#6 Gilgal's Grace

How could you not put your life in God's hands? How could you not trust God with every molecule of your body? How could you not commit every particle of your existence to God's glory? God is more excellent, more noble, more wonderful, more satisfying, more beautiful, more pleasurable than all our wildest dreams. The first generation of Israelites cried out to God for deliverance and God heard them. Israel had no escape. They were slaves. They were helpless. But the God of their forefathers heard their cries for help and he sent them a deliverer. God's Shekinah glory settled as a pillar of fire between Egypt and Israel. And then God's servant held up his hands and the Red Sea parted and Israel crossed over on dry ground. And the Shekinah glory lifted up and as soon as God's presence was removed the Egyptians continued their pursuit between the walls of water into the middle of the Red Sea. How could they not take God at his word? How could they not believe Him? Why don't you take God at this word? This is what the essence of sin is. It is a refusal to take God at his word. When we refuse to believe God we are not alone. We are just like the rest of fallen humanity. God says, "Trust me. Live by faith." And how often do we say, "No thank You. I will live by sight. I will make my decisions according to what makes sense to me. That's why the first generation Israelites didn't obey God. That's how the first generation of Israelites perished.The very first verst of Chapter 5 reminds us the battle is the Lords. Israel hasn't even approached a battlefield, and their enemies have been defeated. It is grace that opens our eyes to see things as God sees things.