Faith always involves risk. In fact, the definition of faith is that you believe in something you cannot yet see. Faith means that you believe in the one who is calling you to respond because the risk is worth taking . . . even when it doesn’t all make sense to you.
When the people of Israel were told to cross the Red Sea as it was opened up before them by God, they had to believe that the Lord was with them. The pharaoh was coming at them with all the power of his army, and God’s people were told to march forward—right into the space between two walls of water. They had to take the risk that the miracle that had opened up the water for them would keep it open and wouldn’t collapse over them, their cattle, and their future. God had told them to leave Egypt, but now things got shaky. They probably wondered whether they should take the obvious solution of surrendering and going back to Egypt . . . or if they should keep marching forward into the space where the water had been separated.
Life requires us to take risks.
Life requires us to take risks. So, we do—financial risks, relocation risks, relationship risks, and risks of so many more kinds. We cannot avoid them. We cannot know what the future holds, and there are no guarantees. But we aren’t taking risks blindly when we know God has spoken.
Can you imagine what it felt like to be one of those Israelites who stared out at the water, knowing the Egyptians would soon arrive on the scene? Surely there were lots of questions and deep insecurity. But God came through for them. Not just one miracle, but two. For when the sea opened up and they crossed through, they walked on dry land. Yes, God dried out the land at the bottom of the sea so that they could walk across it, pull carts over it, and shepherd their animals through it. He let them know that it is worth risking with Him, for He was worthy of their trust.
Is God asking you to take a risk on Him?
Is God asking you to take a risk on Him? Asking you to do something that you can’t quantify or qualify in concrete terms with your five senses? It’s because He wants you to move in faith. He has shown you before that He is worth believing in for your future—what lies ahead of you that you cannot see.
Throughout the Bible, this epic event at the Red Sea is mentioned again and again. The whole history and future of Israel was based on it. Therefore, there is always this admonition: Remember your deliverance from Egypt through the Red Sea. The people of Israel were constantly called to look back to yesterday’s miracles in order to help them face tomorrow’s challenges.
Like them, you don’t want to lose what God wants to do in your tomorrow because you are not willing to take the risk today to walk through your own personal Red Sea. What is your Red Sea? It’s that impossible-looking situation through which God wants to move you forward, even though you cannot see a guaranteed outcome. But you know God is calling you to move ahead in faith.
The Israelites were scared—very scared—including Moses.
The Israelites were scared—very scared—including Moses. But though they were afraid, they moved forward in obedience. They did not let faith become subservient to fear. The risk of faith means telling fear to get out of the way because you are moving forward in faith, regardless of the circumstances or your emotions. It’s always a good bet to take a risk on God.
