Things Didn't Look so Good ! !

Exodus 14 tells us of the Children of Israel leaving Egypt, and stopping to camp at the Red Sea. Pharaoh and his officials declared, “What have we done? We have let the Israelites go and have lost their services!”  So Pharaoh had his chariot made ready and took his army with 600 of the best chariots along with all the other chariots and officers over them, and pursued the Israelites, and As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, terrified and cried out to the LORD.  What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?  There they were; the red sea before them and Pharaoh behind them. - - Things didn't look so good.

Joseph had bragged about his dreams, and his brothers were jealous of their father's attention to Joseph. When he arrived with lunch for them, they bound him and put him in a pit while they decided how to kill him. Can you imagine the anxiety Joseph must have experienced while in that deep hole? - - Things didn't look so good.

The three Hebrew children refused to worship the golden image, and the furnace was being heated 10 times hotter than ever before. Things didn't look so good.

Job was a Godly, rich and prosperous man, and his children were celebrating the birthday of their oldest brother. It was a happy day, but out of the blue there came a messenger saying, the Sabeans swooped down and have taken away all your oxen and donkeys and killed the servants, and I only was able to escape. While the man was still speaking another messenger came saying, the lightening from heaven has burned up the sheep, the camels and the servants, and I only was able to escaped to tell you. That wasn't all - - There came another who said: Your sons and daughters were enjoying the birthday celebration, when a great whirlwind took the house off it's four corners and it fell on your children, killing them all and I was able to escape to tell bring you this terrible news. - - Things didn't look so good.

Jesus was hanging on the cross. He had been unmercifully beaten, mocked, spit upon, pierced in hands and feet, and when the sins of the world were placed on his body, His Father God could not look at him and pulled a dark curtain over the sun for about 3 hours. - - Things didn't look so good.

Each one of these horrible events played out in real time to provide a happy ending. The Children of Israel finally made it to the promised land. Joseph became second to the Pharaoh in Egypt and saved his family from death. A fourth man walked in the furnace with the 3 Hebrew children and no one was burnt in the hot fire. God blessed Job and gave him more wealth, more children and renewed faith in God. And Jesus won the battle over death, hell and the grave bringing salvation and eternal life to all who receive Him.

Our State our County and the world is exhibiting fear and panic over the news of outbreaks of a deadly virus. Things don't look so good; yet there is hope to recover. Not all our citizens have this hope. More than ever before, we need Jesus. As we go to prayer today, let us remember that even when things don't look so good, God is still there. The enemy has tried to defeat us but we shall not be defeated, because God and His angelic army is there surrounding us. It is not time to fear, but it is time to Trust in God.

Isaiah 41:10 reminds us: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Jesus said in John 14:27  “Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid.

Paul reminded us: 2 Timothy 1:7   “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”  - - and in 

Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”