The Red Sea Rules: Week 9

7/30/2019

Welcome to The Red Sea Rule: Week 9 post, we are so glad you're here!

We're almost done with our Red Sea Rules Summer Book Club-Style Bible Study. We will meet here one more time—next Tuesday morning, August 6, at 9:00. If you can’t join us on Tuesday morning, no worries. Anytime during the week, when it’s convenient for you, read chapter 10 in the book and the corresponding blog post, then join the conversation down in the comments section.

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Need to catch up?
Read Week 1 here, Week 2 here, Week 3 here, Week 4 here, Week 5 here, Week 6 here, Week 7 here, and Week 8 here.

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“The LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. Thus Israel saw the great work which the LORD had done in Egypt; so the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD and His servant Moses.” Exodus 14:30–31

Let’s begin today by reading about a couple of people who have gone through tough times. What can we learn from these people? What can their experiences teach us?

Read what a man who suffered in a communist concentration camp says. Alexandr Solzhenitsyn, the great Russian novelist, records his experience in his book, The Gulag Archipelago: All the writers who wrote about prison but who did not themselves serve time there considered it their duty to express sympathy for prisoners and to curse prison. I . . . have served enough time there. I nourished my soul there, and I say without hesitation: Bless you, prison, for having been in my life. Did you hear that? "Bless you, prison, for having been in my life”?

Now read the observations recorded by the author, Flannery O’Connor: I have never been anywhere but sick. In a sense sickness is a place . . . and it is always a place where there's no company, where nobody can follow. Sickness before death is a very appropriate thing and I think those who don't have it miss one of God's mercies. Did she really write that? "Sickness . . . is . . . one of God's mercies”?

What do you think when you hear people say things like that about concentration camps or chronic illnesses? My first reaction is that these people are crazy. Who in the world would say that prison is a good thing or that sickness is one of God’s mercies?

But then, on second thought, I have to admit that these people have tapped into something truly significant. I make that admission not because they are both famous authors. No, I say that because they are merely stating in their own words what God’s Word teaches.

Red Sea Rule 9: View your current crisis as a faith builder for the future.

"It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12:7-11

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Post Continued

What does God's Word teach us?

Let's look at some passages from the New Testament. We’ll start with one written by Paul.

". . .we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope" (Romans 5:3-4).

Now let’s think about what the writer to the Hebrews says in his letter.

"Endure hardship as discipline. . . No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it" (Hebrews 12:7, 11).

Hardship is one of the ways that God makes us into the people that He wants us to be. The writer of Hebrews comes right out and states that it is not pleasant. It is no fun. Don’t pretend that it is. But, if we will allow it, it will produce within us both righteousness and peace.

Let's read about another New Testament writer, James, and what he has to say about suffering.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance" (James 1:2-3).

There's the same idea again—trials produce good in our lives. When our faith is tested, we grow stronger. We develop that important characteristic of perseverance.

Look at one more passage. This one comes from the apostle Peter’s first letter.

"In this [salvation that Christ has provided] you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed (1 Peter 1:6-7).

There is the same teaching. Trials refine and purify our faith.

“I know He tries me only to increase my faith.” —J. Hudson Taylor

Think about those four passages. Each one was penned by a different New Testament writer: Paul, the unknown person who wrote the letter to the Hebrews, James, and Peter. But each of those writers teaches the same lesson. It doesn’t make any difference which Christian leader does the teaching, sooner or later, that early Christian teacher tells those under his instruction that they will suffer and that their faith will grow and mature through that suffering.

These passages give us a basic principle about the Christian life. This is Christianity 101. This is Red Sea Rule 9. View your current crisis as a faith builder for the future.

“What exactly is faith? . . .in Fort Worth, a gunman walked into Wedgewood Baptist Church during a youth rally. Among those killed was fourteen-year-old Cassie Griffin. I later read in a brief account of her life that she collected frog figurines, frog trinkets, frog jewelry. According to her parents, the word FROG summarized her philosophy--Fully Rely On God. That’s an apt definition of faith.” —Robert Morgan, The Red Sea Rules

I have a love-hate relationship with Red Sea Rule 9: View your current crisis as a faith builder for the future. I know that it is true. I know that! There’s no question in my mind that it’s true. I've seen it in action, in my own life and in the lives of those around me. But I don’t like it. I don’t like it—particularly when I am going through some kind of trial. It doesn’t make any difference what the trial is. Whether I am facing some serious problem or whether I have just gotten stuck at a stoplight when I’m in a hurry, I don’t like this rule. But I do have to admit that it is true.

