At one time when the children of Israel were in the wilderness of the Red Sea in their flight from Egypt, every way of escape appeared to be cut off. Before them was the sea, pursuing them were the Egyptians, and present in their own ranks were fear and distrust. Escape seemed impossible to all except their undaunted leader, Moses, who fixed his trust in God and heeded His command, "Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward." Ex. 14:15; As the Israelites advanced, the sea opened, and they went through on dry land.
However, the Israelites did not step immediately from bondage into the Promised Land. There were lessons to be learned, among them lessons of trustfulness, gratitude, courage, obedience, and perseverance, before their spiritual progress was sufficient to enable them to enter. Actually, the journey from Egypt to Canaan could have been made in a comparatively short time, about two years, but because of their disobedience to God, the Israelites spent thirty-eight more years in the wilderness before they were to accept the good that could have been theirs long before. Still, even during the wilderness experience of confusion and doubt and discouragement, they felt the love of God patiently caring for them—guiding, protecting, and sustaining them.
There are times when Christian Scientists receive the order to go forward. When they are hedged in as were the children of Israel and seem not to know where to turn, when all material avenues seem blocked and they can see no way out of their difficulties, they too can trust divine Love to open the way for them.
