Sometimes
what you are going through is not entirely about you; God uses our
circumstances and our obedience to impact the hearts of those who do
not yet believe.
Exodus
13:17
For
God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and
return to Egypt.”
Exodus
14:2, 4
“Tell
the Israelites to
turn back and
encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea...
And
I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he
will pursue them.
But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army,
and the
Egyptians will know
that I am the Lord.”
The
Israelites were on the move; they had already left Egypt and were on
their way to the Promised Land before God allowed the Pharaoh to
realize what he had done. (Ex 14:5)
Even
though they left Egypt “ready for battle” and with the wealth of
the Egyptians, God directed them away from the path that would have
resulted in a war with the Philistines. (Ex 13:17) God knew that if
they had faced a war, they would change their minds and return to
captivity.
So
then....Why would God have His people turn back and make camp instead
of continuing on their journey? They were making good pace in
putting distance between them and Egypt. They even took an alternate
route to avoid a war and yet now, God has them stop and turn back;
turn to make camp at the same time Pharaoh decides to pursue them.
God
leads them away from a war just to position them for a battle...why?
Verse
4....so that the Egyptians (the very same people who held the
Israelites in captivity) would know that He is the Lord. This was
about God moving on the hearts of those who did not yet know Him.
God was about to reveal Himself to a nation as well as remind a
nation of who they serve.
Moses
was instructed to tell the terrified Israelites “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.”
The
battle you are in right now may seem overwhelming and it might not be
about just you. God may wish to reveal Himself to those around you.
As He instructed His people then, He is instructing you today....
Listen
(Do not be afraid)
Trust
(Stand Firm)
Obey
(Be Still)
God
did not mean to stand still or do not move. No, they were to get up
and move to safety as He provided their path. He was telling them to
stop complaining, to stop fretting, to stop focusing on what was
behind them and start focusing on the life in front of them. He
instructed them to move in the direction of the Promise. (...press
on toward the goal... Phil 3:14-15; ...keep your eyes on Jesus...
Heb 12:2)
As
they obeyed and moved through
the obstacle in front of them (the Red Sea), God took care of what
was behind them. In doing so, God gained the glory and the Egyptians
were given the opportunity to know that He is the Lord.
What
a wonderful God He is! As He takes us THROUGH the hard places, our
faith is strengthened and He reveals Himself to those who are
watching.
With
that in mind, what 'enemy' are you facing today?
I
encourage you to do as the Israelites...
Listen
(Do not be afraid)
Trust
(Stand Firm)
Obey
(Be Still)
and
in the process, be reminded of the God you serve.
