Text: Exodus 14:1-31
“Why, God? Why are you taking us here? We were better off before! Why can’t you just leave us alone?” [v. 11-12, my paraphrase]
The Israelites had to be weary. Can you imagine? Centuries of slavery. An entire history of bondage. In light of God’s dramatic rescue, the lament in verses 11-12 sounds ungrateful, even hateful. But I hear more in their voices. I hear fear. Fatigue. Confusion.
O, God, why? After all we’ve been through, why this?
Friends, is this not us?
Each of us lives in a specific brokenness today, a place from which we cannot fathom freedom. Eventually, we learn our way around the darkness. There are times it feels so familiar we’d just as soon stay there as venture into freedom’s light.
Our weariness sighs, Lord. Can’t you leave good enough alone?
The Israelites were terrified. As my pastor points out, they hadn’t seen the movie. They didn’t know what was coming. And in the Moses moments of our own lives – when we are asked to believe what we cannot see, to walk in a way that seems beyond impossible – we don’t know what’s coming either.
This is where Redemption’s work is done. Right here, in our fear and helplessness. Right here, among the broken and weary.
If Moses were in the middle of our impossible mess with us today, he might say something like this:
“Don’t be afraid. Stand up and look! The Lord, He will work out your rescue, you just watch. He will fight the battle for you, and he always wins. You don’t have to say a word.” [v. 13-14, my paraphrase]
The Israelites’ doubt and forgetfulness did not disqualify them from God’s redemption and promise. Neither did their past sin – even their future sin! – keep them from God’s rescue. God wrote the story. They had only to walk in it.
How is God redeeming you today? How has he paved the way for your fresh start? Let’s not sabotage our Moses moment by touting our goodness or cowering in darkness. Let us quiet our hearts and watch as God, full of grace, fights daily for our hearts. And wins.
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62 thoughts on "God redeems the israelites, a people who will need a continual fresh start"
Been feeling a discouragement I haven't felt in probably 10 years. I can actually pinpoint the time and moment i felt like this. But I'm older now and know that these are emotions/a phase that too shall pass. This morning I heard the song "Whom Shall I fear" by Chris Tomlin. I've heard it many times before but today it so resonated with me. I'm at a cafe reading this devotional and just knowing that God is telling me that He is fighting for me…..and I KNOW He will Win! Thank you
My one thought is……think of the small things God asks us to follow and how that measures up to crossing the Red Sea.
The Lord always wins. We don't even need to say a word. I love this reminder.
How revealing to see myself so much like the isrealites!God brought is in a most miraculous way to a new country and like He told Issac He told us He will bless us in this land. But because of all the challenges we are passing through now I often time loose sight of the promise,tend to look back at our old life and ask God why He didn’t leave us alone. I’m encouraged today.Thanks
I love this – God wrote the script – all we have to do is WALK IN IT……Amen and AMEN! I pray that as i walk the journey He has written for me this day that i can magnify HIM in all that i do and say. Thank you Lord Jesus for saving my soul…..Thank you Lord Jesus for making me whole!
The Lord will fight for me, but I need to be still! For so long, I was the one that held all things together and when I could no longer do so, I felt hopeless and fearful, and I eventually grew weary to the point to where I feel like I'm having a mental breakdown. I now know that the Lord had to allow me to be broken so that I can redeemed in Christ who has provided a means all this time. It wasn't me, it was the Lord. I stopped giving credit where credit was due and the Lord had to show me that it is through his power and love that mountains have moved on my behalf. It's sad to say, but I got boastful about the things I had done and acquired but it wasn't by my work alone….the Lord had his hand all up in it :)
I know I’m late in reading this. But I was struck by even their doubt and forgetfulness did not disqualify them from God’s redemption or promise. How reassuring!
