If you ever got lost in the wilderness, who would you want with you? Bear Grylls comes to my mind, after God of course! If you’re in a spiritual wilderness and feeling abandoned, remember that God is always with us. We can find hope in this!
Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, and were chased by the Egyptians, and they were terrified. In those moments, Moses reassured them that God will fight for them and they will be rescued. This is the same source that will help you in your wilderness! Let’s find more hope & encouragement now, in Exodus chapter 14.
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Transcription:
If you ever got lost in the wilderness, who would you want with you? And I’m talking about humans now because of course, we would all say, God, I’m thinking Bear Grylls right? Somebody who could tell me which bugs to eat and which bugs not to eat, and where can we find clean water? Somebody like that. Well, when you and I find ourselves in a spiritual wilderness, you know who is always there. He’s got skills that Bear Grylls can only dream of. It’s the Lord Jesus. He has never left you to fight a battle alone. Hi, it’s Erica. Welcome to the Bible for Busy People. And yes, we’re exploring the wilderness today, the times in life where we feel dry, often abandoned, even though we are never abandoned. As you and I talked about last time, I want to encourage you to follow somebody on Instagram. Her name is Hannah Brencher. She’s an author and she writes, What grows in the wilderness doesn’t grow on the mountaintop. There are things happening beneath the surface of every wilderness story. There are bigger things taking root. There are ships and changes happening inside of you. And while you may think everything is on pause, this might end up being one of the most meaningful and fruitful periods of your life. Oh, those are words of hope to hold onto, aren’t they? You and I are studying the life of Moses right now. Moses was a man who experienced several seasons of wilderness. God led his mother to go against Pharaoh’s wishes and she spared his life. She went against the King of Egypt. God led Pharaoh’s daughter to the Nile where a baby in a basket floated by and he became her adopted son. Course Moses and I want us to pitch a tent here because we’re going to come back to this later. There’s something really special my husband pointed out on our walk yesterday that I just have to tell you about. But God led Moses through his mistakes. Yes, he murdered somebody, and to the burning bush that didn’t burn up, where God tapped him to lead the Israelites, his people out of Egypt, out of slavery. It’s a messy story, and I encourage you to read it in the Book of Exodus. It’s got plagues that you wouldn’t believe in. I’m sure that Moses was plagued with doubt during that time. Did God really call me to let these people, my people go? Is Pharaoh ever going to let us go? Well, finally, the King of Egypt said, fine, go. But then he changed his mind and he chased them down. So I want you to picture now before we pick up this riveting story in Exodus chapter 14, the people of Israel have finally been set free by the Lord God Himself. He organized this rescue through Moses and it’s incredible. Now they’re leaving, but all of a sudden they hear noise behind them. We pick it up in verse 10, Exodus 14 now.
As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them.
They’re literally being chased down.
They cried out to the Lord, 11 and they said to Moses, “Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt? 12 Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, ‘Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!’”
Have you ever felt like that? God, I’m too afraid to step out in faith. I’m too afraid to step out into this new thing you’re calling me to into this new freedom. You’re not alone. Verse 13.
But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. 14 The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” 15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving! 16 Pick up your staff and raise your hand over the sea. Divide the water so the Israelites can walk through the middle of the sea on dry ground. 17 And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they will charge in after the Israelites. My great glory will be displayed through Pharaoh and his troops, his chariots, and his charioteers. 18 When my glory is displayed through them, all Egypt will see my glory and know that I am the Lord!” 19 Then the angel of God, who had been leading the people of Israel,
Please note that an angel led them.
…moved to the rear of the camp. The pillar of cloud also moved from the front and stood behind them.
We’re going to talk more about that next time.
The cloud settled between the Egyptian and Israelite camps
Like the presence of God. separating them.
As darkness fell, the cloud turned to fire, lighting up the night. But the Egyptians and Israelites did not approach each other all night. 21 Then Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the Lord opened up a path through the water with a strong east wind. The wind blew all that night, turning the seabed into dry land. 22 So the people of Israel walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on each side! 23 Then the Egyptians—all of Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and charioteers—chased them into the middle of the sea. 24 But just before dawn the Lord looked down on the Egyptian army from the pillar of fire and cloud, and he threw their forces into total confusion. 25 He twisted their chariot wheels, making their chariots difficult to drive. “Let’s get out of here—away from these Israelites!” the Egyptians shouted. “The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt!” 26 When all the Israelites had reached the other side, the Lord said to Moses, “Raise your hand over the sea again. Then the waters will rush back and cover the Egyptians and their chariots and charioteers.” 27 So as the sun began to rise, Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the water rushed back into its usual place. The Egyptians tried to escape, but the Lord swept them into the sea.
Something I’ve never noticed before until this moment. Do you realize the Lord did this, just as the sun rose? Think about this… So the Israelites could literally see their deliverance from the Egyptians. I have chills. Something I want to come back to that I mentioned at the beginning. My husband and I were walking yesterday and talking about this story, and he said, do you realize that Moses was rescued as a baby, delivered out of the water, out of the Nile, and the Israelites were delivered out of the water just as the sun rose? As is dawning on me. Now, no pun intended, I believe that one day you will see your own deliverance, from the circumstances you find yourself in. The doubts and the fears that are chasing you down cannot stand before the Lord. You’re going to be filled with awe just like the Israelites. All right. Until next time, you are loved.
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