Studies in Exodus

Studies in Exodus Presentation 13

The Table of Contents Chapter 1v1-22 Introduction Chapter 2v1-25 Preparing a Deliverer Chapter 3v1-22 The Call of Moses [1] Chapter 4v1-17 The Call of Moses [2] Chapter 4v18-5v21 Final Preparations Chapter 5v22-6v27 Discouragement and Comfort Chapter 6v28-7v24 The Exposure of Evil Chapter 8-v1-10v29 Idolatry: A Dangerous Refuge Chapter 11v1-10 Corrective to Final Judgment Chapter 12v1-30 Blood on the Doorposts Chapter 12v31-42 God’s Faithfulness Chap.13v1-16 Consecration of The Redeemed Chap.13v17-14v18 God’s Dead Ends Chap.14v19-31 Power to Deliver Chap.15v1-21 The Exultation of God Presentation 13

God’s Dead Ends Chap.13v17-14v18 Presentation 13

Introduction I understand that one of the most commonly recurring nightmares is to find oneself being chased down a blind alley from which there is no obvious escape. There is no way over, round or through! That's when you wake up in a cold sweat and are grateful it was only a nightmare. But for Israel, on their way out of Egypt, the nightmare the real. They knew what it was to be trapped as Pharaoh and his forces swept down upon them. Panic was the order of the day. Presentation 13

God’s Dead Ends God’s Guidance People often find themselves in awful predicaments. They have gone against God’s instructions, made bad decisions and face the grim consequences. But no such charge could be levelled against Israel. She could claim that her predicament was of God's making! God had not steered Israel into Canaan via the Gaza strip but had led them in a south easterly direction and then the route was changed to a southerly one cf 14.2... They had followed God's beacon, the pillar of cloud, right down to the shore of the Red Sea. Presentation 13

God’s Dead Ends God’s Guidance After giving them permission to leave Pharaoh had decided to pursue Israel. All that filled the horizon of his thought was that he had lost his most valuable asset - his Hebrew slaves! He was intent upon either reclaiming or destroying them! There is a blindness and obstinacy in evil that brings about its own destruction, a lesson that Pharaoh was never able to learn. Israel were convinced they were trapped. But the trap was not Pharaoh’s, it was God's. Presentation 13

God’s Dead Ends God’s Guidance Israel did not see things that way. The plumes of dust on the horizon told them escape from Pharaoh was impossible. But Israel had followed God's path, and they had with them a token of God's presence. There was no mistaking the fact that they were exactly where God wanted them to be. Like Pharaoh, they too failed to realise that the trap was God's trap, they too failed to discern the hand of God. It is one thing to follow God's path and be assured of his presence it is quite another to discern his purpose! Presentation 13

God’s Dead Ends God’s Guidance Their nightmare was real but why had God brought Israel into this trap? First, it was to test Israel's faith. In the history of their deliverance Israel had already shown signs of the obedience of faith. But her faith as yet has not been tested. Faith is tested in crisis conditions. We often congratulate ourselves that our faith is strong and healthy when there are no setbacks, no difficulties or obstacles. And then God leads us into a situation where our backs are to the wall, there is no way out, or over or through. That was the test Israel faced. Presentation 13

God’s Dead Ends God’s Guidance We often want to understand the circumstances of our lives in terms of what God in doing in us or through us but God often works on a far larger canvas than that. God was determined to make a profound impression upon human history, to prove himself to Egypt and the surrounding nations that he was indeed the Lord of creation and the deliverer of his people. Presentation 13

God’s Dead Ends Israel’s Reaction How did Israel respond to the test of faith? Two quite different responses are on record. With the exception of one man the Israelites were gripped by terror v10... Terror is the great enemy of faith. When terror grips our minds and hearts, faith cannot function. Now whether we react to danger with faith or fear depends upon the focus of our concentration. Do we allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by dangerous circumstances or by our knowledge of God? Presentation 13

God’s Dead Ends Israel’s Reaction Whether or not we crumble or stand is determined by the focus of our concentration. This was a lesson that Peter was to learn as he walked on the sea of Galilee towards Jesus. Well the Israelites looked up and all they saw was Pharaoh and his army. That sight and that sight alone filled their horizon. Matthew 14.29-31 Presentation 13

God’s Dead Ends Israel’s Reaction Once fear paralyses our faith, unbelief then takes over with disastrous results. In the first place it distorts our understanding of God cf v11... By criticising Moses it is God they are criticising. The core of their criticism is that God doesn’t care and is indifferent towards them, that he has deceived them, that there future was not secure with God! Unbelief will first distort the character of God, and then criticise the grotesque caricature of God that it has created. Presentation 13