God is interested in more than our happiness

If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, then God is making you into a person who will live with Him for all eternity. That’s the way that God looks at us, and that’s the way that we need to look at ourselves. We are creatures being prepared to live in the heavenly presence of the King of kings and Lord of lords for eternity. That doesn’t mean that things on this earth and events of this life have no value. It doesn’t mean that at all. It doesn’t mean that happiness on earth is something bad or something that should be shunned. God created this world, and we should enjoy His good creation. But as believers, we also have to recognize that God has more in mind for us than our happiness. That’s why Red Sea Rule 9 is so important. God is preparing us for eternity with Him. Therefore, view your current crisis as a faith builder for the future.

Early in my adult life I read a book that was one of the most influential things that I have ever read. It’s titled Knowing God, and it’s a classic. The author, J.I. Packer, makes an observation in that book that I have come back to time and time again:

"God . . . is very gentle with very young Christians, just as mothers are with very young babies. Often the start of their Christian career is marked by great emotional joy, striking providences, remarkable answers to prayer, and immediate fruitfulness in their first acts of witness; thus God encourages them, and establishes them in “the life.” But as they grow stronger, and are able to bear more, He exercises them in a tougher school. He exposes them to as much testing . . . as they are able to bear—not more . . . but equally not less . . . Thus He builds our character, strengthens our faith, and prepares us to help others. . . . There is nothing unnatural, therefore, in an increase of temptations, conflicts, and pressures as the Christian goes on with God—indeed something would be wrong if it did not happen. But the Christian who has been told that the normal Christian life is unshadowed and trouble-free can only conclude . . . that he must have lapsed from normal. “Something’s gone wrong,” he will say, “it isn’t working any more!” —J.I. Packer, Knowing God

Do those words ring true to the Bible and to your own experience? They do to me. Red Sea Rule 9 is a solid biblical principle that we need to hold onto with a firm grip. View your current crisis as a faith builder for the future.

Train yourself to expect hardships and difficulties

Program this principle into your mental software. Don’t entertain notions that the Christian life should be trouble free. Expect hardships and difficulties. Don’t be surprised at them.

You may get the job that you have always dreamed of having, but inevitably it will have some drawbacks. Don’t be surprised when that happens.
You may marry the person of your dreams, but you can be sure that your marriage will not be one of perfect and unending bliss. There will be struggles.
Your children may be cute and cuddly when they are little, but there will be times when you are ready to ship them out of state, or off to grandmas's house.
You may visit a church a couple of times and think you've found the ideal place to worship with like-minded believers. Stick around a little longer and you will learn the truth. Every church has its flaws.

Be prepared for those things so that when they happen you won’t be surprised.

“Faith lives in a promise, as the fish lives in the water.” —Thomas Watson

Putting Red Sea Rule 9 into practice

How do we put this principle into practice with the hardships that we are already facing? This is where it gets difficult. This, is where it gets REAL! I have in no way mastered this rule, but here are four steps that I would suggest to you:

Identify a trial to work on. Don’t be satisfied with this rule in a general or abstract way. Be specific. Pick out one particular trial that you are going to work on.
Apply Red Sea Rule 9 specifically to that trial. Say to yourself, Self [put your name here], you need to view your current crisis which is . . . [Here is where you fill in the blank with your current crisis]. My current crisis is getting this new book published. Self, you need to view this trial as a faith builder for the future. Say that to yourself. Preach it to yourself! Keep on preaching it until it is part of your regular way of thinking.
After you have preached that sermon to yourself, then you need to stop talking to yourself and start talking to God. Here’s the third step. Tell God how you are going to view that trial. You say, God, I want you to know that I am going to look at this current crisis as something that You are going to use to build up my faith and make me more mature in my relationship with You.
Then, I’d suggest a fourth step. You’ve identified a specific trial so that you are not just dealing in generalities. You’ve applied Red Sea Rule 9 to that trial. You’ve preached to yourself. You’ve told God that you want to view this trial as a faith builder. Then comes the fourth step. Thank God that He is going to use that trial in your life. Growing in your faith is good; so thank God that He is going to use this current crisis of yours to refine your faith and make it mature.

It’s this fourth step that we need to be sure we get to. Don’t be satisfied with just the first three. Keep working on yourself until you get to that fourth one. We haven’t really put Red Sea Rule 9 into practice until we can thank God for the trial that we are facing. It’s not that the hardship itself is good. I’m not suggesting that you thank God for cancer or automobile accidents. No, you are thanking God that He is going to develop perseverance and character in you through your trial. You are thanking God that through your current crisis He is building you up in your faith and making you fit for eternity.

Those four steps will take time. Don’t be hard on yourself if you can’t immediately zip through them. They take work. They take time. Just be sure that you keep moving in the right direction.

