You Don’t Have To Be In Control

Moses’ wife and sons had originally traveled to Egypt with him, but after Pharaoh’s response to the request to go and worship, Moses had sent them back to Midian to stay with her father for safety.  Upon learning that Israel was camped nearby, at Rephidim, Jethro brought them to meet him.   When the met, Moses described how God had blessed them and Jethro was impressed, as Exodus 18:8-12 describes.  “And Moses told his father in law all that the LORD had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the LORD delivered them. And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians.

 

And Jethro said, Blessed be the LORD, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.  Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them.  And Jethro, Moses' father in law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses' father in law before God.”

 

As an outsider, Jethro actually had a better understanding of what God had done than many of the Israelites, because they were caught up in their feelings at the moment and didn’t step back to look at the overall picture.  Moses had grown up in Egyptian society where Pharaoh’s government controlled everything, and when he began to lead Israel, he followed much the same pattern, addressing all the conflicts personally.  Jethro questioned why he did it that way, in Exodus 18:13-16.  “And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening.  And when Moses' father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?

 

And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to inquire of God: When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.”  Rather than taking responsibility for themselves and developing their own relationships with God, the people were depending on Moses to make all the decisions and take all the responsibility.     

 

Jethro realized that Moses’ efforts to retain control were counter-productive, hampering and potentially defeating his efforts to teach the people to serve God.   It would be far better to teach the people, and let them take some of the responsibility, as he explained in Exodus 18:17-23.  “And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.  Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.

 

Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God: And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt show them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.  Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.  If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.”

 

As Jethro warned, Moses trying to control everything would exhaust him and the people, delaying action on minor situations and causing frustration among the people.  It would prevent them from learning how to apply God’s principles, hampering their spiritual growth.  He recommended assigning responsibilities to others, and trusting God to guide them, so that he could concentrate on the things where his expertise was needed. 

 

After a month of dealing with all the problems, Moses understood the need to let others take responsibility, and followed Jethro’s advice, as Exodus 18:24-26 describes.  “So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.  And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.  And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.”

 

God never intended leaders to become dictators or kings.  In Deuteronomy 16:18 he commanded, “Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment.”  If the issues were beyond the knowledge of the officers or judges, they were to bring the questions to the Priests and Levites for advice, according to Deuteronomy 17:8-11.  “If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates: then shalt thou arise, and get thee up into the place which the LORD thy God shall choose;  And thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days, and inquire; and they shall show thee the sentence of judgment: And thou shalt do according to the sentence, which they of that place which the LORD shall choose shall show thee; and thou shalt observe to do according to all that they inform thee: According to the sentence of the law which they shall teach thee, and according to the judgment which they shall tell thee, thou shalt do: thou shalt not decline from the sentence which they shall show thee, to the right hand, nor to the left.”

 

When we feel like we have to have control, it is because we don’t trust God.  Moses hadn’t realized how much control he was exercising, but, because he believed God could control things, he was able to relinquish control when he realized it was a problem.  We need to stop trying to control things that are not our responsibility and trust God.  Too often in our efforts to control things that are not our responsibility, we neglect the things we should be doing.  Let God be God instead of playing god yourself.

Habitual Complaining Indicates a Lack Of Faith

 After a few days in the wilderness of Sin, the Israelites came to Rephidim, and once again there was no water available.  The people reacted as they had before, blaming for bringing them there, as Exodus 17:1-3 describes.  “And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink.  Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD?  And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?”

 

Unfortunately, complaining becomes a habit for many people, and the Israelites were no exception.  They repeated the same complaints against Moses with no thought about what God had done in each situation.  Complaining makes people increasingly unhappy, leading to frustration and anger.  Moses began to fear what the people might do if it continued in Exodus 17:4.  “And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me.”

 

God told Moses to gather the people and he provide water once again, in Exodus 17:5-7.  “And the LORD said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go.   Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.  And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?”  Moses called Rephidim “griping and complaining.” 

 

When people begin to complain and focus on the problems instead of thanking the Lord for what he is doing, they begin to doubt God’s presence, even when there are visible signs of his presence such as the various miracles and the pillars of fire and cloud.    The habitual complainers would eventually die in the wilderness, but the younger generation, led by Joshua would learn to live by faith.

