The comedian, Woody Allen, once put it this way to a Yale graduating class: “Our civilization stands at the crossroads. Down one road is despondency and despair. Down the other road is total annihilation. I hope we are on the right road.”

Allen’s statement well shows the sense of futility that pervades many lives today. The Biblical account of Israel’s exodus from Egypt is a good illustration of our way out of despair. They had rejoiced to be free after so many generations of slavery, but then, blocked by the Red Sea and with the Egyptian army pursuing them, it seemed as if there were only two roads for them as well; either the road returning to slavery in Egypt or the road to total annihilation. They missed the same thing that Allen had missed. There was a third road (Exodus 14:10-31). This is still true today!

Yes, the good news is that there is another road of which, it appears, Allen was apparently unaware. We have faith that there are better things for us because we believe in the promises God has made to His people. I think we should take this other road!

“Then the Egyptians chased after them with all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen and his army, and they overtook them camping by the sea, beside Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon.” (Exodus 14:9).

The large multitude of families would be easy prey for the chariots of Egypt. There was no place to hide. The Red Sea blocked their path. The options seemed very limited at this point, and none of them were good options. How well does the plight of Israel illustrate our own!

Today, God and His standard is often mocked. Depravity is evident everywhere. Rage, corruption and cruelty plague our existence while we intoxicate ourselves with pleasures. The Bible says we can become “enslaved” to these things just as certainly has Israel had been slaves in Egypt. It is sinful and hopeless to allow oneself to become addicted to sin.

Our exodus involves taking the prescribed steps we find in Scripture to make ourselves stronger, putting on the full armor of God. We stop making excuses for spiritual laziness and make trusting and obeying Jesus our priority. We may be surrounded on every side, but with God, there will always be victory if we live by faith.

“And 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. 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?’” (Exodus 14:10-11).

The people were frightened and angry and these emotions surfaced with enraged accusations and a revealing of a sad lack of confidence in God and Moses. They had forgotten God’s intervention which had led to their freedom; mighty signs back in Egypt in the form of ten plagues which had convinced Egypt to release them. Would not God act in their behalf once again?

The better way would be to trust in the Lord. Their attitude seems to be “The old days of slavery were bad, but this is worse.” They voiced preference for the “good old days.” People sometimes make that mistake spiritually as well.

And their answer is our answer as well. Take the other road!

“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’” (Exodus 14:13).

God acted in Israel’s behalf and the problems the enemy posed were soon forever behind them. Life without God is hopeless. Walking in fellowship with God and the knowledge of the victory He gives by grace builds confidence and strength. There is a rock upon which to build our lives.

When facing distress (and we have, and we do, and we will) we, too, need to depend upon God to act. That is courage: standing firm and not doing or saying something foolish in times of trial. And then, it is time to act. To rise and meet the challenge, trusting and obeying Jesus. This is always the best road to take!