“The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.” EXODUS 15:9.

Wow, that is quite a statement but that is the plan Pharaoh had for the Hebrews as the fled from Egypt. Most know the story; Israel had been in held as slaves to Egypt for four hundred and thirty years.

A bondage that God had foretold Abraham about, and I believe was a result of Joseph being sold into slavery by his brothers but that is a thought for another post.  So, we know that God sent Moses to Pharaoh to inform him that God wanted them freed, and of course he refused. God starts sending the plagues on Egypt and each time Pharaoh agrees to free them only to change his mind once the plague had been stayed.

Now, the interesting thing with this story is that it was GOD who was hardening Pharaoh’s heart, that does not mean that God made Pharaoh evil, he was already wicked and cruel, but God made his heart even harder because he would become the perfect candidate for God to pour out his fury upon. With each plague God displayed his majesty, His power over all creation.

From controlling the tiniest of things, turning dust to gnats, sending locusts, frogs, flies, to controlling the grander of creation, displaying His power over water, and cattle, and sending hail, three days of darkness, sending boils and then His control over life itself, by sending death upon their firstborn. 

All of Egypt knew that there was none who could stand against the God of the Hebrews. And most certainly God wanted the Hebrews to understand this.

So, we’ll pick up at the Red Sea, they had been released and fled Egypt but now they see in the distance behind them the pursing armies of Pharaoh and they first cry unto the Lord and then complain to Moses, that they should have just stayed slaves in Egypt rather than die in the wilderness. Moses assures them that they would see the salvation of the Lord and that after that day the Egyptians they would see no more. This says a lot about stopping mid battle:

Exodus 14:15: ” And the Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore (Why) criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that THEY GO FORWARD” 

Ever feel like you fight the same battle over and over again? That when it seems victory has been won, only to see what is sneaking up behind you again? 

God wanted them to know and to understand that He and He ALONE was their deliverer and no matter how many times He triumphed over Pharaoh, they still failed to see this.

Some things we go through are necessary for our growth because God wants us dependent on Him and Him alone in all in all situations. I think if we were all to be honest, we have all been there and some of us (notice I said US) seem to go there often.

We will continue in that wilderness, hung up on whatever stumbling stone that is there until we grow enough, trust enough and react with the reaction that He has desired in us.

But He NEVER leaves us to our enemies, and He NEVER leaves stranded before those seas alone.

EXODUS 19-31 “And the angel of the God, which went BEFORE the camp of Israel, removed (moved) and went BEHIND them: and the pillar of the cloud with before their face, and STOOD BEHIND THEM:

And IT came BETWEEN the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel, and IT WAS A CLOUD OF DARKNESS TO THEM, but IT GAVE LIGHT BY NIGHT TO THESE; so that the one come not near the other ALL THE NIGHT.

And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and THE LORD caused the sea TO GO BACK by a strong east wind ALL THAT NIGHT; and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.

And the children of Israel went into THE MIDST OF THE SEA UPON THE DRY GROUND: and THE WATERS WERE A WALL UNTO THEM ON THEIR RIGHT HAND, AND ON THEIR LEFT.   

And the Egyptians pursued and went in after them to the midst of the sea, EVEN ALL PHAROAH’S HORSES, HIS CHARIOTS, AND HIS HORSEMEN.

And it came to pass, that IN THE MORNING WATCH, that the Lord looked unto the host of the Egyptians THROUGH the pillar of fire and of the cloud and troubled the Egyptians. And TOOK OFF THEIR CHARIOT WHEELS, that they drave (drove) them heavily.  so that the Egyptians said, LET US FLEE from the face of Israel FOR THE LORD FIGHTETH FOR THEM against the Egyptians.

And the Lord said unto Moses; Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength (full depth) WHEN THE MORNING APPEARED; and the Egyptians fled against it (tried to run away from it); and THE LORD OVERTHREW (SHOOK OFF) THE EGYPTIANS IN THE MIDST OF THE SEA.

And the waters returned, and COVERED the chariots, and the horsemen, and ALL the host of Pharaoh THAT CAME INTO THE SEA AFTER THEM; THAT THERE REAMINETH NOT ONE OF THEM.

But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters WERE a wall unto them on their right hand, on their left. Thus the Lord saved (delivered) Israel THAT DAY out of the hands of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptian’s dead upon the sea shore. And Israel SAW the great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians; and the people feared the Lord (stood in awe of Him) and believed the Lord and his servant Moses.”

We all battle and what is no problem for you may take me to my knees and something I could have the faith to move a mountain about could be the area that endlessly torments another.

But we all have Egyptians, Red Seas, and spiritual Pharaohs to deal with on our journey for the Lord. 

But as with these passages the Lord was telling them to just go, go on, and keep going FORWARD because of course they couldn’t turn because they would be running into the very thing they were running from.

God does not want us to run from anything.

He wants us to trust Him and know that even though it is dark, it is night, but that those waves are rocking. Even though you may not see what is going on in the spirit world rest assured that God is always at work, and He is setting things in motion to bring deliverance to your situation.

But only a deliverance and divine plan that leaves no doubt that it is the hand of God on your life. 

Sometimes the sea you think that you are going to drown in can be the very one that God uses to form walls of protection around you.

So don’t look back, don’t question, don’t complain, just trust and remember four hundred and thirty years was a very, very long time, but deliverance always comes with the morning.

Φλογίζω Σαλπιζω NB 2016 **REVISTED** 08/30/2022 Rev. N. Brown Johnson