1-27-15. Exodus 14:15-31. Keep In Step With The Spirit And Move Forward-my devotional

Exodus 14:15-31                                                     Kevin E. Jesmer

Key Verse: 14:15                                                    1-27-15

“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on.”

Part 1: It Is Time To Get Out Of Our Ruts And Make A Move (15-18)

In this passage we learn how a person, or a group of people, can get out of a rut and experience deliverance from an impossible situation. Look at Exodus 14:15-18, “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. 16 Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. 17 I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. 18 The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.”

The Lord began their movement to freedom in five ways….

First, stop crying. In verse 15 God asked Moses, “Why are you crying out to me?” From God’s point of view the time of complaining and grumbling, by the Israelites, was over. The time for obscuring hesitation with prayer was over. It was time for the people to begin their move. But, oh how hard it would be! Our complaints and grumbling have validity. We like to linger in hesitancy. But there is a time in life, when we just have to stop complaining and hesitating and thank God and decide to move forward by his command. Getting stuck in a rut, because of complaints, is never the answer.

Second, it is time to move. The Israelites just could not just stand their twiddling their thumbs. They needed to move and move now. If they refused, they would be destroyed. This reminds me of the Jesus’ commands to the disciples in Acts 1:9-11 which reads, “⁹ After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. ¹⁰ They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ¹¹ “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” The disciples had just spent time with the Risen Jesus. They were commissioned to be Jesus’ witnesses to vast, dark, wild and dangerous world. They didn’t know what to do. They hesitated. It was a very scary command to obey. The angel asked them, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky?” (11a) It was like they were saying, “Why are you standing around, hesitating like that? Get yourselves together and go and be my witnesses. Go now!”  But they needed to obey it and obey it immediately. The welfare of the whole world was at stake. The birthing of the Christian church was at stake. Their own spiritual lives were at stake. The disciples needed to stop looking up into the sky and do what God called them to do.

Third, the servant of God needed to stand up, inspire and lead. Moses was commanded to take his stand, obey God and lead the people in God’s way. God told Moses to raise his staff. God would work through this act of faith to divide the water and lead the Israelites through on dry ground. Moses didn’t calculate thinking, “What good is my raising my arm and staff going to do? I am an old man. My arm is going to hurt.” He stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind. Moses just did it by faith. God calls some people to stand up as leaders. Their task is never easy. But God will strengthen them to embrace difficulties.

Fourth, trust the Lord. God would harden the Egyptian’s hearts with prideful self-confidence, and they would follow Israel into the sea–to their death. God would be glorified in victory. Essentially, God would work, psychologically, in the minds of those who sought to destroy the people of God. If we are ever going to get out of a rut, we need to trust God to work on all fronts, even in the hearts of our enemies.

Fifth, take the first step. The Israelites had to step into the Red Sea. The time to stand still was over. It was time to move on in obedience to God’s command. This was so difficult to do. The sea was ahead of them and the Egyptian army was advancing from behind. Terror struck their hearts. The wind was blowing, and there was a wall of water on the right and on the left. Even though the way was open, it took faith to walk into the sea. Maybe the walls of water would collapse. They overcame their fear by faith, and they crossed the Red Sea on dry ground (14:21,22). It was all by faith in God. (Heb 11:29).

They learned a spiritual secret of obedience through this whole event. Obedience to God is the way to freedom and deliverance and disobedience is the way to destruction. It is that simple. Coupled to obedience is trusting in the Lord always. They learned to march forward at God’s command even though the circumstances looked impossible. It revealed their faith and their trust.

Everyone has a Red Sea to cross. We must see the way God’s hand open the way, and cross all of our Red Seas by faith. This goes for individuals and for a nation.

Always remember, it is not all about our decisions and our obedience. There is the overflowing grace of God. It is our natural tendency to not trust God. We don’t want to take that step into the unknown, even if we are told it is the best way and only way, by God himself. We don’t want to stand up as a spiritual leader so others may be inspired to obey.

But God is gracious. He is knows and understands our weaknesses. He is forgiving. He is right there with us to inspire; to infuse us with his life giving power. He is the vine; we are the branches, receiving his life into our souls. By his grace leaders will take a stand. By his grace people will listen and obey the Lord. By his grace God’s people will take the first step into the unknown. By the grace of God they will be delivered, despite their weaknesses. God will lead us through every Red Sea until we meet our final Red Sea, death. God will lead us through this also, all the way into the eternal Kingdom of God.

