Shema – Why Egypt? …Concluded
Exodus 13:17
Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by 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.” 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.
After so many years of slavery one would think that God would help His children go to the promised land by the shortest way, but here we read that He did not lead them by the shortest way.
What could the reason possibly be for this great God that could so easily take them straight from the slavery, give them victory over the Philistines and directly into the promised land? God said “If they see the threat of war they might return to Egypt so He lead them through the wilderness.”
Who appreciates the wilderness? Who sees the reason of the wilderness? Who doesn’t question God’s presence in the wilderness? From Slavery to wilderness – it just sounds wrong – shouldn’t it be from Slavery to freedom entering the promised land?
But who of us can really understand the will of God? Who of us can really understand His ways and His heart? Was He trying to punish them by taking them the long way around instead of letting them settle in the promised land?
By no means, no!!! His heart was not to punish them or make them suffer any more than they already had. When we know God and trust Him with our lives we come to realise that everything that He does is for a reason. Many times we do not understand these reasons – we might even disagree with what He is busy doing. But having committed our lives to Him we declare that we will follow even if we do not understand, we pledge to trust beyond reason and beyond understanding because we know that He is our God and our Father and He is bigger than anything that we might know or think about. He knows the way ahead.
Did He leave them in the wilderness?
Exodus 13:21 & 22
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. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people.
He was there, He never left. By day He covered them with a cloud and by night He lit the way by fire.
The quick and seemingly easy way that we want to travel is not always the way that God wants to lead us, we have a choice. We can either follow Him or we can follow our own wisdom.
1 Corinthians 3:18 & 19
Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.
In the wilderness God was very present with them and His voice very clear.
Exodus 14:4
Then I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, so that he will pursue them; and I will gain honour over Pharaoh and over all his army, that the Egyptians may know that I am the Lord.” And they did so.
Pharaoh decided to pursue the children of Israel but God warned them beforehand so that they could prepare their hearts with faith at the knowledge that God was going to deliver them. But even after receiving the warning of God they still became afraid and doubted that God will deliver them and be their Saviour.
Exodus 14:13 & 14
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. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”
God delivers us out of bondage but it takes obedience for us to move out of “Egypt” – the place of fear and entrapment. Once we are out of “Egypt” and our enemy pursues us we have to stand in faith and not fear so that He can completely deliver us, not only from the place of our past slavery but also the mindset and stronghold of our past slavery. He wants to completely destroy our enemies in our presence so that we may see and experience His deliverance and protection.
Many times we might feel that God leads us into Egypt and we do not understand why, but there comes a time that God brings us out and delivers us again and completely destroys our enemies that has held us captive.
He fights on our behalf and he gives us freedom from our captivity.
Much love
Jacques and Chanelle Nel Israel