Anyone who has ever been put in a position of leadership and found themselves facing an impossible situation can likely identify with Moses. Leaders are sometimes instructed by higher authorities to carry out tasks that are difficult or unpleasant while maintaining the appearance of having everything under control. It is stressful for the leader, especially when it means cutting staff or downsizing. It is also stressful for the workers who want to know what their future holds.

Unfortunately, some leaders believe that they must lie to their workers and the public saying one thing when they know it is wrong and misleading. A trusted leader quickly loses all credibility when the lies are exposed. The pressure on a leader can be enormous: instructions from the top to lie or misrepresent the truth versus the reality of breaking relationships and faith with the workers. It’s a situation that seem to have no winners.

The people of Israel were being chased by the Egyptian army to the Red Sea. Exodus 14 says they cried out to the Lord and to Moses, “Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness?” The statement represents the feeling of inevitable doom and blames Moses for the situation. Everyone knew they were trapped: the sea ahead, the wilderness over land and the Egyptians behind.

As a good leader under authority, Moses recites the official line,” 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.”

Then it’s as though Moses calls his boss (the Lord) and complains about the situation. Some leaders get no sympathy. 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.” So Moses raises his staff and the rest is history.

When Israel saw the great power which the Lord had used against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in His servant Moses.

Are you a leader? Do you serve the Lord? Are you facing an impossible situation? You can trust God’s instructions no matter how impossible the situation. Give Him the glory and don’t try to take any of it for yourself.

No one had ever heard of God making a path through the sea on which to escape, and it hasn’t happened since. So never assume that God is limited to a certain set of possibilities. When God has declared that He will care for you, His honor and glory are at stake and He will never abandon His Word.