He Saw Them Through (2)
Introduction
Having seen in the first article, that Israelites are children of history which essentially prompted them to apply their hearts to the Lord of their fathers, and the steps they took, I want us to see in this second article some other points that would assist our understanding to knowing how the Lord saw them through.
3. God’s Position
After their hearts have been ignited to commune with the Lord because of the maltreatment that are being meted out to them by the Egyptians it was discovered that God does the followings for them:
(a) He Answered Their Prayers: It is usually God’s position to answer one’s prayer. What a man has been called to do is to pray, he cannot force God to answer his prayers. However, herein, God remembered his covenants with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and he heard their prayers.
“And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
“And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.” (Exo 2:24-25)
(b) He Raised a Deliverer for Them: After hearing their prayers, he knows that they cannot free themselves if he has not raised for them a deliverer, thus, he raised a deliverer for them, in the person of Moses.
“I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt.” (Act 7:34)
4. They Started Following the Raised Rescuer
Moses appeared to them to deliver the message of God to them and that he has been raised to lead them out of the bondage they are in. they yielded and started following this deliverer that the Lord has raised for them.
After several signs and wonders that the Lord shown unto the Egyptians, they allowed the Israelis to leave their midst.
According to the leading of the Lord, Prophet Moses, led them out of the place, going to the promised land.
5. The Road That Leads to Canaan Land
The road that leads to Canaan land from Zoan which is supposed to be the capital of the ancient Egypt was two. (Num 13:22)
“And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:
“But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.” (Exo 13:17-18)
The first road is the one that they would pass through the land of Philistines while the other one is the one in which they would go through the wilderness by the red sea.
While headed for the road by the wilderness, it is said by authors that their movement was south east like, but when they got to a junction, God whom they were following through his prophet, Moses, directed otherwise and they headed for the south-south.
This turning is said to be complete deviation for the purpose for which they were moving, because they would have left the borders of Egypt with a little walk where they got to, but when the Lord asked them to turn back towards the south-south, this confines them within the perimeters of the land of Egypt.
After heading for this path, the Lord asks his servant to tell them to encamp before the red sea.
“Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baalzephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea.” (Exo 14:2)
A late traveller according to Gills commentary of this place says, the road they were taken was along the valley of Baideh and Pihahiroth was at its apex while Migdol is a tower which is believed to be within the land of Egypt and Baalzephon was said to be on the north of red sea, a place where Baal was worshiped.
6. Why They Were Asked to Take the Path
Why God asks them to take the path where he has directed them to take was initially unclear unto them and that was what led to them murmuring against his servant and God himself, when they saw the Egyptians pursuing them.
However, the reason for them taken the path was clear to them when the Lord have dealt a decisive blow unto the Egyptians for their sake.
According to an author God directed them to encamp where he asked them to encamp at because he wants to entice the Egyptians which was essentially what happened because they thought they had been trapped by the wilderness and thence decide to pursue them and make them their slaves forever.
Many a time we become confused by God’s actions and would not know what he has in his mind until he finished what he is doing.
7. He Did Not Leave Them
Because they did not know what God has in plan, thus they murmured when they saw their enemies coming after them like a flood of water. They couldn’t not make advancements because of the children and the pregnant women among them, they couldn’t have said they wanted to escape from them, neither confront them in battle. To worsen the situation, they are within a valley and have before them sea that they cannot cross.
“And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD.
“And they said unto Moses, because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?” (Exo 14:10-11)
Though they murmured and spoke harsh word against God and his servants, yet God did not leave them, he stood by them to accomplish the purpose of his mind.
When we are also faced by enemies like flood, we should always recall that God also have us in his mind, he has a plan for us, and he has promised that he would combat those enemies that rise against us like flood of water by raising a standard against them, stopping them cold.
“…. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.” (Isa 59:19b)
Thus, we should not murmur against the Lord but patiently wait for him to see us through what we are passing through.
8. How He Saw Them Through the Sea
They were at their critical moment, but God made a way for them, asking them to forge ahead. He did this through the following means.
(a) Dividing the Red Sea: Targum says that God divided the red sea by the rod of Moses their master and leader.
(b) He Sent His Angel to Change Position: The angel which has been leading the people of God was commanded to change position as he moves from before them to their back. Thus, becoming darkness unto them, while it shines his light unto the people of God. (Exo 14:19)
(c) Force That Holds the Water in Place was Not Let go: God ensured that the force that holds the parted water and made them like a heap was not let go when they were passing through the parted sea.
“He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap.” (Psa 78:13)
(d) He Did Not Allow Enemies to Catch up With Them: While walking through the red sea, he ensures that their enemies never catch up with them, he created a gap between them that they cannot overtake.
(e) He Made Things Work Against Their Enemies: What were initially working in favor of their enemies all the while, after God saw that his people have gotten to safety, when he sees that they have gotten to the other side of the sea, that was when he started working against their enemies.
“And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians,
“And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians.” (Exo 14:24-25)
(f) He Blocked Their Escape Route: For his desire was to annihilate them, he did not change his disposition to ensuring that what was in his plan came to pass, because when his people got to the other side, he commanded his servant to stretch his rod again so that they would be silenced forever.
What is in God’s Mind for Believers
In the mind of God for believers particularly at this crucial moment is to protect us and see us through the turbulent time that the entire world is passing through. He will not leave us, neither forsake us (Mat 28:20) as we are passing through those phases, we should stay calm and see the salvation of the Lord (Exo 14:13). Those who are leading us and giving us some instructions have been put there by God, and we should endeavor to listen to them, be patient with them so that we all get to desired haven. For assuming the people of Israel were arguing with Moses and did not listen to him, they would all be overtaken by their enemies, yet God would still be God. During this period, we should know that God knows about it and would see us through.
© 2020 OLUSEGUN
