In Parashat Beshalach, we are told when the people left Egypt, the Lord had delivered Israel with a mighty hand and both Pharaoh and his people drove Israel out of the land. We are then told יז וַיְהִי בְּשַׁלַּח פַּרְעֹה אֶת-הָעָם וְלֹא-נָחָם אֱלֹהִים דֶּרֶךְ אֶרֶץ פְּלִשְׁתִּים כִּי קָרוֹב הוּא כִּי | אָמַר אֱלֹהִים פֶּן-יִנָּחֵם הָעָם בִּרְאֹתָם מִלְחָמָה וְשָׁבוּ מִצְרָיְמָה: 13:17 Now when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near; for God said, ‘The people might change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.’ (NASB) As a result, the Lord took the people in a direction that didn’t quite make sense to them or to Pharaoh. This teaches us today in regard to the manner of God’s guidance in our lives. The problems we face today may be summarized according to Mishley / Proverbs 14:12 which states “there is a way which seems right to a person, but its end is the way of death.” (NASB) Jeremiah states the problem is related to man’s inability to direct his own life; in Jeremiah 10:23 he said, “Lord, we know that people do not control their own destiny. It is not in their power to determine what will happen to them.” (NASB) Because of man’s finite wisdom and ability, his limited understanding of the facts coupled with his sinfulness, man simply cannot direct his steps. What seems right to him results in the way of destruction and death. As man’s thoughts are not God’s, so do his ways fall short of God’s perfect and all-wise plan. This is why it is important to follow in God’s footsteps according to His Word. Isaiah 55:8-9 states, “55:8 Indeed, my plans are not like your plans, and my deeds are not like your deeds, 55:9 for just as the sky is higher than the earth, so my deeds are superior to your deeds and my plans superior to your plans.” (NASB) When we are faced with real life hurts and issues, trusting God when we don’t understand is easier said than done. It’s easy to say, “give your cares to the Lord and trust Him” when everything in life seems to be going well. When we learn to trust the Lord completely, we begin to have a sense of rest in Him. We begin to realize that God has everything under control even when life appears to be out of control. Trusting the Lord God of Israel when we do not understand brings us to a point where we decide to trust the Lord and NOT in our own logic and understanding. As the children of God, we must make the decision to trust God regardless of how scary the situation may seem. (Note Yeshua’s comments on the little children, see Matthew 18:3, and note the situation at the beginning of Parashat Beshalach) Trusting the Lord does not prevent us from being in uncomfortable situations but it does allow us to be placed in a position where we seek the Lord’s presence, provisions, guidance and promises. This was the situation occurring to the people of Israel when leaving Egypt, they did not understand what the Lord had in plan for them. As a result, they said, י וּפַרְעֹה הִקְרִיב וַיִּשְֹאוּ בְנֵי-יִשְֹרָאֵל אֶת-עֵינֵיהֶם וְהִנֵּה מִצְרַיִם | נֹסֵעַ אַחֲרֵיהֶם וַיִּירְאוּ מְאֹד וַיִּצְעֲקוּ בְנֵי-יִשְֹרָאֵל אֶל-יְהוָֹה: יא וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֶל-מֹשֶׁה הֲמִבְּלִי אֵין-קְבָרִים בְּמִצְרַיִם לְקַחְתָּנוּ לָמוּת בַּמִּדְבָּר מַה-זֹּאת עָשִֹיתָ לָּנוּ לְהוֹצִיאָנוּ מִמִּצְרָיִם: 14:10 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. 14:11 Then they said to Moses, ‘Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us in this way, bringing us out of Egypt? (NASB) Moshe however reassured them saying, יג וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אֶל-הָעָם אַל-תִּירָאוּ הִתְיַצְּבוּ וּרְאוּ אֶת-יְשׁוּעַת יְהֹוָה אֲשֶׁר-יַעֲשֶֹה לָכֶם הַיּוֹם כִּי אֲשֶׁר רְאִיתֶם אֶת-מִצְרַיִם הַיּוֹם לֹא תֹסִפוּ לִרְאֹתָם עוֹד עַד-עוֹלָם: 14:13 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; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. (NASB) Within the greater context of the Torah portion, we learn that if we are not seeking the Lord and His righteousness, we will not see the Lord working in our lives in powerful ways. Moshe speaks of a great and powerful salvation (יְשׁוּעַת, 14:13) which has led to the future expectation of what we have in Yeshua the Messiah. This draws in the context of our seeking the Lord and His ways for our lives, recognizing our need for forgiveness and redemption, and for us to cleave unto the Father in heaven in His son Yeshua the Messiah. This is the definition of a life lived as a child of God (a repentant attitude).