We all know that life is hard sometimes, yet we are shocked every time something hard happens. Go figure.
I think it’s because we were never really meant to live like this. We were originally created to be in Eden and have a perfect relationship with God and those around us.
But we’re not in Eden anymore, my darling.
Hard things come.
But God knows everything from past to current and future circumstances. He knows where the pitfalls are gonna show up. He often warns us (if we are listening) and more often than not, tells us the ending of the story BEFORE we start the beginning on of it.
C’mon, let me show you what I mean…
The Back Story (Ex. 14)
Moses had lead the Israelites where God told him to. Then God said, ““Order the Israelites to turn back and camp by Pi-hahiroth between Migdol and the sea. Camp there along the shore, across from Baal-zephon. 3 Then Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are confused. They are trapped in the wilderness!’ 4 And once again I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will chase after you. I have planned this in order to display my glory through Pharaoh and his whole army. After this the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord!”
So that’s pretty clear.
- Secure camping spot.
- Pharaoh will think the Israelites are confused.
- I will harden Pharaoh’s heart and he will chase you.
- UNKNOWN
- I am gonna display my glory and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.
It says that the Israelites obeyed and went to the right location. Good for them!!! Part one -finished!
They didn’t have to do ANYTHING for part two. God just told them what was gonna happen – confusion for Pharaoh. Great – that was easy – Part two- finished!!
This is where it gets a little dicey.
Part three – I will harden Pharaoh’s heart and he will chase you. That means the Israelites have to run somewhere. But there wasn’t a place to run. SO… where do they get chased? That’s right – straight into the arms of the enemy? They thought the plan wasn’t great either… you can see it in their response:
10 As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the Lord… with a lot of irrelevant questions. Like:
“why did you bring us here” (God already answered that – so that the Egyptians would know that He is God – vs 4).
“Why did you make us leave Egypt?” (God already answered that, too. In Ex. 10:1-2, God said, “Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials so that I may perform these signs of mine among them 2 that you may tell your children and grandchildren how I dealt harshly with the Egyptians and how I performed my signs among them, and that you may know that I am the Lord.” 1. Tell the kids 2. YOU will know that I am the Lord.) Ya can’t tell the kids and know this if you’re DEAD! (so what’s the obvious conclusion here?????)
And “Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness?” God is saying, “who’s dying? I’m bringing YOU salvation!” God answered THAT too – way back in chapter 6. Check it out here:
6 “Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. 7 I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. 8 And I will bring you to the land I promised with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the Lord.” (Ex. 6) God affirmed his plan 7 times!!! This doesn’t sound like an execution for the Israelite, to me… just saying…
Ok, ok, we’ve heard the Exodus story 1000 times.
They hadn’t.
But God already TOLD them what was gonna happen – including the chasing and the heart-hardening stuff…
So why did they do so poorly in their belief? They knew better…
Wait a minute…
Why do I do so poorly, when God has been so clear with me?
Thoughts
Going back to that list that God told Moses
- Camp Location
- Confusion for Pharoah
- Hard Heart
- UNKNOWN
That’s where we (I say “we” because I don’t want to be the only one, but it IS likely that it’s just me…) biff it and throw our chins to the dirt and trip over pebbles.
WE DON’T KNOW what happens between hard hearts/hard situations and #5. salvation (a.k.a. displaying glory). We just hope there’s some kind of atomic bomb that goes off and we can skip to the end.
Generally, that doesn’t happen.
We usually have to acknowledge what God says about the situation and “hold fast to that revelatory experience all the way through the issue (Heb. 3:14) [and] at some point the problem will have to bow to Jesus because of His irrepressible and irresistible nature.” – Graham Cooke, Qualities of a Spiritual Warrior.
See that?
HOLD FAST!
Hold fast to the revelation (what God said in the beginning)
Don’t waver.
Choose security in the revelation rather than the growls around you.
Don’t look left or right
Keep looking in Jesus’ eyes.
Expecting ALL GOOD THINGS!
Hold. Fast.
So, what happened at the camp with the hard-hearted Pharaoh and space of unknown before salvation?
Moses reminded them of their up and coming salvation (Ex. 14: 13-14). 15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. “
There is a time for holding fast.
There is a time to move on.
This was the “MOVE ON!” time. The time they waited for, for centuries. This was the final and definitive move of salvation. THIS WAS IT!
The waters parted, the Israelites walked through, the elite Egyptian fighting forces (ALL of them) tried but fail and all died.
In no time (as compared to the centuries in slavery) they were safely on the other side, with their enemy GONE.
In a heartbeat, it was done.
In a blink.
How about you? Are you camping at a site that God has asked you to camp at – so He can position you to be a part of the greatest move of His glory that you’ve ever seen? Are you in the complaining stage or do you have faith like Moses? What has God told you all the way along? What has He asked you to do? How has He asked you to think? What provision can you praise Him for IN ADVANCE? (I’m not talking about wishful thinking, I’m talking about God’s revelations to you).
Pause before God.
Be honest before God.
But situate yourself to be ready to move when He tells you to! You don’t wanna miss the show!!!!