"Moses moments" — love it! Write my story, dear Lord. Please keep teaching me to walk in it, according to the path You have laid out for me. You will not allow me to fall. Remind me to step aside and allow You to fight for me. Remind me to be still. Praise You and all Your glory!
wow…what a wonderful message. thank you so much for sharing
I know I’m a day late to this conversation, but this is just what I needed tonight. I just had my first baby on Wednesday, and after 70 hours of unmedicated labor and a disappointing emergency ceaserean, the themes of fear, fatigue, and doubt hit really close to home right now. I was encouraged today when a friend shared this song by Sandra McCracken, based on Psalm 121. His strength is made perfect in our weakness, sisters. What a blessed relief!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baRmxdzTwU4&app=desktop
I'm late reading this too, Katie. Sending a prayer for you and your little one…just a week old! I hope you are feeling better, both physically and spiritually. Take time to read these devotions, even though sleep deprived and weary. I'll be keeping you in prayer.~ Melissa
What baffles me in this passage is how God hardened Pharaoh's heart and the hearts of his Egyptian soldiers in order to bring himself glory. He purposefully turned people against Himself so that a whole other people could be saved: the Israelites. This reiterates that God has not just eyes for the "now" (what we are seeing everyday), but for the future glory the happenings of "now" will bring him. My question is, though, if God purposefully hardens hearts against him, then those people clearly will not accept Him nor Jesus. So when they die, are they exempt from the kingdom of Heaven, even though the Lord was the one who kept them in unbelief?
This year is a Brand new Year, which means new beginnings. This year, if we learn how to really trust God no matter what happens to us in our life, we will be so much better off and will be so much more at peace. God will never put more on us than we can bear. He will always give us the strength we need just when we need it.
I love how vs14 reads in the NIV: "The Lord will fight for you; you need only be still". & 13, "do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring to you today"
I trust His word. Amen.
"The Israelites’ doubt and forgetfulness did not disqualify them from God’s redemption and promise." I am so thankful for God's grace and mercy. I only can pray that I'm able to treat others with the same grace and mercy…
I love this verse- Exodus 14:14 "The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent." God just laid a foundation for their entire journey ahead. Fear not – Stand Firm – Just be silent – Walk forward – See God's great power and glory – Fear The Lord
Oh, Amanda this reflection on Exodus is just what I needed this morning! This IS where redemption's work is done. Oh how I love this story of Moses!
Sorry I don’t usually so this but it confirms what Amanda wrote here and this may help someone else. The following is my other Devo for today:
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1, by Os Hillman
01-11-2014
“God has a reason for everything He does. When the people were freed, God again hardened Pharaoh’s heart to go after them. This action of God to harden Pharaoh’s heart was to set the stage for an even greater miracle — the parting of the Red Sea. The people were angry with Moses for bringing them to the desert “to die.” But God said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the Israelites to move on” (Ex. 14:15b). There was only one place to go by this time — the Red Sea. God parted the Red Sea, and another greater miracle took place. Moses learned several lessons that each of us must learn. God’s promises are true, but His timing is not the same as ours. God always wants greater glory than what we might be willing to give Him. God puts obstacles and adversity into our lives in order to build perseverance and faith. Why has God put the mountain in your life at this time? To demonstrate His power through your life. To show His glory.”
Today God Is First (TGIF) devotional message, Copyright by Os Hillman, Marketplace Leaders.
As I continue to trust God and be still, The Lord will flood out my tribulations with His living waters (Holy Spirit) amen.
"God wrote the story. They had only to walk in it." What beautiful, strengthening words to hear! It feels like a breath of fresh air. Lord, as I continue to give all to you, I pray you'd help me to walk in all you've written for me. Replace fear of these waters around me with firm ground and boldness in my heart; replace disdain and brokenness with love and healing. You are a good, glorious God. Help me to walk in that today and the days and weeks to come.
"The Israelites’ doubt and forgetfulness did not disqualify them from God’s redemption and promise. Neither did their past sin – even their future sin!
– keep them from God’s rescue. God wrote the story. They had only to walk in it." This really spoke to me. I get so fearful that if I lack faith, if I sin, god will say, "that's it. I'm not redeeming her anymore." But that's not our God! Alleluia! Also, god said he would do all this to display His glory. Alleluia for that too!
Same here, sister! Praise Jesus!
God is so faithful in delivering us. But not in our time, or in our way, it's in his way which is always higher than ours. I understand this so much more now. I had been plagued with GI issues for years now I would randomly wake up in the middle of the night and be sick for hours. This past September some friends and I prayed for my healing and that I wouldn't be content with this affliction. I prayed and it was the first time I stood in faith for my healing. Literally 30 hours later I was the sickest I had ever been. I had to be taken to the emergency room and was sick for days without being able to eat any food. On top of that, the Doctor's couldn't figure out what was wrong with me. I had that "Lord why can't you leave well enough alone" moment but then I remembered Job and decided to draw near to and praise God in the midst of the pain. I grew so much closer to the Lord during those days of sickness, so far from healing.