 

One of the reasons God had brought Israel the roundabout way they had come was to avoid war with the philistines because they had the slave mentality and were not yet ready to fight for their freedom.  By the time they got to Rephidim, they were becoming more united as a group, and had seen God’s power repeatedly.  He allowed the Amalekites to attack them, forcing them to depend on Him for the victory, in Exodus 17:8-13.  “Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.  And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.  So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.

 

And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.  But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.  And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.”

 

It was very obvious the victory was the result of God’s action on their behalf, rather than their own military prowess, clearly demonstrating the importance of their spiritual relationship with God.  God directed Moses to record the events, in Exodus 17:16.  “And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.  And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi: For he said, Because the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”

 

God said he would wipe out all remembrance of the Amalekites for their unprovoked attack on Israel.  The Amalekites were descendants of one of Esau’s grandsons.  They were nomadic and warlike, attacking all the various groups around them.  Haman the Agagite in Esther 3-8 was a descendant of the Amalekite king, Agag.    Today, they have lost their identity as a people.   

 

 Whoever wrote the book of Exodus based his writings on Moses’ records. 

Learning To Trust God For Daily Provision

 Israel had left Egypt on the fifteenth day of the first month.  A month later they came to the wilderness of Sin, the uninhabited area around the western end of Mount Sinai, as described in Exodus 16:1.  “And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt.”

 

By the time they arrived in the wilderness they were running out of food and there was not enough growing to support the entire crowd.  As Exodus 16:2-3 tells us, the people began to complain.  “And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses ans Aaron in the wilderness: And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” 

 

Just as they had done before crossing the Red Sea, the people began to complain that they would have been better off staying in Egypt, accusing Moses of bringing them out there to die of starvation.  God promised to supply their daily food, in Exodus 16:4-5. “Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.  And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily. “

 

Part of the reason for God doing it a certain way was to see whether they would follow his commands or not.  God would rain bread on them and they were to pick up just enough for that day, except on the sixth day, when they were to pick up enough for two days.  Moses and Aaron then shared God’s promise with the people, in Exodus 16:6-8.  “And Moses and Aaron said unto all the children of Israel, At even, then ye shall know that the LORD hath brought you out from the land of Egypt: And in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of the LORD; for that he heareth your murmurings against the LORD: and what are we, that ye murmur against us?  And Moses said, This shall be, when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD.” 

 

Just a month before, they had seen God’s power causing them to be freed from slavery, and a week later, they had seen the Egyptian army destroyed.  Three days later, God had enabled them to neutralize the minerals in the water at Marah, before spending two weeks at Elim.  During the entire time they had seen the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire leading them.  Although they were complaining about Moses and Aaron, their complaint was really about God and how he was leading them. 

 

Moses had the people assemble so that God could address them in Exodus 16:9-12.  “And Moses spake unto Aaron, Say unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, Come near before the LORD: for he hath heard your murmurings.  And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God.”

 

God was aware of their complaints, and was going to supply their food so that they could be reminded every day that it was God who was providing their food.  Here we find one of the apparent contradictions in the scriptures, since Numbers 11:4-34 tells us that initially they only got the Manna and that the quail did not come until a year later.  This only emphasizes that contrary to tradition, Moses was not the author of all of the first five books of scripture, although he did write out the Law.  Such minor discrepancies do not detract from the basic story.   Exodus 16:13 describes what happened after Numbers 11.  “And it came to pass, that at even the quails came up, and covered the camp: and in the morning the dew lay round about the host.”

 

The next morning there were small seed like things about the size of early morning frost crystals all over the ground.  When they saw it the people asked what it was, calling it manna or “what is it?” Moses explained what it was and how they were to gather it in Exodus 16:14-18.  “And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground.  And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was.

 

And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.  This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his tents.  And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less.  And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating.”

 

Part of the reason for God giving it that particular way was to teach the people to obey God exactly.  As Exodus 16:19-20 tells us, some of them thought it would be okay to do things their own way.   “And Moses said, Let no man leave of it till the morning.  Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank: and Moses was wroth with them.”

