We have now seen the Israelites trapped between the Red Sea on one side and the pursuing Egyptian army on the other. They began to become filled with fear and think irrationally and responded by questioning their leader Moses, and even God himself. Let's look at how God responded to their fear, and how he responds to our fear today.
God's response to the troubled Israelites was not one that we imagine of the typical loving and king Father. However, his response was quite fair and just. The Lord said to Moses, "Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward" (Ex 14:15). God was not ignoring the cry of his people, nor was He turning his back on them. God had already promised to deliver them and He had shown them his power over nature, Pharaoh, and all the false gods of Egypt. The cry of the Israelites at this juncture demonstrated their lack of faith. This is the same God who in Exodus 2:23-24 heard the cries of the people groaning because of their slavery. He answered their cries then and would do so now. When we don't know what to do, sometimes we are to wait on God, be still, and remember who He is (Psalm 46:10).
Even with the lack of faith by the people, God in his grace continues with his plan for their freedom and rescue. He commands Moses to lift up his staff over the sea and divide it so that the people may walk across on dry ground (Ex 14:16). Pause here and think about why God decided to save the Israelites this way. We can imagine a hundred different ways that He could have led them to freedom or blocked the Egyptian army. But God chose to save them in such a miraculous way that people would be talking about it still centuries later. God did it His way so that all people would see the He alone is the one true God, He alone is the only One deserving of glory (Ex 14:17-18). "These miracles demonstrate God's kindness, not only in going to great lengths to save His people from harm, but also in demonstrating His glory such that they would be moved to trust Him alone. There is nothing kinder God can do for us than to produce faith in our hearts." The unfortunate part is that it often takes trials and difficult circumstances like these to strengthen our faith.
But God's not done yet. In verse 19, the angel of God who was in the form of a cloud, moves from in front of the Israelites to behind them. The angel shifted from leading the people by being out in front, to being the rear guard and protecting the people from the pursuing army. God knows what we need and when we need it. Have you ever been going through life and looking ahead to where God is, but were unable to see Him? Fear not, He has not left you. He may merely be protecting you from a pursuing danger. As a father, I will let my son struggle at times with things like putting his train tracks together so the he can learn how to do it himself without my leading. But I never leave his side or lose watch over him in a dangerous situation. You cannot convince me that I, in all my faults, weaknesses, and struggles, can do these things and that our all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-present God is not and cannot do the same and much more.
God responds to our fears in his grace by producing faith in Him and achieving glory for Himself.
God's response to the troubled Israelites was not one that we imagine of the typical loving and king Father. However, his response was quite fair and just. The Lord said to Moses, "Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward" (Ex 14:15). God was not ignoring the cry of his people, nor was He turning his back on them. God had already promised to deliver them and He had shown them his power over nature, Pharaoh, and all the false gods of Egypt. The cry of the Israelites at this juncture demonstrated their lack of faith. This is the same God who in Exodus 2:23-24 heard the cries of the people groaning because of their slavery. He answered their cries then and would do so now. When we don't know what to do, sometimes we are to wait on God, be still, and remember who He is (Psalm 46:10).
Even with the lack of faith by the people, God in his grace continues with his plan for their freedom and rescue. He commands Moses to lift up his staff over the sea and divide it so that the people may walk across on dry ground (Ex 14:16). Pause here and think about why God decided to save the Israelites this way. We can imagine a hundred different ways that He could have led them to freedom or blocked the Egyptian army. But God chose to save them in such a miraculous way that people would be talking about it still centuries later. God did it His way so that all people would see the He alone is the one true God, He alone is the only One deserving of glory (Ex 14:17-18). "These miracles demonstrate God's kindness, not only in going to great lengths to save His people from harm, but also in demonstrating His glory such that they would be moved to trust Him alone. There is nothing kinder God can do for us than to produce faith in our hearts." The unfortunate part is that it often takes trials and difficult circumstances like these to strengthen our faith.
But God's not done yet. In verse 19, the angel of God who was in the form of a cloud, moves from in front of the Israelites to behind them. The angel shifted from leading the people by being out in front, to being the rear guard and protecting the people from the pursuing army. God knows what we need and when we need it. Have you ever been going through life and looking ahead to where God is, but were unable to see Him? Fear not, He has not left you. He may merely be protecting you from a pursuing danger. As a father, I will let my son struggle at times with things like putting his train tracks together so the he can learn how to do it himself without my leading. But I never leave his side or lose watch over him in a dangerous situation. You cannot convince me that I, in all my faults, weaknesses, and struggles, can do these things and that our all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-present God is not and cannot do the same and much more.
God responds to our fears in his grace by producing faith in Him and achieving glory for Himself.
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