The simplicity of the Lord’s test—the test within a test

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the sons of Israel to go forward. As for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, and the sons of Israel shall go through the midst of the sea on dry land. Exodus 14:15-16

Pharaoh had finally insisted that Israel depart Egypt following a series of ten plagues which fell upon the land, one after another.

Yet soon after Moses and God’s people left, this happened: “When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his servants had a change of heart toward the people, and they said, ‘What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?’” (Exodus 14:5.)

Sometimes God will grant you a great deliverance—you are born again; perhaps you get healed from sickness or are delivered from an awful addiction—and the devil smacks the side of his head in fury, stomps his feet, and determines this: I can’t let him go! I’ve gotta recapture her! You see, you submitted to God; He delivered you with His mighty hand; now the devil is enraged and wants you back—or at least to re-bind you so you’ll be hindered from inflicting further damage upon his kingdom.

This is what happened to Israel after they exited Egypt. Pharaoh and his troops set out after the exiles to drag them back to Egypt and resume their servitude.

“As Pharaoh drew near, the sons of Israel looked, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they became very frightened; so the sons of Israel cried out to the Lord” (Exodus 14:10).

A massive attack against the people of God was looming—just upon the doorstep—and the people spoke harshly against Moses in their panic (see verses 11-12).

But Moses, every bit as vulnerable as the people, spoke with confidence in the living God. “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent” (verses 13-14).

I believe that Moses had no idea how they would be delivered at this point; he merely spoke from the place of trust in God’s purpose, power, and loving connection. And I believe that God’s response—a test in the midst of the test—was an act of drawing near to Moses who had chosen to draw near to and honor Him in the face of sure annihilation. Here’s what God said:

“Tell the sons of Israel to go forward. As for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, and the sons of Israel shall go through the midst of the sea on dry land” (verses 15b-16).

Moses heard the words God spoke and he acted upon them. The rest is history—the Red Sea parted, the Israelites crossed over on dry ground unscathed, the Egyptian army pursued through the walls of water, and were subsequently crushed under the sheer force of the sea falling back into place.

After that amazing deliverance, Israel rejoiced in exuberant song and dance. But soon they found themselves in the wilderness for three days without water—and they complained bitterly.

“When they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter; therefore it was named Marah. So the people grumbled at Moses, saying, ‘What shall we drink?’” (Exodus 15:23-24).

Again, circumstances turned south and the people were under attack—this time in severe need of water. And once again, just after victoriously worshiping God for His miraculous intervention, they complained bitterly.

And yet again, Moses held himself steady and turned to God.

“Then he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree; and he threw it into the waters, and the waters became sweet” (verse 25a).

Yet again, God responded with a test within the test: throw the tree I’m showing you into the water. Moses heard the word of the Lord and acted upon it, and God followed through with miraculous intervention.

Are you picking up on a pattern? Here’s what I’m seeing:

• A test comes through circumstances—orchestrated by wicked men, the devil, or stressful, unpleasant events.
• A choice is made—either to complain bitterly or to trust in God.
• When trust in God is chosen, God hears and responds with a “test within the test”—in other words, He gives you something to obey or act upon.
• You hear the word of God and act upon it—you do that thing which God tells you to do.
• God responds with miraculous intervention.

Two times in a row, God heard the lone voice of trust within a sea of bitter complaints and responded with deliverance. However, both times, the rescue was based upon a “test within the test”. Would the people let go of their panic, fear, and anxiety long enough to hear the word of God and then to act on it? “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matthew 7:24).

The waters became sweet and safe to drink when Moses heard God’s instruction and acted upon it. And it followed that “there He made for them a statute and regulation, and there He tested them. And He said, “If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the Lord, am your healer” (Exodus 15:25b-26; emphasis added).

What is the test of the Lord?

• Give earnest heed to the voice of the Lord your God and give ear to His commandments.
• Do what is right in His sight and keep all His statutes.

The “test within a test” is God’s way of delivering you when all hell breaks loose against you. The trial or attack threatening you is not from God; but when it hits you, He will provide an escape route so that you will not be destroyed (see 1 Corinthians 10:13). And that escape route is what Jesus taught at the end of the Sermon on the Mount: Hear these words of Mine and act upon them (see Matthew 7:24).

So, the next trial you face, choose to trust God rather than to panic, despair, or complain. Call to Him, listen to His Word, and obey what He shows you to do. He will not leave you in the lurch. He will give you a simple “test within the test,” and as you obey, He will come through for you.

He will always provide the way of escape.

Dorothy

No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. Matthew 7:24