“We can say therefore that faith is making reasonable assumptions. When we take our morning shower, we assume there’s going to be water, preferably hot. When we eat our cereal, we expect it to be healthy and wholesome. Driving to work, we proceed through green lights, assuming they are red for intersecting traffic. Every single day we live by faith in a hundred ways.” —Robert Morgan, The Red Sea Rules

An example of Red Sea Rule 9

Listen to the experience of a woman who went through tough times. Her name is Vera Mae Perkins. She and her husband lived in Mississippi. They had little money with which to raise their eight children. Vera saw her family being refused service at motels because of the color of their skin. Her husband, John Perkins, was an evangelist and social activist. During the Civil Rights Movement of the 60s, John was jailed and sometimes beaten in those jails. But here is what she learned from those experiences:

Our struggles were painful, but I grew to expect them and—believe it or not—even appreciate them. Many young couples, especially wives, believe that suffering should be avoided at all costs—that God wouldn’t want them or their children to suffer. Although this is a natural inclination, it is far from the truth. Suffering builds character and faith.

It’s amazing to hear someone say that kind of thing. But it’s true. It’s Red Sea Rule 9: View your current crisis as a faith builder for the future, because suffering builds character and faith.

“J. I. Packer stated, “In the days when the Bible was universally acknowledged in the churches as ‘God’s Word written,’ it was clearly understood that the promises recorded in Scripture were the proper, God-given basis for all our life of faith, and that the way to strengthen one’s faith was to focus it upon particular promises that spoke to one’s condition.” Faith, then, is simply finding and claiming the promises of God in every situation, and, based on those promises, making logical assumptions, being fully persuaded that God has the power to do what He has promised.” —Robert Morgan, The Red Sea Rules

Get the book: Knowing God

"For over 40 years, J. I. Packer's classic has been an important tool to help Christians around the world discover the wonder, the glory and the joy of knowing God. In 2006, Christianity Today voted this title one of the top 50 books that have shaped evangelicals.

This edition is updated with Americanized language and spelling and a new preface by the author.

Stemming from Packer's profound theological knowledge, Knowing God brings together two important facets of the Christian faith:

Knowing about God and
Knowing God through the context of a close relationship with the person of Jesus Christ.

Written in an engaging and practical tone, this thought-provoking work seeks to transform and enrich the Christian understanding of God. Explaining both who God is and how we can relate to Him, Packer divides his book into three sections: The first directs our attention to how and why we know God, the second to the attributes of God and the third to the benefits enjoyed by a those who know Him intimately. This guide leads readers into a greater understanding of God while providing advice to gaining a closer relationship with Him as a result." --goodreads

Read The Red Sea Rules: Week 10 here.

This week's discussion questions:

Exodus 14:31 says the Israelites feared the Lord and put their trust in Him. What does it mean to fear the Lord, and what do you think is the relationship between fear and faith?
Based on 2 Corinthians 1:8–9, what’s one of the reasons God allows trials in our lives?
What are you learning about God—Who is the object of your faith—as you study Exodus 14, read The Red Sea Rules, and think through your own situation?
What steps can you take today to strengthen your faith in light of Red Sea Rule 9?

Can I challenge you to memorize Romans 5:3-4 with me this week?

". . .we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." Romans 5:3-4

portions of this post are quoted from www.efcbemidji.org

20 Comments

Rebecca Hastings link

7/30/2019 09:18:53 am

I'm not great at viewing my circumstances as faith-builders. (true story)

Learning to trust God in those places, learning to not only accept but rejoice in hardship is not my default. But I am learning about letting go of my own ideas, so that's a start!

Patsy Burnette link

7/30/2019 10:00:01 am

That's a great start, Rebecca! I am so there with you. Sometimes I feel just like the Israelites. I see God working in my life. It's a miracle for sure! I believe. I reverently fear Him. . . and then the next thing you know I'm off doing my own thing in my own way with no regard for Him and His ways. :-/ I've totally forgotten and abandoned Him, just like the Israelites. It's like the circle of life for me! I am so thankful for His mercy and grace!

April link

7/30/2019 09:30:00 am

Wow!! This was such a reassuring post for me! I've really known so deep in my heart that God is allowing my chronic illnesses for multiple reasons. Back about 2 weeks ago though, I was struggling with the heaviness in the fact that both my husband and I have health struggles. However, I cried (literally) out to God and He comforted my heart. There is purpose He reminded me and one of them is to keep me at His side to continually be growing stronger in my faith. I feel it, I'm going to need it for what is to come, so I AM THANKFUL! This post is yet another reminder for me.

7/30/2019 10:04:48 am

What a wonderful testimony April! I'm glad the post met you where you needed it. There is purpose. There is always purpose although many times I find it so difficult to search out. However, I too have seen over and over in my own life that the purpose is just to draw me closer to Him in a way that no other trial can do. He is good like that.

Laurie Hess link

7/30/2019 03:47:06 pm

I read Alexandr Solzhenitsyn's book years ago. I thought at the time that if he had not gone to prison, he would not have been the brilliant writer he turned out to be. All part of God's plan.

