“Of all the
Egyptians who had chased the Israelites into the sea, not a single one
survived.” (Exodus 14:28)[i]
A few short
hours before, the Israelites said:
“Why did you bring us out here to die in the
wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves
for us in Egypt? What have you done to
us? Why did you make us leave Egypt? Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we
were still in Egypt? We said, ‘Leave us
alone! Let us be slaves to the
Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in
Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!’”
(Exodus 14:11-12)
The
Israelites were in a panic. God had led
them into an impossible situation. In a
minute, we will look more at the situation they were in.
We all face
situations in life that cause us to panic.
Have you ever had questions like the Israelites asked? Why did you lead me here? Have you deserted me? Why is this happening to me?
Why does God
lead us through these situations?
First, we
need to understand that we can never answer this question completely. Faith is required in our relationship with
God. Hebrews 11:6 tells us:
And it is impossible to please God
without faith. Anyone who wants to come
to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek
him.
We know
that God loves us. He demonstrated His
love toward us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. However, it is not given to us to know
everything. Isaiah 55:9 explains:
For just as the heavens are higher
than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher
than your thoughts.
However,
God does reveal to us what we need to know and teaches us as we walk with
Him. In answer to the question, “Why did
you bring us here,” we will see that one of God’s purposes is to strengthen,
grow and encourage us.
This is a
lesson taught throughout the Bible.
James 1:2 even goes so far as to say, “When troubles come your way,
consider it an opportunity for great joy.”
Having laid
this important groundwork, let’s now consider the events of that day in the
wilderness at the side of the Red Sea, recorded for us in Exodus 13 and 14.
First, we
see that God did not lead them along the most direct route. Exodus 13:17 says:
When Pharaoh finally let the people
go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine
territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a
battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” (Exodus 13:17)
God was
obviously leading. Exodus 13:21-22 says:
The LORD went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar
of cloud, and he provided light at night with a pillar of fire. This allowed them to travel by day or by
night. And the LORD did not remove the
pillar of cloud or pillar of fire from its place in front of the people.
These
people, following the Lord’s leading and knowing they were where he led them,
now found themselves in an impossible situation.
How could
Israel survive an attack by the world’s mightiest military? They were unarmed. The day before they had been slaves, trained
in such skills as brick making, farming, ditch digging, cleaning and
cooking. They could now see the
mightiest military on earth coming after them.
They were like sheep waiting to be slaughtered, defenseless. Therefore their question to Moses, “Weren’t
there enough graves for us in Egypt?”
God had
purposely led His people to this point. The
Israelites were asking, “What have you done to us?” (Exodus 14:11)
But the
Lord had said, “I have planned this in order to display my glory through
Pharaoh and his whole army.” (Exodus
14:4)
This reminds
me of a time when the disciples were in a boat with Jesus. Jesus was sleeping in the back of the boat and
a storm came up and threatened to swamp the boat. The disciples cried out, “Teacher, don't you care
that we're going to drown?” (Mark
4:38) Jesus rebuked them. He said, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40)
The
Psalmist teaches us, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of
death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they
comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4) The Psalmist had this confidence through
experience. The Lord leads us through
the valley of the shadow of death.
God led His
people into an impossible situation in order to show His glory and so that the
world would know that there is no other God. Through this process, their faith
was strengthened.
In
Deuteronomy 8:5 Moses is reviewing the Israelites’ 40 years in the wilderness
and says, “Think about it: Just as a parent disciplines a child, the LORD your
God disciplines you for your own good.”
This same
concept is taught in the New Testament.
Hebrews 12:6-8 says:
For the LORD disciplines those he
loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.” As you endure this divine discipline,
remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never
disciplined by its father? If God doesn’t
discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are
illegitimate and are not really his children at all.
If you love
the Lord, this is very good news. How
much confidence can we have in facing impossible situations? This is why James 1:2 says to consider it an
opportunity for great joy. However, this
was not good news for the Egyptians.
