NOTE: I am putting my weekly sermons on the church website. It will be on for two weeks (usually posted on Friday) and then placed in the Archives area by date. You can download in a matter of seconds.

Let me know what you think. The church Email is: SLUMC@att.net, Phone: 480.895.8766

September 22, 2002
Sermon: "Facing Our Personal Sea Crossings"
Scripture: Exodus 14:19-31
Reverend Larry M. Gerber

Imagine what the Israelites were feeling when they stood at the shore of the Red Sea. They were feeling trapped, with the sea in front of them and the Egyptian army at their backs. The Israelites were like cats - not a water-loving species - and when they looked to the sea they saw nothing but the waters of chaos, the place where danger lurks, where good things do not happen.

"Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness?" they cried to Moses, their voices dripping with sarcasm (Exodus 14:11). How they wished at that moment that they were like the neighboring Phoenicians, accomplished navigators and sailors who made voyages throughout the Mediterranean for the establishment of colonies and commerce. If only the Israelites could have picked up some tricks from these successful seafarers who voyaged across the Mediterranean, outside the Straits of Gibraltar, into the Atlantic, and down the coast of Africa.

But at that moment, at the edge of the Red Sea, the Israelites had nothing. No vessel, ship, boat, canoe or raft. Not even a collapsible, double kayak.

Then God said, "There's no way but Yahweh." All they had was the power and presence of the one Lord God. And that, of course, was more than enough. Exodus tells us that "The Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and turned the sea into dry land; and the waters were divided. The Israelites went into the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left" (14:21-22).

Then the pursuing armies went after them with horses, chariots and chariot drivers. But the Lord threw them into panic, clogged their chariot wheels, and then, as a final death blow, flooded the entire army of Pharaoh with the waters of the Red Sea. "Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the Egyptians," concludes Exodus; "and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore" (v. 30).

We know the famous story of this crossing. And we give thanks that God worked so powerfully in this event to save the lives of his chosen people. But we also know that in our own lives, we can't always count on a miracle to come along and get us out of a jam. When we find ourselves with a sea in front of us and an army at our backs, there is no promise that the sea will open up for us, that dry ground will appear, and that our enemies and opponents and pains and problems will be swallowed up in defeat behind us.

More often than not, we have to get in a boat and start rowing. And when we do, God makes a way when there seems to be no way.

When we face sea crossings in our personal lives, it is so important to put our trust in the same thing that the Israelites did: the power and presence of the one Lord God. We make a fatal error when we try to row across the sea ourselves, or put too much faith in our own cleverness and ingenuity.

The promise of God to us is clear: "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you" (Isaiah 43:2). The Lord gives us the assurance that he will be with us in all of our perilous passages, working to protect us and guide us and preserve us. The love of God for us is undeniable, and Scripture promises us that many waters cannot quench this love, neither can floods drown it (Song of Solomon 8:7). There is nothing in all creation, nothing on land or sea or air, that can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:39).

So we, like the ancient Israelites, can count on God's power and God's presence and God's steadfast love when we face our own sea crossings. The Lord promises to bring us through the water - through the water of chaos, and danger, and even great beasts - and to see us safely to the other side.

Does anybody care? Look at the tri-fold Stephen Ministry insert.

Stephen Ministers help people who have felt threatened by harsh,exclusive religions

Stephen Ministers aid people who have faced discrimination

Stephen Ministers befriend people who feel alientated or lonely. They help their care receivers reconcile withothers.

Stephen Ministers welcome people for Christ, helping them experience that they are no longer out, but in God's restored human family

Paul's message is all about change. Stephen Ministers help people make needed life changes

Stephen Ministers encourage people who have problems of faith to realize their great value to God, the high esteem in which God holds them

God promises to be with us when we face:

• The sea crossing of a new job, with unexpected challenges and responsibilities.

• The sea crossing of a lost relationship, with feelings of regret and uncertainty and self-doubt.

• The sea crossing of a serious illness, with sadness and fear and exhaustion and pain.

• The sea crossing of a death in the family, with shock and anger and confusion and grief.

• The sea crossing of a new relationship, with feelings of excitement and hope and ever-present anxiety.

Through all these crossings, the Lord promises to be with us, giving us proper wind for our sails and nourishment for our spirits. In another famous sea crossing, Jesus and his disciples were in a boat being threatened by a terrible storm. Waves were swamping the boat and the disciples were panicking, and then Jesus woke up and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!"

When the wind ceased, Jesus asked the disciples, "Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?" (Mark 4:35-41).

The sea is large and our boat is small. But with God we never sail alone.

Stephen Ministers are trained for, and committed to helping you cross the rough seas of your life. As the Stephen Ministry emblem depicts: through the cross of Jesus, your brokeness can be made whole. Let a Stephen Minister help.

Beginning on Sunday, October 6, trained Stephen Ministers will be available, after the worship service, to pray with you, and help get you on the spiritual path to recovery and wholeness, and to help you cross the sea of your life.

Let us pray

Let me know what you think. The church Email is: slumc@direcway.com, Phone: 480.895.8766