Lesson 8 – His deliverance, direction and support
Read Psalm 118 - www.bible.com/bible/59/psa.118.esv

The Bible is full of stories of how God delivered His people. One of the best known is the story of how He brought His people out of captivity in Egypt. There they stood on the banks of the Red Sea, probably over 5 million – all had been slaves. Behind them stood the great army of Egypt, and before them what seemed a watery grave. I would have been terrified! Then, with His breath, God blew a path through the sea so they could walk through – but it wasn’t simply a path that was muddy or slippery, it was desert-dry ground (Exodus 14:22). Psalm 78:53 says they did not fear the walls of water on either side of them as they passed between. As they reached the other side, they turned around to see what Egypt’s army would do. They followed, of course, for they believed where people could go, so could their horses and chariots. But with God’s protecting hand it was not so for His people’s enemies! What had been dry ground suddenly became so muddy the chariot wheels began to break. The horses panicked. Then the walls of water caved in on top of them and the army was gone.

We can read the stories of David fighting the giant Goliath, of Paul calming a ship full of soldiers guarding prisoners as the ship broke apart on a stormy sea, of Gideon facing an army of 135,000 men with only 300 men of his own, of Peter and John in prison for their beliefs – they all have one thing in common, God delivered them all.


One story from David’s life – he was running from King Saul who wanted to kill him. David finally escaped his own country to try to find refuge among his enemies so he could offer himself and his men as mercenary soldiers. He stood in line waiting to see the king when he suddenly realized he’d been recognized as the man who had several years before killed their champion, Goliath. David had nowhere to run. He stood surrounded by the king’s mightiest men, in a fortified palace, and he probably had come with no weapons so he would not appear to be a threat. Read Psalm 34 – it is David’s song of praise to God for being delivered from this place of certain death. In verse 4 he says, “I sought the Lord, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears.”

Of what are you afraid today? God can deliver you. It may not be what you expect – who would ever have expected God to open a path in the sea? But you can trust Him – He will deliver you.

Verse to memorize:
The LORD is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me? Psalm 118:6 (ESV)