6/3/2018
The Exodus of God’s People-Pt 15
Exodus Through The Sea
God Sovereignly Controls ALL Circumstances
Exodus 14:1-4 The Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites to turn back & encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol & the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon. Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.’ I will harden Pharaoh’s heart & he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for Myself through Pharaoh & all his army & the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.” So the Israelites did this.
Actions Done In Anger Always Result In Wrong Action
Exodus 14:5-7 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh & his officials changed their minds about them & said, “What have we done? We have let the Israelites go & have lost their services!” So he had his chariot made ready & took his army with him. He took six hundred of the best chariots, along with all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers over all of them.
God’s People Frequently Fear Earthly Power More Than The Power Of God
Exodus 14:8-10 The LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out boldly. The Egyptians–all Pharaoh’s horses & chariots, horsemen & troops–pursued the Israelites & overtook them as they camped by the sea near Pi Hahiroth, opposite Baal Zephon. As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up & there were the Egyptians, marching after them! They were terrified & cried out to the LORD.
Convictions Dictated By Circumstance Opt For Slavery Over Freedom
Exodus 14:11-12 They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”
Trusting In God’s Strength Will Drive Away Fear
Exodus 14:13-14 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
God’s People Must Act Upon What They Know
Exodus 14:15-17 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the Israelites to move on. Raise your staff & stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. I will gain glory through Pharaoh & all his army, through his chariots & his horsemen.
God’s Protection Goes With Us Until Our Deliverance Is Realized
Exodus 14:19-20 Then the angel of God, Who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew & went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front & stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt & Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side & light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long.
God’s Deliverance Is Ahead of Us!
Exodus 14:21-22 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, & all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind & turned it into dry land. The waters were divided & the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right & on their left.
Madness Possesses Those Who Fight God
Exodus 14:23-25 The Egyptians pursued them & all Pharaoh’s horses & chariots & horsemen followed them into the sea. During the last watch of the night the LORD looked down from the pillar of fire & cloud at the Egyptian army & threw it into confusion. He made the wheels of their chariots come off so that they had difficulty driving. The Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites! The LORD is fighting for them against Egypt!”
God’s Dealing With His Enemies Is Utterly & Thoroughly Complete
Exodus 14:26-28 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians & their chariots & horsemen.” Moses stretched out his hand over the sea & at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward it, & the LORD swept them into the sea. The water flowed back & covered the chariots & horsemen, the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived.
Romans 9:22-24
God’s People Will Come To Total Trust In Him (Eventually)
Exodus 14:29-31 But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right & on their left. That day the LORD saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians & Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. When the Israelites saw the great power the LORD displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD & put their trust in Him & in Moses His servant.