“Forward in Faith: When There’s No Way Out”

Text: Exodus 14:1-31
Title: “Forward in Faith: When There’s No Way Out”
Theme: God makes a way where there seems to be no way.
Homiletical Idea: Even when your back is against the wall, God can part the sea — but you must move forward in faith.

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INTRODUCTION

We all come to Red Sea moments — when life traps you between impossible odds and an advancing enemy. Behind you, Pharaoh’s armies thunder. Before you, impassable waters roar. Beside you, nowhere to turn.

This is where God does His best work.

Exodus 14 is not just a historical record but a prophetic pattern of deliverance for every child of God caught in impossible situations. Let’s journey through this narrative and learn how to walk forward in faith when everything says you can’t.

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I. THE UNEXPECTED TURN (Exodus 14:1-9)

Text:
"And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pi-hahiroth..." (v.1-2)

Exegetical Insight:
Pi-hahiroth = “mouth of gorges” — literally boxed in by mountains, sea, and enemy.

A. God Sometimes Leads You Into Tight Places

• Not every hard place means you’ve disobeyed.

• “For Pharaoh will say... They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in.” (v.3)

• God sets the stage for His glory.

B. The Enemy Will Always Pursue After Victory

• “And Pharaoh made ready his chariot…” (v.6)

• Victory attracts attack, but God is still sovereign.

Application:
Where you feel boxed in, God has a plan.

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II. THE PANIC OF THE PEOPLE (Exodus 14:10-12)

A. Fear Blinds You to Past Miracles

• “And when Pharaoh drew nigh... they were sore afraid.” (v.10)

• Just days after seeing Egypt destroyed, fear overtook faith.

B. Complaining Spirit in Crisis

• “Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness?” (v.11)

• Fear breeds faithless words.

C. The Temptation to Return

• “It had been better for us to serve the Egyptians...” (v.12)

• Crisis reveals what’s really in us.

Application:
In your Red Sea moment — don’t look back.

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III. THE COMMAND TO STAND AND GO FORWARD (Exodus 14:13-16)

A. Fear Not, Stand Still, See

• “Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord…” (v.13)

• Faith rests before it moves.

• Salvation belongs to the Lord.

B. The Lord Will Fight for You

• “And ye shall hold your peace.” (v.14)

• In battle, sometimes the greatest faith is silence.

C. Move Forward!

• “Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward.” (v.15)

• Don’t camp in fear.

• Forward faith activates divine intervention.

Application:
You can’t walk on dry ground until you step toward the water.

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IV. THE MIRACULOUS PATHWAY (Exodus 14:19-22)

A. Divine Protection in Transition

• “And the angel of God... removed and went behind them.” (v.19)

• God blocks the enemy while opening the way.

B. God Controls the Elements

• “And the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night.” (v.21)

• Natural laws submit to the Creator.

C. A Way in the Sea

• “And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground.” (v.22)

• What should have drowned them became their pathway.

Application:
Faith sees the invisible and walks into the impossible.

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V. THE FINAL DELIVERANCE AND DESTRUCTION OF THE ENEMY (Exodus 14:23-31)

A. The Enemy’s Presumption

• “And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them.” (v.23)

• The world cannot follow you where faith walks.

B. God Fights for His People

• “And took off their chariot wheels…” (v.25)

• God intervenes at the right moment.

C. Complete Victory

• “There remained not so much as one of them.” (v.28)

• When God delivers — it’s total.

D. A Testimony is Born

• “And Israel saw the great work which the Lord did… and feared the Lord, and believed the Lord.” (v.31)

• Crisis births conviction.

Application:
Your trial is the soil for your testimony.

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CONCLUSION

The Red Sea wasn’t a dead end — it was a stage for a miracle.

Key lessons:

• God leads to glorify Himself.

• Faith waits, then moves.

• God makes a way where none exists.

• Your enemies won’t survive the passage you cross in faith.

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ALTAR CALL

If you’re boxed in today:

• Stand still — God will fight for you.

• Speak faith — not fear.

• Move forward — even if it means stepping into impossible waters.

“Lord, part my sea — I choose to move forward in faith.”