This morning I was reading about Israel's exodus from Egypt in Exodus 14 and was impressed with the following thoughts:
Vs18 "…The Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle." As believers in Jesus Christ, we too have been armed for battle. Ephesians 6:10-18 "…be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness; feet fitted with the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit, and PRAY in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
V1Then the Lord told Moses, "Tell the Israelites to…encamp…by the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon." The Israelites were going into enemy territory…which is the perfect grounds for God to prove He alone is God and above Him there is no other. The Egyptians worshipped many gods and the lord of this region was no exemption. What better place for God to prove himself not only to the Egyptians but to the Israelites that: (1) He alone is God in the face of what they will encounter in their journey to the Promised Land (2) God will be their protector and provider all along the way.
V5-10 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, "What have we done? We have let the Israelites go and have lost their services!" Pharaoh took six hundred of his the best chariots…officers…and pursued the Israelites. As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified…cried out to the Lord… "it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than die in the desert!" Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." When faced with adversity, the Israelites response to this crisis is not all that different from ours today. Jesus clearly told us, "I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble, but take heart I have overcome the world." (Jo 16:33) Just as God told Moses exactly what was going to happen and how He was going to intervene BEFORE it did, so God has prepared us for what will come against us because we bear His name. And yet, do we not terrified cry out to the Lord, "I don't understand why this has to happen to me…where are you God…I don't remember having problems before…maybe this Christ following isn't worth is!" And just as the Israelites suffered from "short term memory", we sometimes do the same.
V15 Then the Lord said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground…the Israelites will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army….the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord."
V19-25 So the angel of God moved from in front of Israel's army and stood behind them coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel.
I love God's response! Almost like he is saying, "Have you not just witnessed my power to release you from Egypt? Did I not promise I would take you to a better place? Get up and get going!!"
And again, does God not say that to us, "stop moaning…stop focusing on the Pharaoh in your life. Get your "armor" on and watch me fight for you, through you so you can be more than conquerors in the land I am giving you!" How many times do the "Egyptians" around us not know God is Lord because we freeze in our boots?
So today, it doesn't matter where you may find yourself; whether physically strong or challenged the message is the same: put your armor on and GET UP…GET GOING…and witness the power of God. How else are the pharaoh's and the Egyptians in our lives to know and see the glory of God?
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