6/9/10
This was a portion of my devotional scripture today with some of the thoughts I had on the passage.
We pick up the TRUE story of God's people being freed for slavery in Egypt. They have witnessed Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, refuse to free them. They have further seen God strike Egypt while exempting them from terrible plagues. Let's join the story...
Exodus 13: 17 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.” 18So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea.Thus the Israelites left Egypt like an army ready for battle.[d]
19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear to do this. He said, “God will certainly come to help you. When he does, you must take my bones with you from this place.”
20 The Israelites left Succoth and camped at Etham on the edge of the wilderness. 21 The Lordwent 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. 22 And the Lord did not remove the pillar of cloud or pillar of fire from its place in front of the people.
Exodus 14: 1 Then the Lord gave these instructions to Moses: 2 “Order the Israelites to turn back and camp by Pi-hahiroth between Migdol and the sea. Camp there along the shore, across from Baal-zephon. 3Then Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are confused. They are trapped in the wilderness!’ 4 And once again I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will chase after you. I have planned this in order to display my glory through Pharaoh and his whole army. After this the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord!” So the Israelites camped there as they were told.
The Egyptians Pursue Israel
5 When word reached the king of Egypt that the Israelites had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds. “What have we done, letting all those Israelite slaves get away?” they asked. 6So Pharaoh harnessed his chariot and called up his troops. 7 He took with him 600 of Egypt’s best chariots, along with the rest of the chariots of Egypt, each with its commander. 8 The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, so he chased after the people of Israel, who had left with fists raised in defiance. 9 The Egyptians chased after them with all the forces in Pharaoh’s army—all his horses and chariots, his charioteers, and his troops. The Egyptians caught up with the people of Israel as they were camped beside the shore near Pi-hahiroth, across from Baal-zephon.
10 As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the Lord, 11 and they said to Moses, “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? 12 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!’”
13 But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. 14 The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”
This was a portion of my devotional scripture today. What jumped out at me was...
13:17 "God did not lead them along the main road... that was the shortest route."
- God sometimes takes us the long way around.
"if the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt."
-knowing the heart of His children God determined they would be better served to go a longer route.
verse 18 "Thus the Israelites left Egypt like an army ready for battle."
-at the present moment there is no indicator the Israelites would give up and return to Egypt.
-HOWEVER, God know the full future of the heart. And although God does not choose for us, he knows what we will choose.
I believe God's plans are designed carefully around our choices, to maximize every opportunity for what is best.
Knowing the people would turn back, even though they themselves would have said "NEVER" - God sent them on a longer route.
14:4
"I have planned this..."
So this long route, ending up being trapped by the enemy, was God's plan?
AND then God reveals the answer to the question we all have when this situation happens to us.... WHY?
"... in order to display my glory through Pharaoh and his whole army."
Pharaoh who does not serve or believe in God is slated to be the tool of God's glory.
I'd much rather be the confused child of God in the wilderness, than the stubborn Egyptian on the bottom of the Red Sea.
By the way, in verse 11 - God was right. They wanted to go back to Egypt. I guess that long trip around the wilderness protect them from themselves after all.
My God show his glory in our lives, free us from slavery, part the Red Seas in front of us, and in the end - protect us for our greatest enemy.... ourselves.
Beth's family website (pictures and stuff)