Sand Mountain Sermonette 96
Exodus 14:22
On Dry Land
“The sons of Israel went through the midst of the sea on dry land, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.” Exodus 14:22
When I was about seventeen years old, I was driving my dad’s classic 1960’s Pontiac Bonneville along the Old Birmingham Highway about ten miles from Albertville, our home. Dad was riding with me, “shotgun,” as we were headed home from visiting my grandmother Mabrey’s Aunt Vida. In just a few moments we noticed another car heading south on the long stretch of two-lane road we were traveling. Now, in that day, the road wasn’t busy as it is today, and, there was literally no shoulder on my side of the road other than a little ditch running along the way.
Well, it wasn’t long when we noticed an approaching car about one-half mile up the road from us and another car coming up behind that car. And then, with the gap closing quickly between us, the little car behind the approaching car decided to pass, and it only took a few seconds for my dad to ask, “Son, what are you going to do?” I couldn’t go right for there was no shoulder, I couldn’t go left because the first car wasn’t slowing down or pulling off on the shoulder that apparently didn’t exist for him either, and by this time the passing car was even with the first car. So, in a split second, I exclaimed, “Daddy, I’m going right between them!” And he said, “Ga-leeee!” And so, I straddled the white center line and kept going and praying I’m sure there, that there wouldn’t be a head-on collision. And there wasn’t a collision, for at the last second, the passing car moved left and gave me just enough room to get pass through both cars! However, the passing car drove into the ditch and tipped on its side as the other car just kept heading towards Aunt Vida’s direction.
Well, I turned around and slowly pulled over as close to the tipped car as I could. And when dad and I came over and looked down inside through the front passenger window that was opened. We saw the driver and only person in that car, an unharmed but very alarmed High School classmate of mine by the name of Shelia Hudgins who knew my dad as well. And she said, “Oh! Mr. Mabrey, I’m so glad it’s you!” “I thought I could make the pass!” So, we helped her out of her vehicle which, by the way had sustained only minor damage, and made sure she was okay and had the help she needed before we left.
Have you ever found yourself in an impossible situation? Exodus Fourteen, tells us how God had led his people to camp at the Red Sea with no wiggle room on either side. Then, Pharaoh and his great army, whose hearts had been closed all along to the evidence that Moses’ God was the one true God, closed off the rear by coming after Moses and the Israelites. “But Moses said to the people, ‘Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today…The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent.’” God will lead you on the promised and protected path-on dry land-as you seek, trust, and obey Him!
Pastor Louie