17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” 18 So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle.
19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear an oath. He had said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place.”
20 After leaving Succoth they camped at Etham on the edge of the desert. 21 By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. 22 Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.
14: 1 Then the LORD said to Moses, 2 “Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon. 3 Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.’ 4 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.” So the Israelites did this.
5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, “What have we done? We have let the Israelites go and have lost their services!” 6 So he had his chariot made ready and took his army with him. 7 He took six hundred of the best chariots, along with all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers over all of them. 8 The LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh King of Egypt, so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out boldly. 9 The Egyptians-all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots, horsemen and troops-pursued the Israelites and overtook them as they camped by the sea near Pi Hahiroth, opposite Baal Zephon.
10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the LORD. 11 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? 12 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!”
13 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. 14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
15 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on.
Exodus 13: 17 – 14: 1-15 (NIV)
Times of hardness are inevitable. Jesus even told us in John 16: 33: While you are in the world, you will have to suffer. But cheer up! I have overcome the world. So you shouldn’t be surprised when things get tough, when instead of traveling through the Philistine country which is the quickest route, you find yourself going around by the desert way toward the Red Sea. You may say, but the scripture says, He will not suffer my foot to be moved so why am I still struggling? Why do I not yet have this or that? Why am I still praying same old prayer and fighting same old battles? Why, why, why, oh why?
Let me start by saying that there is always a shorter way of getting to your destination, we have an example in our study text. There are a thousand and one other means you can use to get your answer, or have your needs met, you have options, you have a choice but unless you are smarter than God, I suggest you follow His lead.
Exodus 13:17 says that God led the people through the wilderness way, the hard way, the dry path ,the wasteland, the secluded area; and at same time tells us the reason why. So can God sometimes, lead us through hard places and tough situations? The answer is yes! Talk about the steps of a righteous man being ordered by God. David said:
Even if I go through the deepest darkness, I will not be afraid, Lord, for you are with me. Your rod and staff protect me. Psalms 23:4 (TEV)
So one thing is for sure, God is with you and He knows all about what you’re going through. There is a purpose for your storm. God in Exodus 14:3 explains the reason He led His people that way but the people did not know, read it! The Israelites didn’t know this, but God meant well and just like He predicted, Pharaoh thought the people were trapped and so he assembled his army in pursuit of them.
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 1 Corinthians 1:27 (NIV)
The scripture tells us that the Lord told them to encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea and the people obeyed. Your obedience to God positions you to receive His best and rest; when you disobey, you disqualify yourself from this benefit. So you need to be attentive to God and be willing to follow his directives.
Don’t be deceived by the enemy into believing that you are trapped. Listen to me, you are not trapped, you’re not shut in, there’s a way out, God has made a way of escape for you, you’re just camping and it’s part of God plan! Can I encourage you to say that with me? A camp is where people live temporarily in tents or huts. Friend can you see that this struggle is only for a season and it won’t last forever? The problem is that most of us begin to feel comfy rather than uneasy during our camping seasons but the devil is a liar! Let me tell you friend, the camp ground is not the same as the promised land; just know that it’s temporal not permanent and anytime from now, you could get moving!
As Pharaoh and his army approached, the scripture tells us that the people began to panic and they cried to the Lord for help. Don’t we often do that? You get a mail in the post that your creditor is taking you to court and you begin to blow in tongues ‘shanda – shandai’. The people cried but Moses prophesied. He said don’t be afraid, sounds like David, doesn’t he? He goes on to say, 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; the man of war Himself, the Lord Strong and Mighty in battle will fight for you, you just need to be still.
After this uplifting word from the man of God, God told him to tell the people to get moving! Your camping season is over, it’s time to get moving! You have dwelt between this hill and sea for so long, get up, pack up, get moving! I’m making a path for you in the river, get moving! I’ve set before you an open door that no man can shut, get moving! Friend, this is the word of the Lord for you today, what are you going to do?
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:19 (NIV)