I've been listening to the story of the actual deliverance of the people of Israel from Egypt (Exodus chapters 12-14) this morning. I encourage you to listen to the story...not just read it. You can do this with the Bible Application called YouVersion.com which you can use on a computer, smart phone or tablet. There is something special about hearing the story wash over you... This morning I was struck with a few aspects of the story that show that this was God's plan of deliverance and it wasn't the way man would have done it! The first thing I noticed was that when Pharaoh finally let the people go they didn't take the shortest path to escape Egypt. God was leading them directly and He knew (as the text tells us) that the people of Israel would face the Philistines in a battle if they took the shortest path to freedom. God knew that if the people faced a battle at this early stage, before they were truly united or organized, they would flee back to Egypt in fear. So God led them through a rugged wilderness and then had them camp by the Red Sea shore. I'm sure the people were wondering, "Now what!" This morning it occurred to me that God could have parted the Red Sea right away and led the people through...but He waited. The text tells us that God wanted Pharaoh to hear that the people had camped by the sea so that he would become angry and decide to trap them. God was using deliverance as an opportunity for judgement, so that the army of Pharaoh would be swallowed by the waters of the Red Sea after the people of Israel had escaped across. Deliverance accompanied by judgement....sounds like a picture of things to come...and the story and the illustrations continue!
Exodus 14 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. 3 Then 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.
blessings to all those looking for and finding a personal Exodus!
Rob Smith
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