WALKING WITH GOD(Episode 3)

The fear factor.

Psalms 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. (NKJV)

It’s been proved over time that many people would actually prefer staying in a cold, same place no matter how difficult it is than walk through the valleys of the shadows of death… yeah sure it looks scary, isn’t it?
But there’s beauty in knowing that someone is right there besides you, someone has got your hand and someone is walking along with you on the same lane.
I would like us to look back in the Bible, check right at that moment when the Children of Israel were being chased by the Egyptians after letting them go. On their sides they had mountains, at the front they had the red sea faced with. They were right in the valley where there was no option, all they had left in their minds was death. The Bible records that they began attacking Moses and they said it would have been better they stayed as slaves in Egypt than coming to die down at that valley where they had no choice but surrender to their pursuers.

Exodus 14:11-12 And they said to Moses, Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you treated us this way and brought us out of Egypt? Did we not tell you in Egypt, Let us alone; let us serve the Egyptians? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness. (AMP)

Now the most interesting bit about this is Moses’ response, he clearly tells you that he’s walked with God and is still walking with Him, telling them not to fear meant that Moses heard what God said even in the midst of that noise around him. He knew what God had told him and that’s a man who’s been walking with God all along. Exodus 14:13-14 Moses told the people, Fear not; stand still (firm, confident, undismayed) and see the salvation of the Lord which He will work for you today. For the Egyptians you have seen today you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace and remain at rest. (AMP)

As you get to know and discover who is by your side, the fear factor diminishes, you’re strengthened from deep within and something just burns from deep down your soul the urge to get going, the urge to keep up on the right lane. And that was Moses in the picture, he knew what time to engage with the people and when to speak with God.

Moses knew that the Presence of God was with them and with God all things are considered possibly done. Right before the scripture tells us how God walked with them by night and day as He was shielding them from danger. Exodus 13:21-22 The Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people (AMP).

Sometimes we like the Israelites, tend to forget about the good moments that we had with God, those sweet memories when everything was great, testifying and singing about the goodness of God throughout the day calling people and sharing the good news that God has just done. And in a blink of an eye we are down the valley, we see the red sea ahead, on the sidelines we have these Mountains that we are so scared about, and behind is this guy whose mission is to end your life or take you back as a captive. Thoughts of freedom come to mind right? You get to ask yourself if the freedom you got was really real freedom or it was another imprisonment of its kind. Sounds like a “Blessing in Disguise”.

You know it’s interesting that we mostly don’t pay attention to details at such moments and God speaks a lot too. God gives you solutions in such moments and that’s only when you engage Him.
Let’s say had Moses not been amongst the team, then Israelites would have been captured by their pursuers. Moses being a person who knew how God communicates paid attention and took the matter to God. In a few minutes God gave instructions and these guys had a path. I mean they had a road right away in the middle of the water. Like the red sea parted and they walked on dry land across the sea.
Exodus 14:15-16 And the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea (NKJV).

What do you think these guys had in mind while crossing the red sea? Sometimes it’s great to jump and talk about it. It’s a wonder right? God just performed a wonder, isn’t it? Yeah sure very beautiful as it is. One thing I want you to know is that these guys panicked as they were crossing to the other side. Picture yourself looking at a pile of water and you’re down there walking behind is Pharaoh advancing and in your mind you’re like this water can close up at anytime. Many people trusted their strength and speed to get themselves across the sea and so many never walked with God as they journeyed to the other side.

But David tells us; though I walk through the valleys of the shadows of death, I will fear no evil. Why? Because he knows that the Lord got him, he’s aware that God has his back. David knows that with God all things are possible and he won’t give in to evil to tease him.

Walking with God gives you confidence to face anything in life and come out with a beautiful testimony at the end of it all and that automatically gives back the Glory to God alone.
Walk with the Lord God and be blessed in your coming in and your going out.