Time to Move

Read

Exodus 14:15-16 “Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.’”

Think

Is there a crossing guard at your school?

Every morning, kids line up at the corner. Cars zoom by. And everyone waits. Nobody runs out into the street. You stand still until the crossing guard says it's time.

Then the crossing guard steps out, holds up a big red stop sign, and waves. “Okay, let's go!” And now what do you do? You walk! If you just kept standing there, you'd miss your chance.

Waiting is obeying. Going is obeying too. The trick is listening so you know which one it's time for.

That's exactly what happened next at the Red Sea. Yesterday, God's people learned to be still. Today, God said, “Now it's time to go.”

God told Moses, “Tell the Israelites to move on.” Then he told Moses to hold up his staff and stretch his hand out over the sea. Remember that staff? It's the same stick God turned into a snake! God was about to use it again.

Now think about how strange this sounded. Move on toward what? There was a sea in front of them! Walking forward looked impossible. But God was about to make a path where there wasn't one.

Sometimes God asks us to wait. Sometimes God asks us to go. Both take trust.

Going might mean raising your hand in class when you're not sure you're right. It might mean saying sorry first after a fight with your brother or sister. It might mean sitting with the new kid at lunch.

Those things can feel like walking toward a sea. You don't know how it will turn out. But when God says “Go,” you can go. He is already making a way.

Here is the cool part. God never says “go” and then leaves you on your own. He goes with you. He goes ahead of you. And he knows exactly how the story ends.

So listen for God. When he says wait, you can wait. When he says go, you can go. Either way, God's got it.

Apply

Take one brave step – Think of one good thing God might want you to do that feels a little scary. Maybe it's saying sorry first or inviting someone to play. Do it today, and trust God to go with you.

Pray

God, help me listen to you. When it's time to wait, help me wait. When it's time to go, help me be brave and go. Thank you for going with me. In Jesus' name. Amen.