Walking Towards the Impossible
Base Text: Exodus 14:26–31
Introduction: The Impossible Situation
We are looking today at one of the most extraordinary events in all of Scripture: the moment the people of Israel faced an impossible situation.
They had just been freed from four centuries of slavery in Egypt and were on the march, led by the cloud by day and the fire by night. But then, their journey came to an abrupt halt, trapping them in a corner of terror:
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• In Front of Them: The vast, impassable Red Sea.
• On Their Sides: The harsh, unyielding desert.
• Behind Them: The thunderous charge of Pharaoh’s entire, vengeful army.
Israel had only three options in that moment:
1. Stay where they were → This meant death.
2. Return to Egypt → This meant returning to slavery.
3. Keep moving forward → This meant trusting God and finding salvation.
Like Israel, we all face moments in life where the path seems closed, where there appears to be no way out of the crisis—whether it’s financial ruin, relational breakdown, or spiritual stagnation.
But here is the foundational truth: God always opens a way. Our challenge is to decide whether we retreat, stand still, or press forward in faith.
I. Faced with Impossibility, Some Choose to Retreat
When pressure mounts, the first temptation is always to turn around.
1. The Danger of Turning Back
When the dust cloud of Pharaoh’s chariots appeared, Israel was terrified and immediately thought it was better to return to Egypt (Exodus 14:10-12). Fear and unbelief made them completely forget the promises of God—all the miracles they had just witnessed!
To retreat is to surrender before you see the victory. It is to let the pressure of the moment erase the memory of God’s faithfulness.
2. The Temptation of the Past
Even later in the wilderness, the people complained, longing to return to Egypt (Exodus 16:2–3; Numbers 11:4–5). They remembered the food—the onions, the leeks, the fish—but they conveniently forgot the slavery, the beatings, and the crushing oppression.
In the same way, many Christians look back at the "pleasures of the world" or the "comforts" of their old, sinful life (Ephesians 2:2–3). They remember the excitement but forget the emptiness, the bondage, and the destruction that sin always leaves behind.
3. The Biblical Exhortation
The Bible makes our position clear: “But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul” (Hebrews 10:39).
God calls us to advance, not to look back (Proverbs 16:17). When the pressure hits, the devil whispers, "Go back! It was easier then!" But the Holy Spirit urges us, "Keep trusting! God is faithful!"
Application: Retreating will never be an option for the faithful believer!
II. Faced with Impossibility, Others Choose to Stop
A second group doesn't retreat, but they fail to advance. They stop moving, paralyzed by fear or indifference.
1. The Trap of Spiritual Neutrality
Some believers attempt to maintain a position of "spiritual neutrality," avoiding commitment or action. They think they can simply stop, watch the battle, and wait for the dust to settle.
But the Lord Jesus was very direct: “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad” (Matthew 12:30). There is no middle ground in the Kingdom of God.
2. The Danger of Lukewarmness
This is the sin of the church of Laodicea, which God condemned: “You are neither cold nor hot... I will vomit you out of My mouth” (Revelation 3:16).
Many prefer not to be fully involved in the work of God, not to defend the faith, and not to serve with passion, thinking that by doing so they will avoid problems. They choose safety over sacrifice.
But God calls us to courage, not indifference (1 Peter 3:15; Jude 3).
3. God Rejects Spiritual Cowardice
The Bible gives a stern warning: “The cowardly... shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8).
To stand still is to lose purpose, to lose ground, and to lose the opportunity to experience the miraculous movement of God.
Application: God cannot use a neutral believer. In the spiritual battle, there are no spectators—only soldiers. The one who stops, loses territory!
III. Faced with Impossibility, God Says: Go Forward!
When Moses cried out to God, God’s response was not a lecture on theology or a plan for retreat. It was a clear, simple command.
1. The Mandate of God
“Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward” (Exodus 14:15).
Even though the sea looked like an insurmountable obstacle, obedience was the key that unlocked the miracle. When we walk in faith, God opens pathways where there were none before. The miracle doesn't happen until the feet move.
2. Examples of Advancing Faith
We see this faith throughout Scripture:
• The Four Friends of the Paralytic (Mark 2:1–10): They didn't stop because of the crowd. They advanced—up the roof and through it—until they brought their friend to Christ and achieved the miracle.
• Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1–10): He didn't let the multitude prevent him from seeing Jesus. He ran and climbed a tree. His commitment to advance brought salvation into his home.
3. The Victory of God’s People
Israel stepped into the closed sea and walked through the depths on dry ground (Exodus 14:22). There, God definitively delivered them from the power of Egypt (Exodus 14:30–31).
In the same way, the believer who keeps moving forward will obtain the victory and the eternal salvation promised by God.
Application: Every obstacle in the believer’s life is an opportunity to see the power of God. Keep marching, even if the sea looks closed, because God will open it at your step!
See Also
- Preaching on Seeing God Face to Face
- Preaching on Romans 8:35 Who Can Separate Us from the Love of Christ?
- Preaching on Great Flood: Lessons for our Spiritual Lives
General Conclusion: The Decision to March
In the face of the impossible, we are left with three choices:
1. To Retreat: To look back to the past, forgetting God's promises and risking perdition.
2. To Stop: To live in spiritual lukewarmness and disobedience, losing purpose.
3. To Go Forward: To trust God and obtain eternal life through faith.
The enemy will always say, "Retreat." Your flesh will say, "Stop." But God, our commanding officer, always says, "Go Forward!"
The choice is ours: Will we stay paralyzed, or will we march toward the impossible, trusting fully in the power of God?
Final Call:
The sea will not open while you stand still. You must take the first step of faith! God calls you to advance, even when it seems humanly impossible, because where your strength ends, the miraculous power of the Lord begins.
