Bible Talks

Exodus 13:17-22; 14:1-18,17And 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: 18But 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. 19And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you. 20And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness. 21And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: 22He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people. (Exodus 13:17‑22)
1And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baal-zephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea. 3For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in. 4And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honored upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am the Lord. And they did so. 5And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us? 6And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him: 7And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them. 8And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an high hand. 9But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pi-hahiroth, before Baal-zephon. 10And 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. 11And 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? 12Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness. 13And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will show to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. 14The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. 15And the Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: 16But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. 17And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honor upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen. 18And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gotten me honor upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen. (Exodus 14:1‑18)
THERE was a much shorter way to Canaan than the way by which ' God took His people, but He knew what was best for them and He led them in His way—"the right way." Psalm 107:77And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation. (Psalm 107:7). We know, too, that we have been ready to go to heaven from the very moment of our salvation, but God has a purpose in leaving us here. We are in His school, where there is much to learn, just: as the children of Israel learned the ways of God in their forty years of wilderness life.
Long before this time, when .Joseph was dying, he had requested that his hones would be carried out of Egypt and buried in Canaan—the land of promise—and so the children of Israel. took them along with them. He had died in faith, trusting in God's promises, but now we know that God has something better for him than an earthly Canaan, for he is to receive heavenly blessing (Hebrews 11:1616But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. (Hebrews 11:16)).
As the Israelites journeyed along to Canaan they needed guidance, and so God Himself went before them in a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day. And we need guidance, too! We cannot choose our own path through this tangled, evil world without making many mistakes, and so God has given us guidance for each step in His own precious Word. "His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness." 2 Peter 1:33According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: (2 Peter 1:3). Yes, we have all we need in Him, and let us not try to take one step without guidance from above.
Before the children of Israel were safely out of the land, Pharaoh made another attempt to bring them back to slavery again. How often we find Satan making just such an attack, especially on those who are first saved. Pharaoh could not see any way for them to get across the Red Sea, and they did cross, what a hard journey it would be through the wilderness! Did the devil ever tell you about what you had given up for Christ, and that you are having a hard road, dear young. Christian? Has he tempted you to return to this Egypt-world and build his treasure cities again? Let us look beyond this world of tribulation and see the glorious end of our journey, for it is far brighter even than Israel's blessing in Canaan. God has saved you and me for His own glory; our deliverance is sure, and the future is as certain as God Himself. God would not allow Pharaoh to take one of His people back to Egypt; neither will He allow anyone to pluck a single sheep from His hands of love.
God's Word to the children of Israel at this time was, "Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord." God must bring each one of us to the point where we feel our own helplessness. The enemy was behind, and the sea was ahead, and the only thing the Israelites could do was to stand still and wait for the Lord to open the way. They were thoroughly cast on Him, and He undertook their whole case. Moses said, "The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your. peace." Once we have learned this, then the word is "Go forward"—God will open the way for us. Just as God used Moses' rod to make a path through the sea for the Israelites, so Christ bore the "rod" of God's judgment for us, and the victory is ours. Let us rejoice in it, and sing His praises as they did on the far side of the Red Sea.
Messages of God’s Love 5/15/1949