 

For the rest of the week they gathered just enough for that day.  Moses had commanded them to gather twice as much on the sixth day, so they would have enough for the Sabbath.  The leaders had not paid attention, and on the sixth day they came complaing to Moses.  He explained again what God had commanded, in Exodus 16:21-23.  “And they gathered it every morning, every man according to his eating: and when the sun waxed hot, it melted.  And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for one man: and all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses.  And he said unto them, This is that which the LORD hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.”

 

Just as God had said, the manna gathered on the sixth day lasted through the Sabbath day according to Exodus 16:24-26.  “And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade: and it did not stink, neither was there any worm therein.  And Moses said, Eat that to day; for to day is a sabbath unto the LORD: to day ye shall not find it in the field.  Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none.”

 

The leaders were not the only ones who didn’t listen, however, as Exodus 16:27-30 describes.  “And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none.  And the LORD said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws?  See, for that the LORD hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.  So the people rested on the seventh day.”

 

The manna tasted kind of like a cookie sweetened with honey.  God directed them to put some in a pot in the Ark of the Covenant for a reminder of how God had supplied in the future, according to Exodus 16:31-34.  “And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.  And Moses said, This is the thing which the LORD commandeth, Fill an omer of it to be kept for your generations; that they may see the bread wherewith I have fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you forth from the land of Egypt.  And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a pot, and put an omer full of manna therein, and lay it up before the LORD, to be kept for your generations.  As the LORD commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the Testimony, to be kept.”

 

The manna must have been very nutritious.  The Israelites ate it for the next forty years, not stopping until they crossed the Jordan, in Joshua 5:12, according to Exodus 16:35.  “And the children of Israel did eat manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan.”   It is also clear that Moses did not write Exodus, as he had died before they crossed the Jordan, according to Deuteronomy 34.   

Exercising Their Faith

 

After seeing the Egyptian army destroyed, the Israelites held a huge celebration of God’s deliverance right there on the shore, as described in Exodus 15.  Three days later, they arrived at Marah, according to Exodus 15:22-24. “So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.  And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.  And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?”

 

Just ten days after leaving Egypt, and three days after crossing the Red Sea and seeing the Egyptian army wiped out, the people started griping about Moses again because the water was undrinkable.  When He prayed, God showed him a tree that would neutralize the chemicals in the water, as Exodus 15:25-26 describes.  “And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.”

 

A lesson or way of thinking does not become a habit until has been repeated several times.  While they had seen God set them free, and take them through the Red Sea, depending on the Lord had not yet become an automatic responses to unpleasant situations.  Marah gave them another opportunity to trust God and see his power.  That God showed them how to make the water useable demonstrated again his power over all the things they might experience. 

 

In the process God made them a valuable promise that if they would keep all his commandments and laws, they would not suffer from the same plagues and diseases their neighboring nations experienced.   If they would obey him completely, God would act on their behalf to protect them from those diseases.  Unfortunately, future generations would tend to focus on those commands that seemed to relate most directly to health issues and ignore other commands because they didn’t see any obvious connection.  As a result, they experienced many of the same diseases as the people around them.  The dietary and health laws were only part of God’s commands and God did not promise to protect them for partial obedience.  Partial obedience is still disobedience.  As we have shown before, our obedience is a demonstration of our faith.

 

Having demonstrated his power once again, God next led them to Elim, an oasis with plenty of water, and seventy palm trees, as described in Exodus 15:27.  “And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.”  They would rest at Elim for a couple of weeks before resuming their journey.  It gave them time to think about what God had done for them and absorb the lessons he wanted to teach them. 

Just Trusting Enough To Obey

 God had led the Israelites to exactly the place where he wanted them, and both they and the Egyptians thought they were trapped.  Moses encouraged them to trust God but they could see no possible escape, and had given up hope.   It was at this point God intervened, as Exodus 14:19-20 describes.  “And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.”

 

Unable to see anything, the Egyptians were forced to move very cautiously to avoid crashing their chariots into each other or the rocks along the trail, or possibly running off into the Gulf of Aqaba.  The fire on their side enabled the Israelites to see and travel much faster.  God then opend a path to escape through the sea, as described in Exodus 14:21-22.  “And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.  And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.” 

