t have any memories? I can use the memories of others (those I personally know or those in the bible). What God has done for others, he will do for me.

“Remember the days of old…”¹⁰

“Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually. Remember His wonderful deeds which He has done,”¹¹

Focus, trust and remember. These are the keys to casting my doubts, fears, anxieties and worries to God rather than casting them internally to myself. Understanding that I can’t handle them, nor can I change the course of my circumstances helps me realize that I need the Greater One.

Footnotes:

1. Psalms 42:1, NASB
2. Psalms 63:1, NIV
3. Psalms 22:1, NIV
4. Proverbs 16:1-3, NIV
5. 1 Peter 5:7, NASB
6. 1 Peter 5:7, Amplified
7. Hebrews 12:2, NASB
8. Romans 8:28, NASB
9. Psalms 37:5, NASB
10. Deuteronomy 32:7, NASB
11. 1 Chronicles 16:11-12, NASB

References:

1. The NIV Study Bible, Edited by Kenneth Barker, Donald Burdick, John Stek, Walter Wessel and Ronald Youngblood, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530, USA
2. The Ryrie Study Bible (New American Standard Bible), Edited by Charles C. Ryrie, Moody Publishers, Chicago, Illinois, ISBN 0-8024-8920-6
3. The Layman's Parallel New Testament, Zondervan Bible Publishers, Grand Rapids, Michigan