Believe It: God Will Always Show Up in the Midst of Obstacles and Resistance
By Tammy Hotsenpiller
Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided. So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. And the Egyptians pursued and went after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.
—EXODUS 14:21–23
The Israelites were under bondage and slavery by Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and the
Egyptian army. They had been content to be their slaves. But Moses knew that God had more for His children. Moses’ backstory is one of God’s divine providence, and appointed leadership. When Moses received the word from God to go back and tell Pharaoh to let God‘s people go, he knew it was a call on his life.
After the ten plagues on the Egyptians, Pharaoh had had enough. “Get these people out of my sight,” he demanded. But upon second consideration, he realized that he had just lost his slaves, his craftsmen, his workers. “Go after them,” he commanded.
Now, put yourself in the Israelites shoes: These had been your commanders, your leaders, your bosses. You were under their thumb for every move and decision you made. But now, you are free. As you make your way through the wilderness, you find yourself at a crossroads. The Red Sea in front of you, mountains on both sides of you…and the Egyptian army behind you. The only thing for you to do, is curse Moses for this insane idea.
And yet God had a plan. God always has a plan.
God told Moses to march forward. To lift his staff and part the Red Sea.
He commanded the Children of Israel to walk through on dry land—and they did.
As the sea was parted and held back by the Power of God, this mighty army crossed in confidence and victory.
As the last person stepped foot on the shore’s edge, God commanded Moses to lower his staff…and the sea began to flow again. Watching the Egyptians drown was indeed a miracle site for these once-captive Jews.
This is a God of miracles. He is able to part your raging seas. He is able to lead you through the midst of any storm. He will protect you from all enemies that surround you.
When More Obstacles Comes, God Shows Up Every Time
“So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat. Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.”
—JOSHUA 6:20
God promised that He would give the city of Jericho to the Israelites. It’s also the story of God’s promise that a harlot named Rahab would be the only one saved, along with her family, and would one day be in the historical line of Jesus.
There are so many miracles in the story, but let’s focus specifically on the miracle of the Jericho wall.
This was a strong fortified city wall, at the top of a hill, so that enemies and intruders could be seen from afar and advert an attack. They had withheld storms and adversity from the past—but now God was involved.
God promised that He would give them the city. The command from Joshua was to march one time each day around the city for six days, and then on the seventh day, to march seven times and cry out loud unto God.
They were then to shout out loud and blow the trumpets, as an expression of their belief God.
As God had prophesied and promised, the walls of Jericho came tumbling down. Everyone was destroyed—except for Rahab and her household. God did everything He said He would do. But the people had to do their part—which was simply to trust that Joshua had in fact heard the Voice of God. As it is for all of us, believing God never comes without resistance. I’m sure as they marched around the city each day, insults and assaults were being spewed in their direction from
the army inside:
“Look at these crazy Israelites. Don’t they know they have come against a fortified city? We are greater and stronger than they are.” But when God gives you a word, you must trust that it is true. God said He would give them the city, and He was true to His Word.
You may feel like you are marching around a fortified city—something that’s bigger than you, stronger than you, and completely out of your ability to conquer. But when God speaks, His Voice is true.
What are you believing in God for? What is your miracle?
Look at the fortified city of Jericho as an example of all the obstacles that have come against you and your miracle. Now, begin to pray for the walls to come down. March around your miracle. Shout and worship and praise, and see the walls come falling down.
Your miracle is waiting for you, inside the walls.