DCLM Higher Everyday 10 November 2023 — Actions Of The Anxious
Topic: Actions Of The Anxious
Text: Exodus 14:5-13
6And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him:
7And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them.
8And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an high hand.
9But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon.
10And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD.
11And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?
12Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.
13And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
Key Verse: “And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt” (Exodus 14:11)
Message
You may have heard about claustrophobia (fear of confined places), hydrophobia (fear of water) or xenophobia (fear of strangers). But you may not have heard about thanatophobia (fear of death or dying). It is a form of anxiety characterized by a fear of one’s own death referred to as death anxiety. The children of Israel manifested this symptom in our text when they were faced with the threat of certain, violent death. Under this condition, they forgot the promises of God. They forgot His past miracles and deliverances. They even chided with Moses, the man who did them much good. And they spoke unadvisedly, preferring their past life of bondage to their present life of liberty. All these happened because they were anxious. You are bound to react negatively when you are anxious.
But they need not have worried. God, who brought them out of Egypt, was determined to take them to the Promised Land. He was both willing and able to keep them and preserve them. You have nothing to worry about. Trust in the Lord with all your heart.
Quote: Trust in the Lord
Challenge: There is nothing to worry about.
Prayer for today: Oh God, remove my anxiety and grant me peace in Jesus’ name.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
