God told Moses to tell the people to go forward

Then the LORD said to Moses, 2 "Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon. 3 Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.’ 4 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them. Exodus 14:15

This was Gods idea

When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, "What have we done? We have let the Israelites go and have lost their services!" 6 So he had his chariot made ready and took his army with him. 7 He took six hundred of the best chariots, along with all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers over all of them. The LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt so that he pursued after the Israelites, who were marching out boldly. As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the LORD.

Moses' silent prayers of faith prevailed more with God than Israel's loud cries of fear. The pillar of cloud and fire came behind them, when they needed a guard, God provided a wall of fire between them and their enemies. This dividing barrier made it possible for Gods people to go forward and conquer the new territory.

Let’s go forward claiming new opportunities, conquering doubts, resisting temptation, defeating Satan, taking back what the enemy has stolen from us, go forward giving God the praise, go forward and don’t look back like, remember lots wife? She looked back and became a pillar of salt. The angels warned them, Escape for your life! Do not look back, and do not stay anywhere in the valley, escape to the mountains that are higher than you or you will be swept away by the wrath of God. Genesis 19:17.

Lot ran down the valley and up towards the mountain, his two daughters ran close behind him, but his wife from behind look back and she became a pillar of salt, she lagged, when she should have gone forward much faster, she was weight down with the burden of the world, caught in two minds, whether to stay or to go, she lost ground and could not resist looking around. But if we keep our focus on Jesus, the things of this world will become insignificant. The disobedience of lots wife was a willful, and deliberate sin which led to her death, she chooses to value in her heart the things of the world more than the things of God.

Remember Lot’s wife. Luke 17:32

We today have received the similar warning to that which the angels gave to the lot and his family, let us go forward, putting away the old self-conscious feeling, and putting on the new life which is renewed in the likeness of God. If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. The image of Lots wife standing watch over the dead Sea where no life exists is the graphic reminder to us not to yearn for the things of the world. But to follow where Christ lead without hesitation.

God calls us to a journey in faith

The word and providence of God have a black and dark side toward sin and towards the sinners, but a bright and pleasant side toward the people of the Lord. He, who divided between light and darkness, Gen 1:4, allotted darkness to the Egyptians, and light to the Israelite's. There was such a great difference there will be between the inheritance of the saints in light and that utter darkness which will be the portion of hypocrites forever. The time is now, God wants his people to have an awareness of the need to move forward with the ministry, not retreat, not looking back with hesitancy.