They had set themselves in opposition to God.
Although
everything looked like the Israelites were facing annihilation, it was the
Egyptians who were running headlong into a truly impossible situation. Whenever anyone sets his or her self in
opposition to God, that person is running headlong into an impossible
situation. If you are fighting against
God in your life, the impossible situation you are facing is an opportunity to
repent. Call out to God for forgiveness
before it is too late.
Exodus 14:9
says, “The Egyptians caught up with the people of Israel as they were camped
beside the shore near Pi-hahiroth, across from Baal-zephon.” There was nowhere for the Israelites to
go. They were pinched between the sea
and Pharaoh’s army.
God set the
whole thing up. He was in control. The Israelites could see their death in the
glint of the armor and the roar of the chariot wheels. Just think how their faith was strengthened
and their hearts encouraged at what happened next.
Exodus 14:19-20 says:
Then the angel of God, who had been leading
the people of Israel, moved to the rear of the camp. The pillar of cloud also moved from the front
and stood behind them. The cloud settled
between the Egyptian and Israelite camps. As darkness fell, the cloud turned to fire,
lighting up the night. But the Egyptians
and Israelites did not approach each other all night.
The
Egyptians were in darkness. They could
not see to attack. At the same time, the
Israelites had light. They could see to
avoid the Egyptians. God used darkness
to shield the Israelites from the Egyptian army, and light to give added safety
and comfort.
While the
Egyptians wandered in darkness, the Lord was making a way for the
Israelites. Exodus 14:21-22 says:
Then Moses raised his hand over the
sea, and the LORD opened up a path through the water with a strong east wind. The wind blew all that night, turning the
seabed into dry land. So the people of
Israel walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, with walls of water
on each side!
The Lord
made a way where there was no way.
He does the
same thing for us when we face impossible situations. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says,
“God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but
with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be
able to endure it.” (ESV)[ii] Notice especially the words “he will also
provide the way of escape.” He always
makes a way
He did the
same thing at the cross. There was no
way to cover or pay for our sins.
Humanity was lost without hope, and God made a way where there was no
way. 2
Corinthians 5:21 says, “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the
offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.”
When God
made a way for the Israelites, the Egyptians saw it and used it as well. They followed the Israelites into the heart
of the sea. Exodus 14:23 says, “Then the
Egyptians—all of Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and charioteers—chased them into
the middle of the sea.”
The
Israelites were not out of danger. The
army with horses, chariots and trained fighting men could move much faster than
the Israelites. However, the Israelites
had God on their side. God fought for
the Israelites. He made the wheels come
off the chariots and threw the Egyptian army into confusion. By the time the Egyptians realized what was
happening, it was too late.
Exodus
14:27-29 says:
The Egyptians tried to escape, but
the LORD swept them into the sea. Then
the waters returned and covered all the chariots and charioteers—the entire
army of Pharaoh. Of all the Egyptians
who had chased the Israelites into the sea, not a single one survived.
But the people of Israel had walked
through the middle of the sea on dry ground, as the water stood up like a wall
on both sides.
The very
thing that proved to be a way for the Israelites was the destruction of the
Egyptians.
At the
cross, what the devil intended to be the defeat of Jesus, proved to be a great
victory for Jesus. In our lives, it is
the same. The things that our enemy
intends for our destruction, God turns into our greatest victories.
Darkness
appears to be winning the battle in the world around us. 2 Timothy 3:13 tells us, “evil people and
impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” (ESV)
We can have confidence that God will work and use these things to His
glory and our victory through faith.
One reason God
leads us through impossible situations is to teach us the truth of Romans 8:31,
“If God is for us, who can ever be against us?”
[i]
Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New
Living Translation. Copyright © 1996,
2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used
by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Steam, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
[ii]
Scripture quotations marked ESV are from
The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by
Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
My son-in-law preached a very similar message last Sunday. Good word, Joe!
ReplyDelete