07/01/2008 Exodus 14:1

07/01/2008

Exodus 14:1 - 4 (HCSB) ¹Then the LORD spoke to Moses: ²“Tell the Israelites to turn back and camp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea; you must camp in front of Baal-zephon, facing it by the sea. ³Pharaoh will say of the Israelites: They are wandering around the land in confusion; the wilderness has boxed them in. ⁴I will harden Pharaoh’s heart so that he will pursue them. Then I will receive glory by means of Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.” So the Israelites did this.

Exodus 14:10 - 14 (HCSB) ¹⁰As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and saw the Egyptians coming after them. Then the Israelites were terrified and cried out to the LORD for help.

¹¹They said to Moses: “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you took us to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? ¹²Isn’t this what we told you in Egypt: Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”

¹³But Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. Stand firm and see the LORD’s salvation He will provide for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. ¹⁴The LORD will fight for you; you must be quiet.”

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As I traveled last week, we spent several days on the road. For 4 out of 9 days, we traveled 8 hours or more in a car. At one point, we found ourselves in a traffic jam. My first instinct was to be frustrated because moments before, we had pulled off for gas and a snack and ended up spending a lot more time than I had hoped. In my mind, I thought “If I had only gotten back on the road sooner, I could have been past this mess before it happened.” Yet, another part of me was thankful that my delay had possibly prevented me from being in the middle of a dangerous wreck with my family. Was it the hand of God that delayed us and kept us from being in harm’s way?

Only a few days before the Israelites faced the Egyptian army, they had plundered Egypt and left the region. But God had still yet a plan. He ordered the people to double back. The Egyptian scouts observed this and reported to Pharaoh that the Israelites were confused and boxed in by the Red Sea. It became obvious to Pharaoh that the Israelites had no intention to return and God hardened his heart again.

Meanwhile, the Israelites, who had just witnessed God’s mighty hand across Egypt, began to complain: “Are there not enough graves in Egypt?” they asked.

It is easy for us to look at the Israelites and wag our fingers at their behavior. But the truth is, we are just like them. We can witness the awesome power of God in one minute and in the next fall into despair thinking we have no options. When we can see no obvious alternatives, we immediately limit what (we believe) God can do by our understanding. Of course, we know the outcome of this story, but that is to our advantage. Put yourself in the Israelites shoes. The Egyptian army is advancing from the West, the Red Sea is to the East, and to the north and south, only vast expanses of sand.

Moses’ words to me are very inspiring. We should remember them even in our daily lives. Every minute, God can work an awesome work on our behalves. He says: “Stand still, be quiet, and just watch what God can do.”

Take time out whenever you feel frustrated or in a panic. Stand still, be quiet and watch what God can do. Our scurrying about can do nothing to resolve our situation, and if we are self-involved, then we may miss seeing the mighty hand of God at work in our lives. Stand still, be quiet and watch what God can do.

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