Oceans in the Desert

By Kathi Pelton

Last November, our family was praying about moving from Oregon to Virginia. We knew that the Lord had directed us to do this, and we knew that the timing of our move was of strategic importance. As we waited upon the Lord, a dear friend who is a part of our prayer team came to our house and brought Jeffrey and me a prophecy she had received. She saw General George Washington crossing the Delaware River on Christmas night.

Even though we didn’t enjoy planning a cross-country relocation during the holiday season, we knew it was a genuine word from God, and we needed to be prepared to go; and we did.

But there is more to the story, and it applies to the time we all find ourselves in.

In December 1776, Washington had planned to cross the Delaware to attack a garrison of enemy troops stationed in Trenton, New Jersey. The river was frozen, and the conditions were so harsh that though Washington’s attack was to comprise three separate crossings, only one out of three could cross—and the successful vessel contained George Washington himself. Prior to the crossing, Washington’s carefully planned timetable was so badly behind schedule because of the weather that he contemplated canceling the attack.

Across the river, a spy had warned the British army that this surprise attack would take place, but the commanding general was arrogant and believed it to be another “false alarm,” so he did not prepare his troops. Washington’s crossing and surprise attack secured the Continental Army’s first major military victory of the Revolutionary War. The courageous decision by General Washington was clearly a “succeed or die” scenario.

Now, back to the prophetic word given to us regarding “crossing the Delaware”…

Jeffrey and I were in Plymouth, Massachusetts for the 400-year anniversary of the arrival of the Mayflower and its pilgrim passengers carrying the Mayflower Compact. During our time, I mentioned the prophesy to a prophetic friend, and she said, “Oh, that is very prophetic; way beyond your move to Virginia.” When she said that, it hit my spirit with a clear witness that caused it to be at the forefront of my mind.

As I write this article, we are returning to Virginia from Plymouth, Massachusetts, and driving through stormy weather. Our GPS, instead of sending us the route we had taken several days earlier, instead revised our course through unexpected rural territory. We found ourselves in a tiny town in New Jersey and on a perilous one-lane bridge crossing a river. As we crossed, the sign ahead of us read “Welcome to Washington’s Crossing.”

Unknown to us, we had just crossed the Delaware River at the very location Washington had on Christmas Day in 1776. We were surprised and recognized the prophetic significance, as we were traveling in a storm, during a time that our nation is once again in a battle.

The British army was warned that the continental army would cross and attack, but its leader was arrogant and did not believe. Therefore, he was not prepared—which gave Washington the victory! I believe that our “prophetic rerouted surprise” should speak to us all. General Washington considered canceling his surprise attack because of adverse conditions. But somehow, he received courage to proceed.

I believe that this is a picture of what we face today in the United States. We are in a war for our freedom, for the upholding of our righteous foundations so we might remain “one nation under God!” Our president is in a battle with such harsh conditions surrounding him that there is surely a struggle to know whether to forge ahead or concede defeat. He is looking at an impossible crossing, but we must believe that God will put on him a spirit of courage given General Washington—or perhaps even Moses, when the Red Sea stood before him and God’s people.

The enemy is mocking with arrogance, confident of victory, but God will bring a surprise attack that will give us a much-needed triumph.

We must pray for our president to have a courage to finish what he has planned no matter what he faces! Freedom is coming to our nation. I see light and freedom coming. I believe that from now until just after Christmas, we need to battle and have courage because WE WILL CROSS OVER!

The crossing of the Red Sea with Moses and the crossing of the Delaware with General Washington are both historic accounts that speak prophetically into the times we are now living. Both crossings were successful.

Do not give up! Pray and forge ahead.

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