After months of tests by a GI specialist they still didn't know what was wrong with me and since I didn't get sick again they decided to just leave me be. On Dec. 19th, a week after the specialist said I was basically ok, I got terribly sick again. This time however, I was home with my mother for Christmas and she took me to the hospital that she works at. The doctors knew exactly what was wrong with me and they scheduled me for an emergency surgery that same day with the best surgeon (my mom knew all the surgeons). Long story short the Lord did heal me. Not in the way I would have ever thought or when I would have thought but his ways are so much higher than mine and my faith is strengthened. I was able to be healed spiritually, receive the care of my mother, and see His hand in everything, right down to the travel insurance that i uncharacteristically bought before my trip. :)
Another great word. One verse that particularly spoke to me was verse 15. In my NLT version it reads: "Then the Lord said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving!"
As I begin my fresh start for the new year, I am reminded to take action! Yes, it is vital to pray and rely on God's guidance, but I have to have the courage to step out on faith.
Amen Menya! God spoke this to me a few days ago, as I was wallowing in self pity and stubbornly refusing to do anything that might, in God's guidance, bring me fresh air and strength. I see the same thing happen when Elijah, after being pursued by a mob of people, sits and wallows in the sorrow of his situation. What does God say? "Go to the next town. There, I've reserved 7000 people who have not bowed to Baal." basically: 1) What you are doing? Get up! Go! and 2) You are not alone; you are not finished.
What jumps out at me is the Lord will fight for me! Sometimes I feel I do not have the strength to face what is presented, and maybe it's because I don't! That God wants me to rest in Him while He fights the battle. My biggest battle is often believing God will come through and I can be still.
I am in such a dark place right now. I feel as though I am the lone Israelite standing in the midst of that sea waiting for the walls to come crashing down around me. I kind of stumbled across this site a few months ago and have started several studies with you but never followed through. For some reason, I can't get enough of this study and your comments. I praise God for continuing to convict me and bring me here. Each day is just what I need to hear. Thank you ladies for touching the heart of this woman with your comments and this study. you are a blessing to me in ways you will never know.
Praying for you, Shelia.
Praying for you right now Shelia! So know you are never alone. The Father is always with you and we, your sisters, are standing in the gap for you!
Shelia, I'm sure the Israelites felt the same thing as they walked through it. But sister, keep walking. You are walking on dry ground. These waters will not envelope you if you trust in God. Praying for you today, sister. May God give you the love, comfort and strength to keep walking.
Adding my prayers for you to others being said. So glad that God brought you here right now to be encouraged. Here is a verse that may bring some hope to you today, "The light (Jesus) shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it." John 1:5 NLT
Centuries of slavery. An entire history of bondage. Even though they cried out to God for deliverance–to be free. They didn't know what was coming. Where they were seem better than treading into the unknown. We cannot allow fear, doubt or confusion keep us in bondage and keep us from where God wants to take us. The Lord shall fight for us, and we shall hold our peace. Amen.
I'm Israel! I'm Israel! I have been set free, but still pursued by my captors. God said yes to my prayers, but not in the way I envisioned. God is providing ALL that I need – but I want more. I'm Israel!
I realized today, that I am in the midst of my own personal exodus. I have been set free, but haven't reached my promised land. And just like the Israelites, I am being pursued by my own personal 'egyptians'. I have demons/baals/afflictions that are chasing after me – and quite frankly, are robbing me of the joy of the journey that I am on. The desert trip was never meant to last 40 years, infact, it could have happened in less than a month. But their unbelief and stubbornnes caused the journey to last a generation. I made a list of things, that are stealing my focus from the full Glory of God that is right before my eyes, and am allowing God to flood it with the water – so that the eqyptians I see today will never be seen again.
The Israelites had to walk through the water – I want to walk on the water.
Awesome!
The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace. Exodus 14:14 NKJV
The Lord will fight for you, just stay calm. Exodus 14:14 NLT
The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still. Exodus 14:14 NIV
No matter the version, this scripture is so powerful. Our God is mighty, and capable of anything. He is all we need. Lord help me remember your strength and love in my Moses moments.
