God’s Pathway

e clouds poured down rain; the thunder rumbled in the sky. Your arrows of lightning ashed. Your thunder roared from the whirlwind; the lightning lit up the world! e earth trembled and shook. Your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters— a pathway no one knew was there! Psalm 77:17-19

Most of us have experience with thunder and Over and again during their exodus these lightning long before we learn how to spell the kinds of calamities repeated themselves: no water, words, or understand the science behind them. no food, attacked by enemies, internal rebellions. We have listened as the already loud noise of the One crisis came after another. And each time, the pouring rain is overshadowed by the roar of a natural human tendency was to doubt. Woe is me, thunder clap. ese powerful forces usually elicit all is lost … some level of fear or dread in us. Heavy clouds We know the story well, because we do the wrench out their reservoirs as each lightning ash same thing when facing our parade of setbacks. is followed by peals of thunder so powerful that the Even when we start out well with bold faith like very ground quakes. the Apostle Peter walking on the water, we can (like e writer of Psalm 77 recalls one of Israel’s him) become distracted and overwhelmed by the predicaments as they neared the sea with Pharaoh’s wind and the surrounding waves. We feel ourselves armies bearing down on them. Whether the storm sinking in a sea of dread. described in verses 17-18 was real or allegorical, it was certainly true that dread surrounded them as Our world seems to be falling apart. they were hemmed in by the powerful and deadly obstacle of the Red Sea. But isn’t it obvious that story, after story, after

From the perspective of a person facing these story in Scripture is about this very thing?! kinds of storms and obstacles, the question marks Women and men from Genesis to the are huge, and naturally lead to the seemingly maps are confronted with disaster, disease, and obvious conclusion, God must have turned against disappointment. me: ere are scores of examples: 7 Has the Lord rejected me forever? • Noah’s ood Will he never again be kind to me? • Abraham and Sarah’s barrenness (and 8 Is his unfailing love gone forever? Rebekah’s … and Rachel’s) Have his promises permanently failed? • Jacob’s family experiences famine 9 Has God forgotten to be gracious? • Joseph’s betrayal by his brothers Has he slammed the door on his • Israel’s slavery compassion? Interlude • Moses’ parents (and others) face orders of 10 And I said, “ is is my fate; infanticide the Most High has turned his hand against • e Exodus and its many challenges me.” But just when hope was vanishing, and • Facing the giants in the land promised to all seemed lost, the unexpected happened. God Abraham opened a trail right through the middle of the • Routine invasions by other nations

torrent … “a pathway no one knew was there!”

10 The Connection

God’s Pathway

by Rev. Max Edwards

Ruth is widowed, endures poverty with Naomi David faces Goliath David hunted by a jealous King Saul e nation divided Prophets such as Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah and Jeremiah face persecution Judgment follows idolatrous rebellion Nehemiah’s challenge to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem Daniel betrayed, and thrown to the lions Esther conscripted in the King’s harem; bravely thwarting genocide

And these are just a few of the many stories, including those of Jesus himself, and the challenges, death threats, and indeed deadly persecutions faced by the disciples.

In almost all of these instances, the person or persons facing these trials could not see the eventual pathway that God provided. And even when the earthly story ended for those who remained faithful, their sacri ce served as stepping stones for others. e martyrdom of Stephen and how it seemed to have been a part of Paul’s journey to faith is an obvious example.

When facing di cult circumstances such as those we have been experiencing in 2020 with the COVID-19 pandemic, we ought to remind ourselves that just because some things seem to be falling apart, it may very well be that God is opening a pathway that we could not have seen. And that is exactly what we will be expecting. Like Moses, we must strive to see with eyes of faith, as the writer of Hebrews puts it: “… Moses persevered as one who sees him who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:27).

Worship leader, Don Moen set these thoughts to music, writing:

“Oh, God will make a way where there seems to be no way. He works in ways we cannot see; He will make a way for me. He will be my guide; hold me closely to His side. With love and strength for each new day, He will make a way, He will make a way.”

Rev. Max Edwards the International General Superintendent of the Evangelical Methodist Church.