 

This is a powerful illustration of the promise in I Corinthians 10:13.  “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”   There was no way an inexperienced and untrained mob of Israelites could escape or defeat a well-equipped and experienced Egyptian army, but God provided a way.  According to what I have read, at that point, the Gulf of Aqaba is over a thousand feet deep and eleven miles wide.  Even for the soil to dry enough overnight for them to walk on it is miraculous.   

 

The Israelites were able to see, and walked safely into the sea trusting God to save them.  Moving much more slowly because they were unable to see, the Egyptians followed them into the sea. By the morning watch, between three and six am, the Egyptian army was in the middle of the sea, as we see in Exodus 14:23-25.  “And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.  And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians, And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians.” 

 

Until it began to get light, the Egyptians had probably not realized where they were, assuming they were still in the canyon.  As it began to get light, and God caused wheels to fall off their chariots, they realized they were in a very dangerous position and tried to turn back to safety.   Israel had already reached the other shore, and God caused the water to come back together as it normally would, in Exodus 14:26-28.  “And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.  And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.  And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.”  Crushed by five hundred pounds of water pressure, the Egyptians had no chance to escape though some of the bodies were washed ashore. 

 

From what I have read, the water on either side of where Israel crossed was much deeper than it was on either side.  The walls of water kept them from drifting too far either way, as we see in Exodus 14:29-31.  “But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.  Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.  And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses.”  God had used the same water that protected and guided Israel to destroy the Egyptians.   Not only had they escaped slavery, they would never again have to worry about being enslaved by the Egyptians.  All they had to do was just trust God enough to obey him. 

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.   

 

Free To Leave At Last

 Moses had told the Israelites God was going to free them, and had gone to Pharaoh asking him to set them free.  As a result, Pharaoh made things much worse, and despite repeated actions by god, Pharaoh remained adamant that he would not free them.  Now God says the next plague will result in the freedom.  Why should they believe it?  We have heard for years that the Lord is coming back yet things continue to get worse.  Why should we believe God? 

 

If we look back in the story, we see that time after time God told them that these plagues would happen, but that Pharaoh would not let them go. Each time everything happened exactly as he said it would so there is every reason for believing this next plague would happen just as he said, and that the results would be what he said. 

 

The disciples asked Jesus what sign would signal the Lord’s return.   He warned them not to be misled by claims that certain events were evidence of the Lord’s imminent return, in Matthew 24:3-8.  “And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

 

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.  And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.  All these are the beginning of sorrows.”

 

All of the plagues in Egypt were just showing the Egyptians who God is.   In the same way, the signs that preachers and evangelists have pointed to are just reminders of God’s power, and tell us nothing about when the Lorde will return.  

 

Before God set the Israelites free there was something they needed to do, as described in Exodus 12:1-13.  “And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.  Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.  Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.

 

And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.  And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.  Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof.  And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.  And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD'S passover.   For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.  And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.”

 

Like the Israelites, we have been given a job to do before the Lord comes back, as Matthew 24:9-14 describes.  “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.  And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.  And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.  And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”  Our job is to remain faithful until the Lord comes back despite the false teachings and constant exposure to sin.  Those who remain faithful shall be saved just as surely as those who sacrificed the lamb and applied the blood were to be saved. 

 

God fulfilled his promise to set Israel free, as Exodus 12:29-38 describes.  “And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.  And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.

 

And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said.  Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also.  And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men.

 

And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneadingtroughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders.  And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.”  When God’s purpose was finished, Israel was free, just as God had promised. 

 

Israel was still there when the death angel smote the Egyptians.  They had themselves felt the effects of some of the plagues God brought on Egypt, although God had protected them from the worst of them.   Throughout history, God has allowed his people to go through many of the same struggles and suffering other people go through, although he protects and empowers them to withstand it, as I Corinthians 10:13 tells us.  “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 

 

No matter how hopeless it may seem, we will never face a situation others have not also faced and overcome.  When it becomes more than we can deal with, we can count on God to provide a way to overcome the problems if we will just trust him and follow his leadership.  That is his promise, and God cannot lie.