2020 has played out like the plot points of a thriller-suspense novel with jaw-dropping twists popping out from every which way.
First, it’s wildfires in Australia. The death of Kobe Bryant–a basketball legend. Then a global health pandemic that also shook the economy and held us captive in our homes. And then racial, political & civil unrest, earthquakes, hurricanes…and, well, let’s pray that’s all.
It’s like this year keeps getting worse.
Personally, our family has experienced a lot of death, and throw loss into a year like 2020 and it can be a real dumpster fire. I’m reminded of a situation in Exodus 14 that plays out eerily similar to our current life circumstance.
Moses is leading the Israelites out of Egypt after four hundred years of slavery. But it wasn’t an easy or joyous journey. Prior to Exodus 14 we see Pharoah increasing the Jewish people’s workload after Moses demands Israelites to be freed. Not cool. Then we see God pelting Egypt with plagues in order to force the Pharaoh to set the Israelites free. The Jewish people experienced most of the plagues. Not cool at all. And now in Exodus 14 the Israelites are being hunted down by Pharaoh and his army. They are faced with either drowning in the sea too wide and deep to cross, or being slaughtered. Things couldn’t get worse.
We get that. We may feel like things can’t get worse right now.
But here’s the thing–God shows up in moments like these. When problems are too big to solve–God can.
What if God puts an Exodus 14 sized problem in our life on purpose? What if God put 2020 in our lives on purpose?
He did. But why?
Three things that I want to call out:
1: Check out Exodus 14:31. God says:
“Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses.”
God will put “problems” in our life so that we can see his power and learn to follow him, and to trust him.
2: Check out Exodus 14:18: God says:
“And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”
God will put problems in our life so that others can see His glory.
3: Remember Romans 8:28 from a few weeks ago.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
God will put problems in our life in order to work them out for the good–of those that love him and are called according to his purpose.
Nobody ever said the faith road would be easy. You must first love God before you are able to have eyes that see Him working ALL things for His glory.
So whether it’s Exodus 14 or the year 2020, it’s all for the Glory of God.
Blessings.
VC Devotionals 