It came to my spirit, in the middle of worship, when I heard the statement, "Look to the dry ground." My first thought was, "What does this have to do with the song that we were worshiping unto the Lord?" The short answer...absolutely nothing. Then, I heard the statement again, "Look to the dry ground." I went into prayer and asked the Lord what He was saying to me.
Soon, I was taken into a vision looking at a massive body of water. I was standing on the banks of a large river that had a steady flow moving from my left to the right. As I looked at the water, I heard the Lord say, "Can you see the dry ground?" Then, I heard the Lord say to me, "Stop looking backward and look to go forward. Look to the dry ground."
I looked across to the other side of the river bank, and then the Lord said again, "Stop looking backward and look to go forward. Look to the dry ground." Then I was back in the sanctuary worshiping the Lord with everyone at our home church.
Clearly, the Lord was saying something to me, but to what measure I did not fully comprehend. So, I began to pray again. I needed to have a more clear understanding of what God was saying. Throughout my time in prayer, I was reminded of Moses standing at the banks of the Red Sea.
In the book of Exodus (NASB), chapter 14, verses 10-16 state, "As Pharaoh approached, the sons of Israel looked, and behold, the Egyptians were coming 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? Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, "Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians"? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness!' But Moses said to the people, 'Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will perform for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again, ever. The Lord will fight for you, while you keep silent.' 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 reach out with your hand over the sea and divide it, and the sons of Israel shall go through the midst of the sea on dry land.'"
Remaining in Bondage Instead of Walking in Freedom
The Bible tells us that the children of Israel, who had been slaves to Egypt for hundreds of years, were now on the banks of the Red Sea with Pharaoh drawing near to them. For many generations, they had only known the snares of Pharaoh and the bondage that Egypt had entrapped their people. Moses, the one who would be known as the deliverer of the Israelites, had been able to see their freedom set into motion. But, that freedom seemed to have only been a short-lived experience as their former captor was now about to catch up to them, and death was nearer than ever before.
Before we go further, it is important to acknowledge that the people of Israel were not exactly excited about this journey in their efforts to follow Moses. Yes, they were no longer slaves under Egyptian rule. But, they were not fully on board with Moses as their new leader. This is evident when the children of Israel declare unto 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? Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, 'Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness" (Exodus 14:11-12 NASB)! For the children of Israel, it seemed to be worth more to them to remain in bondage in Egypt, instead of being free only to die on the banks of the Red Sea. (Photo via Pexels)
The Habit of Looking Back
After reading this passage of Scripture, over and over, it was then that the Lord began speaking to me and giving me a greater understanding. There are many today who have been slaves to former things, but they soon find themselves at a place where they feel like they can go no further. They look around at the environment, the challenges, the unknown difficulties, and the circumstances. Then they develop a negative habit...they keep looking back.
Individuals who have been brought out of severe bondage tend to look back and begin to convince themselves that it would have been better to live in the previous life they had...because the obstacles in front of them look too strong to overcome. "As Pharaoh approached, the sons of Israel looked, and behold, the Egyptians were coming after them, and they became very frightened..." (Exodus 14:10 NASB).
Looking back (no matter the situation) will open the door for a spirit of fear to capture your mind, your vision, and your heart. Because of this, I strongly believe this is the reason that Jesus said, "...No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62 NASB).
Imagine your family being slaves in Egypt for generations and the moment that you have your first obstacle, your first reaction is to immediately regret the decision and desire to be back where you were slaves for generations. Overwhelming fear will open you to a world that isn't realistic, but to your mind, you genuinely believe that your only hope for freedom is through former bondage(s). You will convince yourself (through fear), that it is better to be bound by some things, rather than it is to be free and face a difficult thing. There is no accountability in fear, only the opportunity created to keep you bound by a false reality.
"Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will also help you, I will also uphold you with My righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10 NASB)
Look to the Dry Ground
Though we tell ourselves these things, one can easily admit that when you are standing on the banks of a large body of water, the current and unknown depth of that water is daunting to any individual. It is why the word that I originally heard is so powerful, "Look to the dry ground."