God’s Dead Ends Israel’s Reaction Secondly, unbelief distorts our perception of the past cf v12. Note what they are saying, "We were quite happy in Egypt, and didn't want to leave. You have brought us here against our will. Shame on you for bringing us into this fine mess." What! Had they so quickly forgotten the lash of the taskmaster and their heart-cry to God for deliverance? Unbelief distorts our perception of the past and by so doing abdicates any responsibility for the present. Presentation 13

God’s Dead Ends Israel’s Reaction Thankfully, there was one glorious exception in Israel. One man who was not gripped by fear, but governed by faith. Moses! Where did he focus his concentration? Did he not see the vice like jaws of the Egyptian war machine closing in upon them? Yes, but that was not his focus. The answer is found in Heb 11.27. What kept Moses from being driven to distraction and paralysed by fear. We read, "He endured as seeing him who is invisible". His knowledge of God's character, and faithfulness was his focus. Presentation 13

God’s Dead Ends Israel’s Reaction He saw above and beyond the hosts of Egypt to the God of faithfulness, who had led them along this path. He saw the cloud that assured him of the presence of God. He alone saw the trap to be God's trap! It was an opportunity to exercise faith and to see God at work in the salvation of his people thus bringing glory to his name. Listen to this man speak in v13.... What a blessing it is to have men and women of faith who can arrest the rot of unbelief. Look at Moses’ instruction in detail! Presentation 13

God’s Dead Ends Moses’ Instruction First, they are told “do not be afraid“ 14.13. This is one of the most frequent commands God gives to his people. Fear for the child of God is an unreasonable quality. If a God of faithfulness has bound himself to us and promised to save us and keep us, if all of the resources of the Godhead are at our disposal is fear a reasonable response? Presentation 13

God’s Dead Ends Moses’ Instruction We find the Psalmist saying, “The Lord is my light, whom shall I fear?” Ps.27v1 and again, “When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God whose word I praise, in God I trust, I will not be afraid, what can mortal man do to me?” Ps. 56.4 What does Paul ask, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” Rom. 8.31 In other words, “who of consequence is worth worrying about?” We are often unable to extricate ourselves from danger but we can get above our fears and this is what Moses required of this people. Presentation 13

God’s Dead Ends Moses’ Instruction Secondly, Moses commands them to ‘stand firm’ 14.13, to hold their ground. Fear produces panic and all sorts of feverish activity. Israel was to avoid the two most obvious courses that were open to them, fight and flight. They were learning an important biblical principle. God begins to work on our behalf only when we cease in our attempts at saving ourselves. Just as the lifeguard can do nothing to save us while we are thrashing about in the water so God will do nothing until we have exhausted our efforts at saving ourselves. When we realise we cannot, at that point God steps in and says, "I can". To stand still is to affirm our confidence in God. Presentation 13

God’s Dead Ends Moses’ Instruction Thirdly, Moses assures Israel that they will see the salvation of God. This battle was God's and he would do the fighting! How easy it is in the work of God to see all sorts of dangers and to panic and to make all sorts of contingency plans that are born not out of faith but out of unbelief. Presentation 13

God’s Dead Ends Moses’ Instruction After Israel settled in the promised land the Moabites and Ammonites led out a vast army against her. Godly king Jehoshaphat prayed, “O God ... we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do! BUT OUR EYES ARE UPON YOU!” 2 Chron20.12. Did he have the deliverance at the Red Sea in mind? How did God answer? "Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours but God's." v15 Similarly, Moses was saying leave the issues to God. He will deliver you! “The Lord will fight for you; you need only be still” v14. Presentation 13

God’s Dead Ends Moses’ Instruction The faith of one man helped sway the whole of Israel from unbelief to faith. Once a settled faith in God took up residence in their hearts they were ready for the next stage in God's plan cf v15... They were no longer standing still but crossing the parted waters. This time their activity was not born out of the panic and unbelief but of faith. cf Heb 11.29.... Presentation 13

God’s Dead Ends Conclusion Are you sometimes puzzled by the predicaments God seems to lead you into? The purposes of God are not always clear but they are always safe. We may not always see the part our God-created predicaments play in the larger canvas of God's design. We are not responsible for that. What we are responsible for however is our own response. God is constantly seeking to strengthen our faith as we fix our eyes on him in danger. Presentation 13

Studies in Exodus