I felt to share with you part of what I preached on in the church here on
Sunday.
I hope it will encourage you.
Love,
Barb
God leads us in the "right way"! It may look wrong, confused and
impossible, but it is right and it is best!
Ex
13:17-18
17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road
through the Philistine country, though that was shorter.
For God said, "If they face war, they might change their minds and return to
Egypt."
18 So God led the people around by the
desert road toward the
Red Sea (seemingly impossible situation). The
Israelites went up out of
Egypt armed for battle.
They went out of
Egypt armed for battle, but
God knew that they were not ready for the battle yet. He knows what we
need and what we can handle. What might look shorter or easier to us, is
not the best way, not God's way.
Ex 14:1-4
14:1 Then the LORD said to Moses, 2 "Tell the
Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth,
between Migdol and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite
Baal Zephon. 3 Pharaoh will think the Israelites are wandering around the
land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.' 4 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."
So the Israelites did this.
God told the Israelites to turn back and go in a different way. Did God
make a mistake, was God confused? No, but he wanted Pharaoh to think they
were confused.
God hardened Pharaoh?s heart....... but God would get the glory. God was
the one who led them into this impossible situation.
God locked them in..... BUT God had the key........ the way out
Moses instructed the people...
Ex
14:13-14
13 Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you
will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you
see today you will never see again.
14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." 15
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to me? Tell the
Israelites to move on.
Moses told them not to be afraid or discouraged, not to be moved by the
circumstances around them, but to be still, calm and at peace and to go
forward with confidence in God. He was with them.
I can't give the whole message here, but if you read the rest of the
deliverance, you see that God came between them and the Egyptian army, he let
the Egyptians follow them as far as he wanted them to and then destroyed the
Egyptians when we had them where he wanted them.
God has a plan ?
He knows the enemy (their heart and their plan against you)
He knows you (what you are ready for, what you need)
He is not confused (even when it looks that way, he has a
plan)
He knows what is best!
God doesn?t take short cuts or the easy way, he takes the best way,
the way of victory and glory.
The way that is best for us
The way that will bring him glory to him
The way that will cause others to know he is God
