5 Now it was told the king of Egypt that the people had fled, and the heart of Pharaoh and his servants was turned against the people; and they said, "Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?" 6 So he made ready his chariot and took his people with him. 7 Also, he took six hundred choice chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt with captains over every one of them. 8 And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the children of Israel; and the children of Israel went out with boldness. 9 So the Egyptians pursued them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen and his army, and overtook them camping by the sea beside Pi Hahiroth, before Baal Zephon.
10 And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the LORD. 11 Then they said to Moses, "Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt? 12 Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, 'Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians?' For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness." 13 And Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. 14 The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace." NKJV
Now we know that the people were not really fleeing. We know them to being quick in obeying what they were told to do when leaving Pharaoh and Egypt. (God knew Pharaoh would change his mind)
And of course, those serving Pharaoh were probably really upset in that whatever duties those Hebrew people held while in captivity were going to go to those who remained who served Pharaoh. Yes, trouble on the horizon!
Ever seen that today............? You know down-sizing in companies and those people remaining get NO increase in pay, but do twice or three times the work in a regular work day!
THEN we see in verse 6 that Pharaoh is making haste to get his chariot to "go"! He has those six hundred choice chariots and the rest that are mediocre type chariots. You know we have the grand made ones..........extra parts, extra quality put into them, and then those lesser quality made chariots....those probably made with a cheaper grade of wood, made with parts that were left off or out of the whole concept because they were " cheap". HE PURSUED THEM HOPING TO OVERTAKE THEM! Yes, he changed his mind.
Now, let's think about those fine Arabian horses that pulled those fine chariots. We know the Arabian to be fast although not as fast as an American quarter horse. Those Arabians are accustomed to the heat. They were used for many centuries and for great distances. So you have a well-bred animal for the desert.
Then of all things........yes,......the Lord had them go by the way of the wilderness instead of going by the shortcut through the land of the Philistines.
Sometimes it requires some amount of days, weeks and months to get the past out of our daily thinking. Sometimes we need to meditate on "those miracles" and give testimony of the truth that God is for us. But sometimes, the present is so embedded into our thinking, we need some time and exercise in knowing Him as the God Who performs miracles, and displays them in His power among His redeemed.
Psalm 77:13-15
13 Your ways, O God, are holy.
What god is so great as our God?
14 You are the God who performs miracles;
you display your power among the peoples.
15 With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
NIV
Read below about the long way around in the wilderness:
Exodus 13:17-22
17 Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, "Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt." 18 So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt. 19 And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had placed the children of Israel under solemn oath, saying, "God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here with you." 20 So they took their journey from Succoth and camped in Etham at the edge of the wilderness. 21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. 22 He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people. NKJV
So back to Pharaoh, fine chariots, and fine Arabians horses all on their way to bring you back to the brick making party with no straw.........and more work added..........that you have to look for your own straw! WOW!
Exodus 5:10-23
10 Then the slave drivers and the foremen went out and said to the people, "This is what Pharaoh says: 'I will not give you any more straw. 11 Go and get your own straw wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced at all.'" 12 So the people scattered all over Egypt to gather stubble to use for straw. 13 The slave drivers kept pressing them, saying, "Complete the work required of you for each day, just as when you had straw." 14 The Israelite foremen appointed by Pharaoh's slave drivers were beaten and were asked, "Why didn't you meet your quota of bricks yesterday or today, as before?"
15 Then the Israelite foremen went and appealed to Pharaoh: "Why have you treated your servants this way? 16 Your servants are given no straw, yet we are told, 'Make bricks!' Your servants are being beaten, but the fault is with your own people."
17 Pharaoh said, "Lazy, that's what you are--lazy! That is why you keep saying, 'Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.' 18 Now get to work. You will not be given any straw, yet you must produce your full quota of bricks."
19 The Israelite foremen realized they were in trouble when they were told, "You are not to reduce the number of bricks required of you for each day." 20 When they left Pharaoh, they found Moses and Aaron waiting to meet them, 21 and they said, "May the LORD look upon you and judge you! You have made us a stench to Pharaoh and his officials and have put a sword in their hand to kill us."
22 Moses returned to the LORD and said, "O Lord, why have you brought trouble upon this people? Is this why you sent me? 23 Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble upon this people, and you have not rescued your people at all." NIV
Yes, there was some trouble on the horizon! It was a day of maybe terror would you say to those who would not trust in God? The people were telling Moses, "why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt?' "Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians, for it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness." (Exodus 14:11-14) Even though they saw the miracles.........they did not lean on God. They just thought of what they left behind.
Exodus 14:13-1413 And Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. 14 The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace."
NKJV
Holding our peace can be hard..........that loose lips and speaking against what God has said, but that world can have a hold on our thought life. But God is telling them to hold their peace, that God the LORD would fight for them.
What frightens us from our past? What have we not let go, to revisit in the recesses of our minds?
Psalm 46:10-11
10 Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!
11 The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. NKJV
In this day and time, it is in the Lord that we will find our answers. It is getting still before Him, and quieting all those voices that say anything different than what God has said about you or me. Silence those emotions that may speak loudly, why lament, God is on the scene. Are you saved or you just the wandering one? Those who know their God will do exploits!
They will walk when they must walk and they will run when they must run.
3 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. NIV
Overcoming this world and the things of straw or lack is only in this world. But the things of God are spiritual, the lasting for an eternity, where we saw Jesus turn water into wine. Allowing God into our circumstances, allows us to stop looking back at Egypt and lack and look to the resources of God Who is enough for us. It is the place where the healed come back to give praise, the lame jump for joy, the blind see again to follow Jesus ......the Way, the Truth and Life!
Be still and become acquainted with God and allow revelation of His word overtake your life, and you will see the enemy defeated time and again for the Lord came to set the captives free. AMEN!
You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV
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