At times we find ourselves between a rock and a hard place. It is when we have an insurmountable problem with seemingly no way out or solution. The children of Israel had such a dilemma in the wilderness. After God brought the tenth plague of the death of the firstborn upon Egypt, Pharaoh let God’s people go (Ex.12:29-31). However, he later changed his mind, gathered his army and chariots, and went after them overtaking them at the Red Sea (Ex.14:5-9). With the Red Sea before them, the Egyptians behind them, they were between a rock and a hard place. In other words, in a difficult situation without a solution. Therefore, they rightly did what all of God’s people should do under similar circumstances, look up. “…the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord” (Ex.14:10).
The Lord had not left his people and was very near going before them as a pillar of a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night (Ex.13:21-22). The pillar of God’s presence even moved to stand between his people and their adversaries (Ex.14:19-20). Next, was the obstacle of the Red Sea that prevented them from doing God’s will which was to go forward. “And the Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel that they go forward” (Ex.14:15). The Lord then made a way through the obstacle of the Red Sea so that his people went forward on dry ground (Ex.14:21-22). He also used the sea to defeat their enemies (Ex.14:23-31). With their enemies and the Red Sea out of the way, the Lord’s people could rejoice in how the Lord brought them through a rock and hard place. The Lord helps us as well through every difficult situation when we cry unto him and obediently go forward in his will.
“He rebuked the Red Sea also, and it was dried up: so he led through the depths, as through the wilderness. And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy. And the waters covered their enemies: there was not one of them left. Then believed they his words; they sang his praise.” (Ps.106:9-12).
