The Salvation of God. Exodus 14:1-18 There was no doubt that the Lord was leading His people out of Egypt. He had delivered them and was now showing His presence with the cloud by day and fire by night, which went before them. The Israelites moved forward in orderly ranks, either "marching out boldly” or “with a high hand.” The places where they camped were chosen by the Lord. They traveled in one direction for a while, then received instructions from the Lord to change direction.
We can get so accustomed to doing things our way or going along the same path year after year that any change might feel wrong to us. Even when those changes are part of God's plan, they are hard for us to make. Human nature being what it is, when we get stuck in a routine, we tend to find comfort there and prefer to stay.
God's sovereign plans extend far beyond our limited understanding. It is crucial for us to stay committed to Bible reading and prayer so we can be prepared to adapt to life's changing circumstances. Our direction in these times comes from God. The scriptures provide examples to help us trust in God by focusing our hearts and minds on Him and His faithfulness. In these changing times, we can live confidently rather than in fear, resting in the unchanging God of our salvation.
God does not always do what we believe is best from our perspective. For the children of Israel, being led into a dead end from which they saw no escape caused despair, fear, and complaining. The people of God still had to learn that "without faith, it is impossible to please God." In its arrogant rejection of God, the world system thinks it can defeat God's people and will keep trying to claim victory over any child of God.
It is likely that Pharaoh and his servants knew that the Israelites appeared to be wandering aimlessly in the wilderness, not understanding that God was guiding them (the Egyptians) to a place where He would ultimately judge them for their wickedness and unbelief. When they decided they wanted their labor force back, they resolved to bring them back under armed guard. It would have been a small thing for Pharaoh, who was willing to kill baby boys, to kill many Israelites in order to have as many as possible return to work for them as slaves.
We must remember that we do not “wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers.” The wickedness of the powers of darkness is clear all around us today. Those who are “Bible-believing Christians” are often seen as intolerant bigots who refuse to accept the changing moral and spiritual decline of society and religion. Lest we forget who we are, God sometimes allows opposition to come against us to remind us that we belong to Him, not to this world.
The six hundred chariots, each with two men, along with all of Pharaoh's army, were no match for God. When those times come and it feels like the world is closing in on us, instead of complaining, we need to remember that God is for us. His past faithfulness assures us that the world and its sin do not have authority over us. When we place our trust in God alone, our confidence in Him reminds us that His salvation, which He has given us, is certain. "Salvation is of the Lord." He saves us by His own plan and power. A lack of faith in Him causes us to grieve. Full trust in Him brings deliverance.
The Israelites had boldly marched out of Egypt following their deliverance after the Passover, but they were terrified when the Egyptian army appeared. Up until this point, God had protected them even though they were in bondage. After the Passover, they left Egypt wealthy and full of confidence. The sight of Pharaoh’s army shook their faith in God, and fear took hold of their hearts.
How quickly do we forget the blessings of God when things don’t go as we want or expect? That is a common response when we fail to learn the lessons the first time. Some lessons need to be repeated many times before they truly sink in. If we focus on God’s unchanging faithfulness in the past, we can face difficult times with confidence.
From God came the words, "Fear ye not," when Israel wanted to go back to the world of slavery and domination by the ungodly. The flesh is an enemy that is always with us. The world is not. It cannot claim our allegiance unless we yield to the fears with which the flesh deceives us. When God said, "Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord," He was charging the children of Israel to listen to His word and put their faith in Him alone. Salvation had been promised to them on God's terms and in His way, not in their preconceived notions of what would happen. We have to learn those same lessons ourselves, lest we try to take things into our own hands. "Fear not," "Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord," precedes the charge to "Go forward."
There is a time to wait, a time to pray, and a time to move forward and act in faith. Praying for more guidance after already receiving it is just an excuse to avoid obeying in faith. Staying in comfortable situations or stalling in fear reflects doubt in God's guidance.
Pharaoh likely believed there was nothing more God would do. He might have even thought God had no further actions to take. The arrogance and deception of the world know no bounds unless God intervenes to halt the vain imaginations and malicious will of its evil intent. The world will pursue God's people, determined to overthrow those who follow the Lord. When we are called and willing to follow Him, He will protect us from behind and go before us to lead the way.
In a powerful declaration of faith, Moses said, “Do not be afraid. Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today!” His faith was strong, but there was an action he needed to take that could not be delayed. He had to act in faith by lifting up the rod and stretching out his hand over the water of the Red Sea.
The actions of faith are important in our lives because they take us to places we've never been and to do things we've never done. All of the signs in Egypt against Pharaoh, and for the learning of the children of Israel, still left them faithless when it came to knowing who God was. They had not yet admitted to God’s universal authority over them. We may have to be dealt with by God repeatedly until we admit that unseen things are more real and substantial than the things that are seen.
Unseen barriers are built between us and the world when we walk with the Lord and do His will. No one can touch God’s children without His permission. When He allows difficult things to happen to us, it is for a purpose rooted in His loving and gracious heart, which is often beyond our understanding. “Even so, Father, for so it seems good in Thy sight” reflects an attitude of faith.