7/30/2019 04:09:42 pm

Laurie, it is amazing to read his testimony and think the sovereignty of God over our lives.

Debbie Wilson link

7/31/2019 09:17:38 am

Wonderful quotes and a wonderful book I read a while ago. The irony of suffering.

8/1/2019 08:45:59 am

Yes Debbie, the irony is that suffering produces in me something that only it could produce. I am better for it. It is a great book. Wonderful, biblical principles.

Betty Thekingsdiadem link

7/31/2019 04:47:56 pm

Hi Patsy,
Firstly, thank you for this link up.
Secondly, thank you for stopping over at thekingsdiadem .com
I re-read your post and I completely agree with you that one of the ways God brings out the best in us is by taking us through the fire. And that can be in any form, sickness, suffering, pain etc.
We just need to pray for the grace to endure till the end.

8/1/2019 08:51:30 am

BETTY! Thanks for stoping by and linking up!

I love that passage in Isaiah 43:2 "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you."

The grace to endure is there, in the waters, in the flames, waiting for us. His grace is sufficient!

Katie link

8/1/2019 11:32:21 am

Wow! This particular rule has stepped all over my toes in the best way today! This is not an easy one, but it is so important and so true! I really loved your four practical tips on how to apply it as well.

8/2/2019 07:49:17 am

Katie, it's a tough one, for sure! But I've seen it at work in my own life and in the lives for friends over and over and over again. God never fails to prove to me His faithfulness, even in the most difficult situations and crisis. And you are right, it is not easy, but it's so important to grasp ahold of the biblical truths behind Red Sea Rule 9: View your current crisis as a faith builder for the future.

Lisa notes link

8/1/2019 05:03:04 pm

I admire faith of people like Vera who can make these statements with such matter-of-factness: "Suffering builds character and faith." May we all grow into that kind of contentment with suffering.

8/2/2019 07:52:30 am

Lisa, her testimony along with the testimonies of Alexandr Solzhenitsyn and Flannery O’Connor are certainly eye-openers! Not only is our current crisis as a faith builder for the future, it is also a testimony builder!

8/2/2019 07:55:59 am

This week’s study question 1: Exodus 14:31 says the Israelites feared the Lord and put their trust in Him. What does it mean to fear the Lord, and what do you think is the relationship between fear and faith?

“Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in His servant Moses.” Exodus 14:31

Israel “saw” and they believed. That’s not faith. Faith is believing things unseen. Much like us, later on in their wilderness journey, when their faith was tested, it wavered. When they could no longer see the hand of God at work, they forgot His goodness. They feared the Lord that day because of the miracle they saw Him perform. But remember, they had also seen the 10 plagues back in Egypt. Perhaps they had forgotten that as well.

I know, I’m not even answering the question here. ☝🏼 That was all bonus material.

When I think of the definition of fear, and what it means to “fear God” I think of two totally different things. I fear snakes, but not in the same way I fear God. My fear of God is a reverent, respect of His character. It reminds me of what He has done for me. It reminds me of His promises and His deep, deep love for His creation. <— And THAT, is a faith-builder!

Rule 9: View your current crisis as a faith builder for the future.

Kathleen Alvito

8/2/2019 04:33:50 pm

This is one rule I really need to keep in mind and practice. Everyone's comments are so helpful in reminding myself of the growth that comes from trials and how it builds my faith.

8/3/2019 02:12:15 pm

Yes Kathleen! Me too! I need to keep this one in the forefront of my mind and practice, practice, practice! I love the comments too. It's the best part. You are not alone!

8/3/2019 08:30:29 am

Based on 2 Corinthians 1:8–9, what’s one of the reasons God allows trials in our lives?

“For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.” 2 Corinthians 1:8-9

“. . .For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength. . .But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God. . .”

Never let anyone tell you that God won’t give you anything you can’t handle. That’s not biblical. He will. He does! And He does for a reason—so that you will rely on His strength and not your own.

Rule 9: View your current crisis as a faith builder for the future.

8/4/2019 04:13:59 pm

What are you learning about God—who is the object of your faith—as you study Exodus 14, read The Red Sea Rules, and think through your own situation?

He means for me to be right where I am. So while I am here, I will be more concerned for His glory than my relief. I will keep my eyes on Him, pray, stay calm and confident, and give Him time to work. At the same time however, I’m going to take the next logical step by faith knowing He is with me, because I trust Him to deliver in His own unique way and I know this crisis will be a faith builder for my future. Finally, I WILL PRAISE HIM!!!

Rule 9: View your current crisis as a faith builder for the future.

8/5/2019 01:35:29 pm

What steps can you take today to strengthen your faith in light of Red Sea Rule #9?

Rule 9: View your current crisis as a faith builder for the future.

When I look at my current crisis as a faith builder for my future, I tend then to look back at past crisis and realize how they have been faith builders also to get me to where I am today.