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Daily Devotions

Exodus

Exodus 
Day 
Day 103

"O LORD, be gracious to us; we have waited for You. Be (our) arm every morning. Our salvation also in the time of trouble." Isaiah 33:2

Text: Exodus 14 : 1-4

PERSONAL LEADING FROM THE LORD

The Lord took a personal hand in leading the children of Israel out of Egypt. This must be expected simply because He was planning the route. It is possible that not even Moses knew the actual route God had chosen. Hence the details had to be given to Moses.

“Now the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
‘Speak to the children of Israel, that they turn
and camp before Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea,
opposite Baal Zephon: you shall camp before it by the sea.'”
Exodus 14:1-2

The instructions had to come from the Lord Himself. The route chosen seemed strange! Why flee from Egypt only to camp by the sea? How would they cross the sea? The children of Israel had to learn how to obey the instructions of the Lord with faith and trust!

ANTICIPATING PHARAOH’S MOVE

God had not made a mistake. He had factored in Pharaoh’s thoughts on the matter. He had a deeper plan in mind, when He sent Moses to lead the children of Israel to camp beside the sea.

“For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel,
‘They are bewildered by the land; the wilderness
has closed them in.'”
EXODUS 14:3

The Lord knew how Pharaoh, the military strategist would think. He would imagine that these slaves of his would be bewildered by the wide expanse of the wilderness. They were slaves and had hardly ever gotten out of their small land of Goshen.

Pharaoh would also think that Moses was no military leader. How could he have led the children of Israel into a trap? If the Egyptian army was to attack them, they would have no place to run! They surely could not run into the sea! He had forgotten the God of the Hebrews and how He had humbled Egypt ten times over!

REVEALED TO MOSES

Pharaoh’s heart may have been grieved deeply because he had lost his firstborn son. However, grief did not necessarily soften his heart at all! God knew the true state of his heart. He allowed Pharaoh’s heart to remain hardened to fulfill His divine purpose.

God warned Moses (and the children of Israel) that Pharaoh would attempt to attack them. But they must not be afraid, for Pharaoh would know once and for all a truth that had been rehearsed before him time and again!

“…that I am the LORD…” EXODUS 14:4