#159 The Holidays Exodus 14

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baalzephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea.

3 For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in.

4 And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am the Lord. And they did so.

5 And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?

6 And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him:

7 And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them.

8 And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an high hand.

9 But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon.

10 And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord.

11 And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?

12 Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness. Exodus 14:1-12 KJV

He directs them to a place where they cannot run. It is a position of military suicide, but must have first appeared like a holiday at the beach. Everything is grand until there is turmoil; how quickly we forget God in times of good, and yet, once we are aware of Him, how quickly we place the blame upon Him. He has directed them there, but it was by His mighty hand that they are now out of Egypt. Is it distrust? Did He guide them thus far, only to turn His back upon His chosen? The glory of God is worth the exhausting of the mind. A man can put upon God those characterizations that relate to himself and those of rulers, but I should think not rightly so. The glory of God is not in arrogance, for no one has made Him. The pride of men is so fraught with delusion since they did not make themselves, yet feel entitled to so much. This place by the water would be the position of a fool, if you knew there was a pursuer, but this place of entrapment is of God's choosing. It is the doctrine of His glory, delivered to a people that have no where to turn or hide. They are surrounded, and as the Egyptians close in upon them, fear settles in and some look up for their deliverance. There is only one way, it is up. Others go after the messenger, "I told you so, why did you bring us to this, where is God now?" In a strange way, Pharaoh has become an idol to them. So great is their fear of him and the sight of his army, that they cannot see God in this. I shall have to ponder this, who is my Pharaoh? Who has become bigger than the Lord in my mind? 

7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.

8 They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.

9 Save, Lord: let the king hear us when we call. Psalm 20:7-9 KJV

But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity. 11Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 12I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.…Philippians 4:10-12

9 m“For my name’s sake I defer my anger,

for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you,

that I may not cut you off.

10 Behold, I have refined you, nbut not as silver;

oI have tried1 you in the furnace of affliction.

11 pFor my own sake, for my own sake, I do it,

for how should my name2 be profaned?

qMy glory I will not give to another. Isaiah 48:9-11