Have those words crossed your lips lately? Do you find yourself with questions upon questions upon questions? Take a moment and think about all that is going on. This might be scary to some of you because that is all that you can think about, but think through this with me for a minute. Earthquakes in Nevada and regularly around the world; flooding in Michigan; tornados across the southern states; typhoons in the Indian & Pacific Oceans; the invasion of a killer wasp; tropical storm Arthur off the east coast of the US; wildfires continue to break out all around the world; the economy is on the verge of collapse; China talks and trade have broken down; and then there is this little thing called the Covid-19 virus that is all around the world. What in the world is going on?
A lot is going on!!! My intention is not to work you up into a frenzy or panic where you are paralyzed and believe that we are all doomed. I want to encourage you to take a look at a group of people who honestly believed that they were all going to die; no doubt about it. Imagine the panic that must have been taking place in the lives of the Israelites as they are making their way out of Egypt and heading to the promised land. Exodus 13:17 tells us that “When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter…” That is not a very promising start, is it? Let’s take the longer route because we want to stay away from the Philistines. Is God really God? Why is it that we are already concerned about the Philistines? This is not a very good start! Are they not going to be an obstacle in the days ahead? Why doesn’t God just take them out now? Verse 18 tells us that God led them by the desert road; another not so good idea, ya think? God was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire at night which is a good thing but why the long road and why the desert road?
God does not stop with the stuff that does not make sense. In chapter 14 He starts the chapter by having Moses tell the Israelites that we are going to turn back. How do you react when the map or GPS is incorrect and you have to back track? God has a plan and He gives an explanation to Moses. Listen to this: “Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.’ 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.” (14:3-4) I have a couple of observations here for us to consider. First, I read where God gives Moses an explanation but I do not see where the Israelites are told of God’s plan. Perhaps that is because if Moses did tell them they would have broken out into rebellion. That was the concern in Exodus 13:17 so maybe the same applies here. Secondly, God says that the Egyptians will know that He is the Lord but He does not mention the Israelites. We would hope that the Israelites would too, but what takes place next might make you wonder about that. Maybe the Israelites would need a little more time for that?
Pharaoh does exactly what God has planned for him to do and he took 600 of his best chariots along with all of the other chariots in Egypt and their officers and they pursued the Israelites. The Bible tells us that they pursued them and overtook them as they were camped against the sea with the desert surrounding them. Do you think they were worried? Wouldn’t you have been worried too? You already do. How can you not worry when your outflow exceeds your income, and the creditors are calling? How can you not worry when your employer has been forced to close its doors and you are left without a job along with millions of others who are in the same situation? How can you not worry when your financial portfolio is collapsing? How can you not worry when your loved one is facing cancer or you are waiting for test results? How can you not worry when you have a troubled child? How can you not worry when the safety of the people you love is at stake? How do we do that? How do we not worry? I want to point out something to you from this story that I believe we can apply to whatever situation we might be facing. The Israelites were in that place with the desert surrounding them, the sea on one side and the Egyptian army charging at them because God put them there. God was the One who was leading them with a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. God was the One who said to take the longer route. God was the One who said to take the desert road. God was the one who told them to back track and then set camp. Why didn’t they just keep moving? God was also the One who hardened Pharaoh’s heart. God has the Israelites right where He wants them and He said “…I will gain glory for myself…”! Did you catch all of that? God did it!!! The unmistakable implication here in this passage is that God took responsibility for leading them into peril when He gave them step-by-step instructions and led them to a spot of apparent ruin.
The Lord occasionally does similar things like that to us and for us. He is testing our faith, leading us into hardship, teaching us wisdom, and showing us His ways. Our first reaction might be very similar to that of the Israelites where we are panic stricken and wanting to just die. This story is not just a cool story for us to share with our children on a flannel-graph or picture book. This is the real deal! This is our lives at times. God gave us this story so that He would gain glory when we are faced with something similar. Remember this: when you are in a difficult place, realize that God either placed you there or allowed you to be there, for reasons perhaps known only to God Himself for now. If we do that, if you do that, if you remember that truth, your whole perspective will change the next time you find yourself in that terrifying place, because you realized that God has either placed you there or allowed you to be there.
I have some quotes and short sentences that are written in my Bible to remind me of the truths of this passage of Scripture and the character of God. Maybe one of them might be an encouragement to you in these difficult days.
The same God who led you in will also lead you out.
“He knows the way He taketh, even if for a moment we do not.” J.I.Packer
God’s will will never take you where His presence will not sustain you
To the child of God, there is no such thing as an accident. He travels an appointed way.
If you find yourself in a difficult spot, remember you are there by God’s appointment, in His keeping, under His training, and for His time.
Murmuring is an attitude that says God is insufficient in our circumstances.
So what is the answer to the question? What in the world is going on? As you know, there is all kinds of stuff going on that we have absolutely no control over. I have to believe that God is at work gaining glory for Himself. Give Him the glory that He is due. Praising Him + thanking Him + honoring Him + rejoicing in Him + resting in Him + trusting Him will bring Him GLORY!
GLORIFY GOD!