The Way Is Blocked

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Opening Prayer

Lord, this day is holy because You have entered it with me. I offer honor and praise to You.

Read Exodus 14:1-18

^[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. ^[16] Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. ^[17] I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. ^[18] The Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.”

Meditate

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine” (Isa. 41:3b, ESV).

Think Further

The company appears to be on the desert route to the east side of their destination, Canaan. Then they take a sharp turn and find themselves making camp with a stretch of water ahead. Maybe their thoughts are on washing and bathing when someone spies an ominous cloud of dust on the horizon. The fast chariots of Pharaoh’s army are racing towards them. All the elation of the last few days comes crashing down. So much for divine guidance! They have been led into a trap. Slavery in Egypt was surely better than violent death in the desert. Probably the only wise course now would be to surrender quietly and hope that some at least would escape with their lives.

It is a crucial moment for the Israelites as Moses calms down the uproar and panic with his words, “Stand firm and you will see the deliverance … be still” (13,14). But Moses is panicking, too. God calms him down, giving him a simple action to perform. He must point his staff forward towards the water, indicating that this is the way they are going. Humanly speaking, this way is impossible. The Israelites are utterly dependent on God to save them. They are also in the limelight. What happens today will be public in Egypt tomorrow. Will this finally be vengeance for Pharaoh, with the God of these Hebrews exposed as a failure?

The enemies of Jesus had their moment of premature gloating when they mocked him on the cross, “He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him” (Matt. 27:43). Too late, they discovered that his death was for the glory of God (18; John 14:27,28). It would “free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death (Heb. 2:15).

Apply

Can you recall a time when there were blockages before you as you sought to do God’s will? How were you able to deal with the situation? Was glory eventually given to God?

Closing prayer

Sovereign Lord, my natural inclination is to jump in and take care of situations. Help me to learn the lesson that sometimes I must release difficulties to You and let You resolve them.

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