EXODUS 14 – GOD DELIVERS A.M.
D. O. G. (DEPEND ON GOD) DAYS #1
There are times when things are just not going well, when it seems that everything is wrong, and that the safety of your world is threatened. There are times when you despair of living, when you hurt immensely and the only light you see at the end of the tunnel is the headlight of an oncoming freight train.
It is in times like these that you need God to deliver you, when He is your only resource, and when everything is hopeless unless He intervenes.
This is exactly the situation that the Children of Israel found themselves in when they were in front of the Red Sea and Pharaoh and his armies were bearing down on them. They were in a panic. Exodus 14:10-12
Moses had a great answer! – Exodus 14:13-14
We know that we are to trust in or depend on God, but have we ever examined closely why we should do that?
Over the next five Sundays I’d like us to look at five reasons that we should depend on or trust in God. We will look at Old Testament Bible characters as our authorities.
MOSES – GOD DELIVERS
JOSHUA – GOD DRAFTS AND DEPLOYS
DAVID – GOD DEFEATS
ELIJAH – GOD DEMONSTRATES
DANIEL – GOD DEFENDS
Now let’s look at the deliverance that God gave Moses and the Children of Israel
GOD DELIVERS:
JUST THE RIGHT PEOPLE
Although God is merciful to all in many ways, it is advantageous to be just the right people.
Way back in the Book of Genesis God had made a promise to Abraham. Genesis 12:1-3
God had chosen the descendants of Abraham, the nation Israel, as a special people.
I love a promise that applies to Israel and to us who are Christians found in Jeremiah 31:3, The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
Eventually under the leadership of Abraham’s great grandson, Joseph, the Children of Israel ended up in Egypt.
There was a promise, however, of a return to the land that God had promised them, the land of Canaan, The Promised Land. Genesis 50:24
God has a special interest, a special commitment, and a special love for Israel. Therefore God is committed to delivering her.
If you are a Christian God has a special interest a special commitment, and a special love for you!
John 12:26, John 14:21, John 15:16, Matthew 28:20
God delivers just the right people!
Are you one of His people?
- Have you recognized your total helplessness before God and accepted God’s payment for your sins, the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Have you placed your faith in Christ alone for salvation and allowed Him to give you a home in Heaven and a changed life now?
If you have done these things you are one of God’s people! John 1:12-13, John 10:27-30
If you are not one of God’s people, we urge you to sign up for His deliverance and for His tender loving care from here to eternity! Trust Jesus as your Savior today!
GOD DELIVERS
JUST THE RIGHT PEOPLE
AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME
Let me tell you something. There will always be trouble. Nobody is exempt. Job 5:7
Sin is often the reason for our troubles.
Other peoples’ sins and our own sins can make us miserable. Isaiah 59:2, Romans 6:23a
For us Christians, just being Christians makes us vulnerable to attack.
Satan is the avowed enemy of God.
Satan has a hard time getting to God, so he will attack God through God’s children. John 15:18-19, 2 Timothy 3:12
Another reason we face trouble is because it teaches us to trust God and to mature in the Christian life. Romans 5:3-5
Yes there will always be trouble.
But God will always deliver at just the right time.
In the case of Moses and the children of Israel God, after sending a series of ten plagues to Pharaoh and the Egyptians, had secured a release from slavery in Egypt.
They were headed out.
But Pharaoh had a change in heart. He and his armies decided to pursue Israel. They were bearing down on Israel, preparing to strike.
It was time for God to deliver. Psalm 50:15
But we have a problem.
There are times when we feel that it is high time for God to deliver us, and He doesn’t!
Why does that happen?
It is because we almost always think that the time for deliverance is yesterday! We don’t like pain, heartache, or inconvenience. Isaiah 55:8-9
God knew the time of deliverance for Israel.
He knows what the time of deliverance is for you.
God is God and his timing is perfect!
GOD DELIVERS
JUST THE RIGHT PEOPLE
AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME
IN JUST THE RIGHT PLACE
If you were leading an escape out of Egypt you would not have taken the route that God had given Israel. They were led right into a dead end with no human means of escape.
And God was leading! Exodus 13:21-22
When the children of Israel left Egypt they headed south and camped in a place called Etham. There God gave instructions and even a reason for changing directions. Exodus 14:2-4
God told Moses to change directions. They were to back track to a place called Baal-zephon. By doing this, they were going to entice Pharaoh into thinking that Israel was confused and vulnerable. God’s purpose was to give God one last victory over Pharaoh.
Chuck Swindoll – “The trouble was, Baal-zephon formed a perfect geographical cul-de-sac. Just to the north stood some formidable Egyptian fortresses – massive stone structures. No way could they get through there. To the south lay the vast Egyptian dessert called Mizraim. No protection there. To the west lay Ramses and Goshen. That’s where they’d just been: they couldn’t return to Egypt. To the East lay the Red Sea…” Charles R. Swindoll, A Man of Selfless Dedication – Moses, (Nashville, TN Word Publishing, 1999), p. 215
They were in just right place!
There was no human way of escape!
The Egyptian army could come in and make mincemeat of the Israelites.
Why was this “just the right place”?
Sometimes our troubles get worse before they get better.
We wonder why God doesn’t deliver us.
We wonder why God seems to be “pouring it on” and allowing it to get worse. But why?
We move on!
GOD DELIVERS
JUST THE RIGHT PEOPLE
AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME
IN JUST THE RIGHT PLACE
FOR JUST THE RIGHT REASON
Why did God deliver Israel, but put Her in even more trouble?
Why will God deliver you, even though for a time, your troubles might seem to get worse?
Exodus 14:4 – …and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am the Lord…
It is so that He will get the glory!
It is so that we can not take the credit.
It is so others will see the awesome power of God!
God makes his deliverances awesome so that He will be glorified!
GOD DELIVERS
JUST THE RIGHT PEOPLE
AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME
IN JUST THE RIGHT PLACE
FOR JUST THE RIGHT REASON
WITH JUST THE RIGHT THOROUGHNESS
- First, God moved the cloud to the back of the Israelites, and it formed a wall. It shielded the Egyptians from seeing the Israelites. It was a cloud on one side, but the side of Israel it was a pillar of fire. The Israelites could see to make their escape. Vss. 19-20
- Vs. 21 – God parted the sea and sent a drying wind so that the sea bed would dry up.
- Vs. 22 – The children of Israel escaped.
- In the morning, Pharaoh’s army pursued, but became stuck in the sea bed. They panicked and tried to escape. It was too late. Vss. 23-25.
- Vss. 26-27 – Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea came back together.
- Vss. 28-30 – There was total victory!
- Vs. 31 – The victory was so complete that Israel feared the Lord.
This reminds me of the total victory that God can and will give you! God can and will totally deliver you through your troubles, if you will trust Him, if you follow Him, and if you will let Him!
GOD DELIVERS
JUST THE RIGHT PEOPLE
AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME
IN JUST THE RIGHT PLACE
FOR JUST THE RIGHT REASON
WITH JUST THE RIGHT THOROUGHNESS