Thank you very much for this reminder. I was just crying out to God yesterday in tears from my blind “Moses” circumstances. If I could ask for prayer, I’m 34 weeks pregnant, my husband and I are trying to get a mortgage to go through for our first house do we can move before the baby(it’s taking a lot longer than hoped and we may be moving really close to my due date). Financially things are confusing, my husband is training to become a restaurant manager but it’s going really slow and he wants to start looking for a new job(UGH!), and honestly, I’ve never been the best at unknowns. I take comfort in the history of God’s faithfulness in my life and in the passage we read today. I’m asking God if He’s asking me to stay still and He will fight for me or if I’m to be bold and pursue the mortgage company and my husband’s boss to get things moving faster. There seems to be so many loose ends, I’m trusting that the Lord will orchestrate them perfectly.
Thank you, your sister in Christ. :-)
I'm praying for you and your husband Jess. May you trust God that it will all work out in exactly the right timeframe. Amen
Praying for your situations and that may you find peace in the waiting.
Our adoption process (now two years in) is beginning to feel a bit like the Israelite's Exodus journey–never ending and a bit hopeless. Thank you for the reminder that He is the God who makes a way when there seems to be no way!! He is faithful, and He is good. "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." AMEN.
Praying with as you walk (trudge?) through the adoption process. Being still is not easy. But it becomes so much more easier when we realize God is fighting for us. You are not alone!
This God of the old time is the SAME GOD of today! He does the same redeeming work in us and through us. His faithfulness is the SAME his love is the SAME his everything is the SAME! And we doubt? Forgive me Lord and remind me of your goodness and greatness…..and thank you for never changing!
Verse 14 really struck me: "The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." Still?!? I'm sure STILL was the last thing the Israelites wanted to be! If Moses had said, you need only to RUN, that would have made a whole lot more sense. Although it would have seemed like a longshot, I could understand that, if I run, God could make it so I was faster, or that the enemy might trip, and I could get away. Being still and then marching on in confidence toward my greatest fear is so contrary to what I would naturally do. But in truth, my natural inclination to run or outrun (to overcome) my own problems IS the problem. And there's no amount of running that I can do to fix any situation. But being still, giving my trust over to God to let him fight for me, now THAT will save me every time! I pray I become more and more willing to give my battles over to Him and just stand back in awe and watch him respond in grace to make things right for me for His own glory.
Love how you put this. I pray to be still too.
Kyla, I love your observation regarding God hardening the hearts of the Egyptians, and how you have decided to pray that God does the exact opposite for you…
Thank you! It am learning that is so important to watch over, protect, and guard our hearts. It is equally important to keep our hearts ready for whatever truths God is going to fill them with.
How is God redeeming you today?
He is asking me to face 2014 without knowing the end regarding a young adult child, a health issue, and a new job (yet to be found). These verses tell me how He will redeem me through the daily stuff and the trials that I face in 2014.
In verse 13, I clearly hear the, “Do not fear! the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today" And in verse 14 it really speaks to me "while you keep silent.” This tells me –NO GRUMBLING, let God do His work!
How has he paved the way for your fresh start?
He's given me His Word–filled with truth and hope. He conquers my discouragement and restores my joy by me being near to Him–trusting Him–believing that He will accomplish my 2014…He's already paving the path for me I just need to trust Him!
I absorbed every drop of this passage. When I started this reading plan earlier this week, I tried to grasp the principles each morning but I felt like I was leaving some of the goodness behind. Not today ladies! I approached this passage, pen in hand, and soaked up every word. Some thoughts that stood out the most to me were (paraphrased thoughts):
-When the Israelites were terrified, their very first reaction was to cry out to God (v. 10). Far too many times in my darkest moments, I have curled up in a ball of self-pity and cried alone, not to God. This is such a reminder that he should be our first and most important source of help and comfort.
-Do not fear. Build up your relationship with God and rest in that. The Lord will bring deliverance. He WILL bring deliverance. Never let the devil deceive you to think otherwise. God WILL fight for you, for me, for us. The best part of all: all we need to do is be still (v. 13-14). Amen!