Part 2: Keep In Step With God And He Will Deliver His People (19-31)

In this passage we see all the players working together in unison to bring about a great victory. It is so important that we keep in step with the Spirit of God. Of course God will help us to do so as we remain in Christ. Let’s learn more in Exodus 14: 19-31, “19 Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, 20 coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long. 21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, 22 and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. 23 The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea. 24 During the last watch of the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. 25 He jammed the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt.” 26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.” 27 Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward it, and the Lord swept them into the sea. 28 The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived. 29 But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. 30 That day the Lord saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. 31 And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.”

The Lord was not finished. He wanted to completely deliver his people from slavery and gain glory over Egypt. The Egyptians continued in hot pursuit. They were well-equipped with chariots and swift horses. But God himself protected Israel. An angel of the Lord and the pillar of cloud moved between the Israelites and the advancing Egyptians. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long. Moses obeyed the Lord and stretched out his hand, and the waters divided. The Israelites went through the sea on dry ground. When the Egyptians pursued, the heavy Egyptian chariots got stuck in the sand. The wheels came off. The Egyptians said, “Let’s get out of here! The Lord is fighting for Israel against Egypt.” But it was too late. Read 14:28. “The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen–the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived.” The two walls of water collapsed and covered their chariots and horses and men. They tried to escape, but were thrown into confusion and were destroyed. That day God saved Israel from the Egyptians and set his people free to go forth and be established as a holy nation. God also gained glory for himself over the Egyptians.

God said, “I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord…” (14:17b-18) His glory is revealed when people see his great power and fear him. Read verse 31. “And when the Israelites saw the great power the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.” They trusted and respected God. That is the right condition of heart that the people needed so that God could train and discipline them to grow as his holy people. The Egyptians would know that the God of the Israelites was the one true God, the one that they should worship, serve and adore. (and not their false gods.) Maybe a small percentage of the ancient Egyptians would turn to God and he saved. We too need to behold the glory of Jesus and fear God, that is, having a heart to worship and respect him. Then Jesus can grow and mature us as his disciples.

I can see some important facts to hold onto as live by faith in this world.  First of all, God, the angels, the servant of God Moses and the people were all working in unison. The angel placed himself between the Israelites and the Egyptians. God placed the pillar of fire there too. The people decided to proceed. Moses decided to raise his arm and his staff as the Lord directed. God worked in the Egyptians hearts and minds. God kept the water in place for the Israelites to pass and at the right moment he released it over the Egyptians. In the end, the Israelites were saved, and God was glorified and a new chapter in the history of faith was unfolding.

The principle we see here is that we need to keep in step with the Spirit (Gal 5:25) and proceed as the Lord leads. We need to know the role that we are called to play and play it well, along with God and those allied with him. If any of the components in this equation did not step up to the plate and “play ball” then would the Israelites be delivered? God only knows. Of course God’s will would unfold according to his plan no matter what. We can trust that.

I can also see that God was protecting them all the way to freedom. He was fighting for them. God is our protector. When God called Abraham, he gave him a wonderful promise. Part of that promise was the promise of protection. In Genesis 12:1-3, “The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

When Abraham was setting out to an unknown place, Lot left him. Abraham felt especially vulnerable. But God came to him and said, “After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: ‘Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.’” (Gen 15:1)

When Jesus sent his disciples out into the world to preach the Gospel, he promised to be with them in the words of the Great Commission. Matthew 28:18-20 reads, “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Jesus promises to be with his disciples to the very end of the age, as they engage in his mission. Part of being with them is protecting and leading.

If God is for us who can stand against us? (Romans 8:31) We need not fear. Christ and his angels will be with us and guide us. Servants of God will be brought into our lives by Christ to mentor, lead and inspire. We will not perish even one day sooner than we were destined to leave this world. God will bring us all the way to the Kingdom of God. Until then we keep in step with the Spirit and follow the Lord where he leads. Remember the words of the hymn, “Where he leads I’ll follow…follow everyday. Where he leads I’ll follow…follow all the way. Where he leads I’ll follow…follow Jesus every day.” We can follow because Jesus is with us, leading and guiding and protecting. That is one of the few sure things in this world that we can hold onto.

Prayer: “Lord, so often I am in a spiritual rut that I can not get out of. There are things that assail my heart and mind that I can not be free from. Help me to trust in you and follow your leading. Help me to keep in step with your Spirit. I know you are with me and working to set me free. Thank you.”

One Word: Keep instep with the Lord. He will save and deliver.