Do You Know the Red Sea Shuffle?

In our previous blogs on traveling through the Wilderness, we looked at how the Israelites were deliberately led by God to the edge of the Red Sea with Pharaoh and his army hot on their trail. We learned that a strong, East Wind from the desert blew ALL THAT NIGHT to part the waters, while it also stirred up a lot of sand and dust around God's people.

Note:

1. The waters did not part instantaneously.

2. The waters were slowly driven back by a wind that discomfited the very people it was designed to help.

3. The waters parted at night.

4. The people crossed over at night.

5. God the Son, who accompanied them as the Pillar of Fire, unexpectedly moved from the lead position to the back of the camp to stand between the approaching enemy and the Israelites.

Consequently, the command to go forward meant that God's people had to forge ahead under dimly lit conditions between imposing walls of water.

Well, you know the story. They made it.

Day broke and God's children were safely on the other side. They watched horrified as the waters that obediently rose for them crashed down upon the Egyptians and their horses.

Then, silence. What can one say at a time like that?

But shock gave way to stupendous joy!  Mo began to sing a little ditty. It caught on and spread infectiously through the camp.  Soon, all of God's people were singing at the top of their (dry) lungs!

Miriam couldn't contain her feet any longer.  She grabbed her tambourine and led ALL the women in a dance as EVERYONE was rejoicing. What a sight!

She proclaimed: "Sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously, the horse and his rider has He thrown into the sea." (Ex. 14:21)

But that was the Miriam of the Old Testament--a Covenant of types and shadows.

Now that Jesus Christ has come, God is looking for New Covenant Miriams--those that will dance BEFORE the Red Sea Parts!

Understand that dancing is not so much about movement as it is about attitude.

Dancing is not about where you go to church or about a certain denomination.  Ask David or the Elders around the Throne. It's being able to present your body a living sacrifice (of praise), even when Hell is knocking at your door!

It's demonstrating here on earth in your body, in a less than ideal environment, what you are doing spiritually seated in Christ in a perfect place--whether you move like a ballerina or just stand there and bounce up and down with raised hands.

If the devil himself appeared before God's Throne, with you seated victoriously in Christ and His finished work, how would you react to his threats? All right, then. Make heaven's reality come to earth in your situation.

Proclaim like Miriam, in the PAST tense, a done deal:

"God HAS triumphed gloriously in this situation (__________be specific).

He has destroyed the horse and rider (the devil's assignment and his devices) against me."

I've danced when offended and betrayed. When I was so sick I couldn't get out of bed, I closed my eyes and danced in my heart.

I've twirled around legal papers, doctor's reports, and anything that has risen against me in judgment.

I dance over a map for the nations and I do a jig for friends as I hold their prayer requests to my heart.

By the way, did I tell you I'm quite hefty? The way I see it, it just makes it that much more of a sacrifice to the Lord, doesn't it?

We are instructed to praise him with dancing (Psalm 149:3; 150:4). Of the 108 times the word "worship" appears in the KJV, 97 of these references refer to physical movement!

You see, there are times when you've hit the devil with all your weapons of warfare. You've got everybody you can think of praying for you.  The devil's bombarded and God's got mail, but what about you? What are you doing?

Would you care to dance?

Let's face it. You're going to dance in the dark. The wind will be against you and you'll probably get hit a time or two with debris, but bless it anyway and go on. Remember, God is actually using all that mess to make a miracle.

You WILL have to dance with the enemy too close for comfort, but God promised to prepare a table (feast) before you in the very presence of your enemies (Psalm 23:5; Psalm 78:19)!

You might not only dance today, but tomorrow and the next…however long it takes to part your particular sea. Don't grow weary; the devil's betting that you're just like so many other Christians: great sprinters but lousy on perserverance--big on early starts, but a predictable drop out when the going gets tough.

I wonder how many of God's kids lay down their tambourines just as the swells of water are about to separate? Don't break down before the breakthrough. Settle it now:  this event is from start to finish BY FAITH!

So if you're in an ugly situation with the devil frothing at the mouth behind you and what appears to be an overwhelming, insurmountable problem ahead, then you need a Red Sea miracle, Miriam. Plain and simple.

So, come on! You bring the tambourine and I'll bring the liniment. God's got a sea to part!