Right Where He Wants Us
Notes from Lance Shumake's sermon on Sunday, March 8, 2026.
Sermon text: Exodus 14
God often places us in difficult situations for His purposes
The Israelites were in a dangerous and desperate situation, trapped between Pharaoh and the deep blue sea. But instead of looking to God in all his grace and glory, they looked at their enemies and were afraid. What makes this so disappointing is that they had witnessed God’s wonders, the plagues—all ten of them.
—Philip Graham Ryken and R. Kent Hughes, Exodus, Saved for God’s Glory
Truth to remember in the difficult seasons:
—God brought me here
—God will help me while I’m here
Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
—God will teach me while I’m here
Romans 5:3–4
[3] Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, [4] and endurance produces character, and character produces hope
—God will deliver me in His timing
“The same God who led you in will lead you out.”
—Robert Morgan, The Red Sea Rules
God always works to bring Himself glory
Psalm 106:7–12
[7] Our fathers, when they were in Egypt, did not consider your wondrous works; they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love, but rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea.
[8] Yet he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make known his mighty power.
[9] He rebuked the Red Sea, and it became dry, and he led them through the deep as through a desert.
[10] So he saved them from the hand of the foe and redeemed them from the power of the enemy.
[11] And the waters covered their adversaries; not one of them was left.
[12] Then they believed his words; they sang his praise.
Discipleship Questions:
Sermon text: Exodus 14
God often places us in difficult situations for His purposes
The Israelites were in a dangerous and desperate situation, trapped between Pharaoh and the deep blue sea. But instead of looking to God in all his grace and glory, they looked at their enemies and were afraid. What makes this so disappointing is that they had witnessed God’s wonders, the plagues—all ten of them.
—Philip Graham Ryken and R. Kent Hughes, Exodus, Saved for God’s Glory
Truth to remember in the difficult seasons:
—God brought me here
—God will help me while I’m here
Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
—God will teach me while I’m here
Romans 5:3–4
[3] Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, [4] and endurance produces character, and character produces hope
—God will deliver me in His timing
“The same God who led you in will lead you out.”
—Robert Morgan, The Red Sea Rules
God always works to bring Himself glory
Psalm 106:7–12
[7] Our fathers, when they were in Egypt, did not consider your wondrous works; they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love, but rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea.
[8] Yet he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make known his mighty power.
[9] He rebuked the Red Sea, and it became dry, and he led them through the deep as through a desert.
[10] So he saved them from the hand of the foe and redeemed them from the power of the enemy.
[11] And the waters covered their adversaries; not one of them was left.
[12] Then they believed his words; they sang his praise.
Discipleship Questions:
- In what ways have you experienced God placing you or allowing you to be in a difficult situation?
- How have you experienced God helping you in the midst of difficult situations?
- What are some things God has taught you (or how has He grown you) through difficult situations?
- How have you found God’s timing to be different than yours? Was His timing better? Why?
- In what ways have you seen God be glorified in your life from difficult situations?
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