-The Lord doesn't just say He is going to fight for us. He follows through. This was apparent to even the Egyptians. (v. 25).
-We should follow the example of the Israelites, fearing the Lord and putting our trust in him (v. 31).
I also noticed that my version (NIV) kept saying that God hardened the hearts of the Egyptians, so that they would (insert poor choice here). This encouraged me all the more to pray to God to soften my heart, make it pliable, and fill it with His love so that I can make Godly choices rather than worldly ones.
Have a wonderful day sisters!
Kyla, you wrapped this passage up so nicely. especially like your last encouragement.
This story always draws up so much in my heart because I feel like I can relate. My heart knows what they are feeling, even though it is not near as extreme as their situation. There have been so so many times in my life where I panic because I can't see a way out of a situation. I feel like I'm looking down a long hallway with no doors. And then put of no where, God makes a door. Never fails. And yet, I still panic. God is always going to pull through and he will keep proving it to us over and over.
This devo is right on time…loving the “Moses moment” and the quick reminder of how he would comfort our fears & doubts today. That paraphrase, deserves a spot on my sticky note wall!
And Oh! How grateful & humbled I am at the fact that God has already planned my exit route, even though I suffer from temporary amnesia at times and question why do I have to suffer…And today I am reminded of the answer, Its all for His Glory!
The Lord never fails us. I often wonder what it was like to take that first step between the walls of the sea. I'm sure it wasn't easy. Yet, despite all their doubting and words of grief, they did it and so can we. Why, because The Lord never fails us either! Thank you Jesus.
For some epreason or another pain loves to live I stipe of us, sadness, anger, and grief. We are even encouraged by society to feel such things. After a very difficult recent break up, many people have said, it would help if you would just get angry. However, what purpose would that serve but to put me in bondage and keep me in the darkness. I love that no matter what, all our current, past and future sin cannot stop The Lord from winning our hearts.
So true Ashley! Instead, we can carve the pain out and allow God to fill that empty space with his love, joy, and peace.
Wow, this is amazing! God’s grace is unbelievable! The Israelites couldn’t do anything to be disqualified for their blessing…wow!
“The Israelites’ doubt and forgetfulness did not disqualify them from God’s redemption and promise. Neither did their past sin – even their future sin! – keep them from God’s rescue. God wrote the story. They had only to walk in it.”
Thank God for His grace…it gives me hope!
This give me hope too! Such beautiful truths!
I have walked through the dark like the Isralites and questioned God. It was a hard time and all I wanted was it to be over. It is not easy being in despair and felling lost and not knowing how it will end. What is amazing to me is that God knows how it will end and he has the perfect plan for us all. My trials and tribulations finally ended and it was all for the best! God was in control even when I wasn't. He knows the ending and it is part of his perfect plan. We just have to trust in him.
When things seem impossible, it's so hard, so counterintuitive, to trust, to not complain. But God works in these situations – mightily. We just need to watch Him work – watch Him work out our redemption – and be still. Wow
Good mornins sisters:) I completely understand this all too well because I have done it..even though we don’t like our current postion we rather stay because its all we know. We have fear of the unknown..don’t know what’s ahead of us..its easy to fear and doubt because your whole life is being shifted. The children of isreal wanted freedom but was afraid of it.I could be wrong though lol:) I see this way every time they got in an unknow situation they always refer back to eygpt..saying its better in eygpt, foods great etc..even when they were in bondage they believed all was well due to fear. I know I do that on many occasions. Fear to trust the unknown..but even in our fears and doubts our Redeemer comes to comfort us and direct us saying fear not..the eygptians you see today you shall see no more..a direct promise from God and His word cannot return to Him void..sisters, in the unknown hours let us rest in our Redeemer..the author and finisher of our faith! God Bless you all:)
I like how a commentary I use says that the Israelites passing through the Red Sea was a baptism of sorts. They passed from one end of the sea to the other: unbelief to trust. And they would do it again. Yet God came through every time, baptising them, giving them fresh starts– it’s amazing. He does it with us too everyday,every minute, giving us fresh starts and new graces, teaching us lessons.
Thank you God because even in unbelief and dismay, You are with us and know the movie ends well.
Oh! How I DO love this!! Amen!
This is a beautiful image to think of! Thank you for sharing!