The Lord did not say to look at what appears to be an overwhelming challenge. The Lord did not say to look at what appears to be an approaching enemy. The Lord did not say to look at the massive obstacle in front of you and hope that you will overcome it. The Lord did not say to engage in a physical battle against your enemy. The Lord said, "Look to the dry ground."
When the children of Israel were facing the Red Sea, everything seemed impossible and appeared to be impassible, yet 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 reach out with your hand over the sea and divide it, and the sons of Israel shall go through the midst of the sea on dry land" (Exodus 14:15-16 NASB). (Photo via Pexels)
The word of the Lord was very specific...tell the sons of Israel to go forward! When they focused on going forward, instead of looking back, the opportunity to overcome the barrier before them would suddenly shift and they would see a way would be made for them. Here is the thing...it was a massive body of water and yet the Lord told Moses that they will go through the sea on DRY LAND. Dry land, not muddy ground, not ankle-deep waters, but dry land!
Obstacles Become Opportunities
I genuinely believe that the Lord is saying to you and me in this hour that we cannot afford to look back at our enemies or the former things. We cannot afford to be fearful of what might be coming. We cannot become overwhelmed by the obstacles that are before us. We cannot long to be what we once were at a specific time in our lives – whether good, bad, or ugly. You and I must be willing to "look to the dry ground!"
"This is what the Lord says, He who makes a way through the sea and a path through the mighty waters." (Isaiah 43:16 NASB)
When we look to the dry ground, it means we are seeing beyond the circumstances. When we look to the dry ground, it means we are seeing beyond the tests, beyond the offense, beyond the disappointments, beyond the hurt, beyond the trials, beyond the bondage, beyond the manipulations, and beyond the snares...we are looking to the dry ground, even though we cannot see it (yet).
God is calling us to see with His truth and not with our reality. God is calling us to see with His prophetic promises, not with our broken words. Though the water (battle) is moving with a rapid current and it presents an unknown depth, God is still the God who makes a way when there is no way.
"[W]hile we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:18 NASB)
"[B]ut just as it is written: "THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND WHICH HAS NOT ENTERED THE HUMAN HEART, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM." (1 Corinthians 2:9 NASB)
I want to encourage you (and me) to look to the dry ground. Don't become so focused on looking back and looking at a daunting obstacle that is before you. See beyond the waters, and look to the dry ground. God is for you and me. We must become people who are willing to see beyond our reality from the foundation of His truth.
We cannot settle in this season. Renounce the spirit of fear now, in the name of Jesus. Renounce the spirit of bondage now, in the name of Jesus. Renounce the spirit of apathy now, in the name of Jesus. Look forward and press onward. There is dry ground to walk on!
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Ryan Johnson
Ryan Johnson Ministries
Email:Â info@ryanjohnson.us
Website:Â www.ryanjohnson.usÂ
Ryan Johnson is dedicated in helping equip the Body of Christ to Awaken the Nations with a Prophetic call of a rising Ekklesia. He is a Son of God, Husband, and Father of four. Ryan has devoted his life to the righteousness of Christ, with the demonstration of the Father's Heart in regions, individuals, and The Church across the world. Ryan is the author of Illegitimacy: The Battle Over Your Identity, How to Contend for Your Miracle, and Racism: The Church and The Nation. He has had many articles released through Charisma Magazine, Charisma News, The Elijah List, and Spirit Fuel. He has also appeared as a guest on The Shaun Tabatha Show, Elijah Streams, Engaging the Supernatural, and Sid Roth's It's Supernatural. Ryan is the host of The Blacksmith Chronicles Podcast, an Instructor at Summit School of Revival, and travels throughout the United States and the Nations as a full-time itinerant minister.
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Yes, it's easy to look back...to the former things and the past.
You will find out much more about this and how to move forward in current/difficult circumstances you may be facing. What a great reminder to us as we move into the new year of 2023. (To Subscribe to the Elijah List 
