A fun activity here at Shiloh is to give the grands pads of sticky notes and let them create works of art. My husband was surprised to find his bathroom and toilet were turned into a sticky situation! Pretty clever.
What is the last sticky situation you were in (and I'm not talking about peanut butter)?
Moses and the Israelites really had their backs up against a wall. A wall of water with an army of Egyptians bearing down on them. We too have experienced times when we saw no way out, but that's just when God shows us how powerful he is.
What was Ali's fight called? The Thrilla in Manila? Well, it doesn't begin to compare with the Scene at the Red Sea in Exodus 14.
And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground. And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they shall go in after them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, his chariots, and his horsemen. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”
Exodus 14: 13-18
What about David? A jealous king had David on the run for 10 plus years. God used these difficult circumstances to make David a more compassionate and humble king. And look what God put together in the caves...an entire army! Our destiny is determined by God!
David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him. And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, gathered to him. And he became commander over them. And there were with him about four hundred men. 1 Samuel 22:1-2
Whew! Talk about being in hot water. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego probably would have taken a sticky situation over a fiery furnace any day, but nothing would deter them from worshiping the one true God. With total calm, collection and confidence they faced the flames because they trusted their God to take care of them. They refused to bow down, but preferred to see God glorified through their sacrifice or triumph. And what a triumph there was!
But suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, “Didn’t we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?” “Yes, Your Majesty, we certainly did,” they replied. “Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!” Daniel 3:24-25
The Bible is full of sticky situations that required great faith.
Naomi and Ruth widowed and walking and wondering what was next. Rehab hiding the spies and constructing a clever escape. Joseph in the pit, but God placed him on a path to greatness. Gideon with only 300, equipped with horns and torches, up against a large gang of Midianites.
We face trials, tribulations and sticky situations as well and we will continue on that course this side of heaven. But we are to "take heart"...
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
My phone just pinged and a friend, whose husband is critically ill, texted her doctors feel certain she has breast cancer. These are the days we cry out, "Father, make a way" through our difficult situations.
The Song "God will Make a Way "Don Moen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zo3fJYtS-o
