The Way of Escape
A Parable
As the Israelites stood at the edge of the Red Sea, with a dry pathway from one side to the other, a commotion arose from the crowd.
One of the leaders among them cried, "Praise the Lord! His power is great! Behold what He has done for us!" On and on he went about what God said He would do and the sight before them, proving that God had fulfilled His promise. Many agreed with him.
Then another leader among them cried, "Praise God for his salvation! Let's go to the other side and escape from these Egyptians!"
The first leader said, "No! Don't mix your works with the Gospel of God's salvation. Let's just sit here and do nothing but declare what God has done for us. He does not need our help. He has already made the way of escape for us. That is the salvation we must accept and proclaim!"
The second leader said, "That's fine, if that's what you want. But as for me and my house, we are going to the other side." And with that, he got up and left.
Many people were confused. Some stayed with the leader praising the path God made. Some followed the leader who was walking between the walls of water.
Some time later, with the cloud of protection having gone to the other side of the Red Sea, the Egyptians arrived at the edge of the Red Sea. They found a group of Israelites praising the wonderful salvation God had provided. Some of these they slaughtered on the spot; the rest they sent back to Egypt to live out the rest of their miserable existence in bondage.
The Egyptians then rushed after those who had crossed the sea. But while they were between the walls of water, God let go of the water and drowned them all, forever freeing the people on the other side from the bondage of Egypt.
It is not enough to have assurance that God will provide a way of escape. It is not enough to look at the way of escape God has made. I must step into the way of escape that God has made for me. I must follow where He leads. Only as I experience constant communion with Him will I truly experience His salvation.
Are you ready to experience God's way of escape?