Sermon Central
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Between The Rock And A Hard Place
Contributed by Anthony Zibolski on Aug 22, 2012 (message contributor)
Summary: Being between the Rock (Jesus Christ) and a hard place is the best and safest place we can be. It is where the Lord does His most amazing work in our lives.
Between a Rock and a Hard place
Exodus chapter 14:10-14:14
Introduction-
This mourning I want to talk about the hard spots that we face in our life. I don’t care who you are, there are times that we face obstacles and situations that are much bigger than we are. Those times that we need God’s help.
Can you imagine going about your business and one day your life changes dramatically and you have on your shoulder the responsibility of 2 million people and you are backed up into a situation that no humanly way you could get out. That is what happened to Moses and sometimes we find ourselves in those same hard spots. It is there that God wants to show and teach us life lessons. Are we willing to learn them and apply them?
Let’s look into Moses life and learn from his experiences.
Moses tending the sheep of his father-in law and observes a burning bush in the field and upon investigating the bush, the Lord Himself speaks to Him from it.
The Lord tells Moses that he will lead Israel out of the hands of the Egyptians. That the Lord has heard the prayers of His people.
After a series of power struggles between Moses and God, Moses goes to Pharaoh and demands the release of God’s people.
Things do not go well. Pharaoh is not impressed and makes it harder on the Israelites.
Chapter 6- God promises deliverance after Moses cries out to God.
“O. Lord, why have you brought trouble upon this people? Ever sense I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble upon this people, and you have not rescued your people.”
Moses battles the magicians of Pharaoh.
God shows his power by sending numerous plagues upon Egypt.
Till one night in chapter 12 of Exodus
(13) “During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites. Go! Worship the Lord as you have requested. Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go! And bless me.”
After all the plagues.
The loss of Pharaoh’s firstborn, he has had enough- Go!
Get out of my country. Go worship your God. Take all your stuff and Go!
Short time later, he has a second thought and realized that he just released over two million would be slaves and he goes after them to bring them back for slaves.
“When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, if they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt, So God lead the people around the desert road toward the Red Sea.”
Here is where I want to bring you to the text and to the points of this message.
The Israelites running for their lives to get where God had promised them and they are faced by obstacles on all sides.
Anyone know what I am talking about !
Those times that we are trying to do what is right.
Those times trying to do what we believe the Lord has told us.
Those times that our faith is strained to the max. and the enemy seems to be pursuing us and we have no place to go.
Those times we have no answers
Times we have no human alternatives.
Between a rock and a hard place!
The times when we have to choose between two un-satisfactory options.
Other phrases of unsatisfactory choices
Between the devil and the deep blue sea
An offer you can’t refuse
Catch 22- Joseph Heller book. A paradox in which the attempt to escape makes escape impossible.
Back to the drawing board
Bad hair day
Doom and gloom
Face the music
If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.
The problem is they can’t stand the heat and can’t get out of the kitchen.
Exodus chapter 14:10-14 (Text)
Have you ever found yourself in a predicament?
Up against the wall!
We all have- some this morning may be there right now!
The Israelites found themselves between Pharaoh’s army and the Red Sea.
Stuck between a rock and a hard place may just be the spot the Lord has to bring you too so that He can accomplish what he needs to accomplish in your life.
Illustration- SermonCentral
A little boy was leading his sister up a mountain path and the way was not easy. Why this isn’t a path at all, the little girl complained. “it’s all rocky and bumpy.” Her little brother kept up the mountain, pausing just long enough to call out, “sure, but the bumps are what you climb on.”
Sometimes the very thing we see as an obstacle, are the things that the Lord allows in our life as a stepping stone to get us out of the situation that we are in. (repeat)
