He brought us out……to bring us in. Deuteronomy 6:20-23.
e Gals no 51.
God was in the cloud and in the fire.
Exodus 13:17-22. God led the children of Israel out in rank and file like an army! The Lord went in front v.21 in a pillar of cloud by day and by night in a pillar of fire! Cp. The Shekinah Glory. The manifest presence of Yahweh led them so they had no problem knowing which way to go! They had all they needed - guidance during the day and at night, light & protection from wild beasts as well as warmth!
They knew it was the Lord - and as they walked behind Him - He lovingly led them out of the place of restriction!
God does not always take us the shortest or easiest route!
Exodus 14:1-3. The Lord spoke to Moses…….and told him to back track -
they actually had to retrace their steps and go to a place called Baal Zephon which brought them to a dead end! God knew that Pharaoh would think he had the Israelites trapped! But who was trapping who?
Charles Swindell says the people made a good start - they probably said “this is gonna be a great experience” and then found themselves in a predicament with no way of escape!
Remember - whatever is happening to you - the Lord is way ahead of the enemy. The Israelites were not in a cul-de-sac because they had made a mistake but because God had walked them into it! Has the Lord brought you into a spiritual cul-de-sac - a place where through no fault of your own you are trapped and in need of a miracle?
God wanted them to totally depend on Him.
Exodus 14:10-14. The past was catching up with them. The enemy always follows us. Notice the people first cried out to God but when nothing happened to improve the situation they started blaming Moses.
Here is what God told them to do:-
1. Do not be afraid! 2. Stand still! 3. Watch! 4. The Lord will fight for you while you keep quiet! Note that we usually do the opposite, first we become afraid, second we run, third we fight and lastly we make a lot of noise.
Exodus 14:15-16. The Lord said “go forward” and Moses was told to lift up the rod and stretchout his hand over the sea to divide it! Sometimes God asks us to “stretch” out of our comfort zone!
Verse 19. The angel of the Lord then moved and went behind them. God can protect us from behind as well as lead us in front! Isaiah 52:12.
This meant the cloud came betweenthe two parties - it was light to one and darkness to the other. Cp 2 Corinthians 2:14-16. It not only kept the Egyptians at bay but it stopped the Israelites from staring at the huge Egyptian army which would have probably freaked them out!
Verse 21. Then God sent a strong East wind to blow all night so as to dry up the bed of the sea and divide the waters! As the Israelites went into the midst of the sea there was a wall of water on each side! (This was a picture of baptism symbolising death, burial and resurrection. 1 Cor 10:1-2.)
And the Egyptians pursued them v.23. Our enemies will try to pursue us - but we are to reckon them dead and buried - left behind while we walk in resurrection life. Romans 6:4-14. See also chapters 5, 6, 7 & 8.
God was dealing with their enemies.
Exodus 14:24-28. In the morning watch …the Lord looked down …& troubled the Egyptians. God is always on the night shift! Psa 121 3-4.
He actually took off the wheels of their chariots - He can move in the mundane. God had promised they would never see their enemies again - Exodus 14:13 and He kept His promise when the sea covered the Egyptians. God wants us to have complete victory in our lives! Romans 8:37.
God put a song of victory in their mouth.
Exodus 15:1-19. Then Moses led the people in song as they sang “The horse and it’s rider has he thrown into the sea!” The Hebrew word for “thrown” is a rare and pictorial expression describing God reaching down and tossing members of the Egyptian army into the water one by one!
They sang “the Lord is a man of war” - God had fought for them! Know that God can take care of your enemies one by one!
Exodus 15:20-21. After Moses led the singing his sister Miriam took over - note she was a prophetess and she led the women! She was a leader - a single woman who had a strong role outside the home. Know you are a leader and you have potential to influence others in their journey!
We are to be a people of praise and God has given us the song of the redeemed. Psalm 40:1-3. & Revelation 5:9-13.
God was giving His people their identity and purpose.
Read Exodus 19:4-6 and see that God led them out on Eagles wings to be His own special treasure and to be a kingdom of Priests. (Know that God sees us not only as “special” but as His “treasure”.) Read 1 Cor 15:46 and see that the natural comes first and then the spiritual - the Old testament is a picture of the New relationship we have with God.Cp 1 Peter 2:5. We are a Royal Priesthood. That means we are to minister as Priests & to reign like Kings. Rev 1:4-6 & Rom 5:17 & 6:12-14.
Lesson for life.
God wants to guide us - that means we must follow Him.
God can make a way where there seems to be no way.
Jesus died to defeat ALL our enemies - that we would see them no more - but we have to implement that truth in our lives. Romans 6:4-14.
The Lord has put a new song in our mouth - As we prepare to separate for the summer - let us write our own song of thanksgiving and worship to the Lord and sing it to Him over the summer months!
We should walk in our true identity knowing we are a special people and a treasure to God.
Finally let us live as “Royal Priests” as we reign over sin - and worship the Lord so that we can intercede for others as we carry them in our hearts and on our shoulders. God has brought us out of bondage - to bring us into His Promises so that we will live lives of purpose - for His Glory.