"You have to take the first step!" -- Jesus Has Already Done it at The Red Sea

Many Christians will tell people who are frustrated or unsure of what to do next:

"Take the first step!"

While more people in the Body of Christ are awakening to the reality of God's grace and goodness, lavish and unending through His Son Jesus Christ, the Pharisee spirit will rise up and scold people:

"You have to take the first step!"

For example, regarding the Israelites, when they crossed the Red Sea, "They had to take the first step!"

About the Israelites when they entered the Promised Land, led by Moses' successor Joshua, "They had to take the first step!"

Of course, there is the prodigal son, who also "had to take the first step!"

These legalistic prescriptions put the emphasis on what we must do, instead of leading us to focus on what Jesus Christ has done for us, which in turn draws us to receive more of Him in our lives.

First, let us look at the account of the Red Sea. While the Israelites were moving out of Egypt, Pharaoh's heart was hardened once again, and he dispatched his forces to capture the Israelites and bring them back to bondage.

The Israelites cried out in fear and unbelief:

"10And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD. 11And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? 12Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness." (Exodus 14: 10-12)

 

Unbelief is not pretty, and it certainly brings out the worst in us. One would assume that God would have just as well turned them over to their former slave-masters.

 

God's grace is greater by far:

"13And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. 14The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace." (Exodus 14: 13-14)

 

Notice that the Lord did not tell the Israelites to "take the first step." In fact, he told the Israelites to stand still and watch for "The Salvation of the Lord."

 

Look at Jesus. See Him above and beyond your needs, your problems, your fears, your issues, your anything. See Him as providing everything, and in you He is living and moving and offering all things to you and through you, and thus you are a blessing to all whom He leads you to meet.

 

It's not about our "taking the first step." It's about believing that He is taking all the steps, and that He lives in you, and works in you, and thus He is taking care of all things.

 

Let us not forget that it was the LORD -- The Eternal One, Was-Is-Always -- who brought His people out of Egypt, who gave His people favor in the eyes of Egyptians, that they gave them all their gold and jewelry, more than back-pay for the hundreds of years of slave labor extracted from them.

 

This whole tirade of "You have to take the first step" is the most preening, pernicious arrogance! As if we can even take the first step! He does it all. Believe and receive Jesus