Exactly Where God Wants Them

 As human beings, we tend to assume that changes in our situation will end all our problems instantly.  It rarely turns out that way.   Pharaoh had allowed the Israelites to leave Egypt, but he did not immediately take them to the promised land, as Exodus 13:17-18 tells us.  “And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt: But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.” 

 

The easiest and most direct route between Egypt and Canaan was the ancient caravan route that went east out of Egypt then turned northeast, through the Philistine territory.   It was the route both Abraham and Jacob had used hundreds of years before, but over time the Philistines had become more powerful.  While they would allow caravans to cross the land, a group of people as large as the Israelites would be seen as a serious threat, and they would fight to protect their land.  After four hundred years of slavery, the Israelites were not mentally prepared for such a fight.  Instead of turning north, they turned south east, through the Sinai Peninsula.  Exodus 13:20-22 describes exactly how God led them.  “And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness.  And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.

 

Succoth was a gathering point for caravans heading east or north, obtaining its name from the pens or booths for holding livestock while they waited for others to arrive.  A few miles to the east, at Etham, the caravan route split with routes leading north into Canaan, east into present day Jordan and Saudi Arabia, or south into the Sinai Peninsula.  God specifically directed them to camp at the mouth of a canyon opening into the Gulf of Aqaba between the se and the Egyptian outpost at Migdol, across from Baalzephon, according to Exodus 145:1-4.  “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baalzephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea.  For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in.  And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD. And they did so.”

 

With the Sinai Peninsula bounded on the west by the Gulf of Suez and on the east by the Gulf of Aqaba, there was no way such a large group could easily escape, as Pharaoh knew.  When they turned to the south east, he assumed that Moses had lost his way and led the Israelites into a trap.  He decided it would be the ideal time to recapture them, according to Exodus 14:5-8.  “And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?  And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him: And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them.  And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an high hand.

 

The Egyptians caught up with Israel right at the mouth of the canyon.  With their escape blocked by the Gulf of Aqaba and cliffs on both sides, Israel appeared to be at the Egyptian’s mercy, as Exodus 14:9-12 tells us.  “But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon.  And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD.  And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?  Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.”

 

Caught in what seemed to be a trap, the people wished they had never listened to Moses.  As bad as things had been before, they were afraid they were going to get a lot worse.  Who knew how many of them the Egyptians might kill or how they might punish them for leaving?  They accused Moses o just bringing them there to kill them, forgetting that God had specifically led them to this place.   Frightening as it might be, they were exactly where God wanted them.  As Moses told them in Exodus 14:13-14, there was nothing they needed to worry about.  “And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will show to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.  The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.“  The same God who had caused the plagues that led to their freedom would fight for them. 

 

Moses knew that they were exactly where God wanted them and that God had promised to set them free.  There was no reason for him to keep asking God to do something.  Instead, he needed to steep up and lead the people, as Exodus 14:15-18 tells us.  “And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.  And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.  And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.”

 

By his repeated refusals to obey, Pharaoh had disrespected God, implying he was as powerful as God.  Now God was going to show the Egyptian people who He really was.  He would wipe out Pharaoh and the entire Egyptian army, making it clear he was far more powerful than Pharaoh and the army.   God had every intention of keeping his promise to set Israel free, but he cared about the Egyptians as well, and was working everything out to give them a chance for salvation as well.  Many times we are concerned only about our own benefit and forget God’s agenda may be much larger than ours.  Fortunately, as Romans 8:28-29 reminds us, “…we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.  Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” 

 

God has invested too much in us to dump us because something doesn’t turn out just the way we think it should.  We are where we are because he has brought us here, even if we got here because we were rebelling.   Everything will turn out according to his plan, whether we trust him or not.