The Exodus from Egypt by the Israelites takes place around 1491 BC
Chapter 13
v. 17, 18. God was their guide . . . Moses gave them direction but as he received it from the Lord.
The way of man is not in himself, Jer 10:23. He may devise his way, and design it; but, after all, it is God that directs his steps, Prov 16:9.
- There were two ways from Egypt to Canaan. One was a short cut from the north of Egypt to the south of Canaan, perhaps about four or five days' journey; the other was much further about, through the wilderness, and that was the way which God chose to lead his people Israel, v. 18.
It made the Israelites seem confused .. Easy prey
The Egyptians were to be drowned in the Red Sea.
The Israelites were to be humbled and proved in the wilderness, Moses tells this to the Israelites in Deut 8:2.
- God's way is the right way … He may not lead us the nearest way, but we can be sure He leads us the best way … Judge nothing before the time.
There was one reason why God did not lead them the nearest way, which would have brought them after a few days' march to the land of the Philistines (for it was that part of Canaan that lay next to Egypt), namely, because they were not as yet fit for war, much less for war with the Philistines, v. 17. Their spirits were broken with slavery; it was not easy for them to turn their hands of a sudden from the trowel to the sword. The Philistines were formidable enemies, too fierce to be encountered by raw recruits; it was more suitable that they should begin with the Amalekites, and be prepared for the wars of Canaan by experiencing the difficulties of the wilderness first. Note, God proportions his people's trials to their strength, and will not suffer them to be tempted above what they are able, 1 Cor 10:13.
God is said to bring Israel out of Egypt as the eagle brings up her young ones (Deut 32:11), teaching them by degrees to fly. Orders being given which way and how they should go
That they went up themselves, not confused , but in good order, rank and file: they went up harnessed, v. 18. They went up by five, so others. They marched like an army with banners, which added much to their strength and honor.
That they took the bones of Joseph along with them (v. 19), Joseph had particularly appointed that his bones should be carried up when God should visit the (Gen 50:25), so that their carrying up his bones was not only a performance of the oath their fathers had sworn to Joseph, but an acknowledgment of the performance of God's promise to them by Joseph that He would visit them and bring them out of the land of Egypt.
- guidance they were blessed with on the way:
The Lord went before them in a pillar, v. 21, 22. In the first two stages it was enough that God directed Moses where to go … he knew the country and the road well enough; but now that they had come to the edge of the wilderness (v. 20) they would have occasion for a guide; and a very good guide they had, one that was infinitely wise, kind, and faithful.
It led the way in that vast howling wilderness, in which there was no road, no track, no way-mark, of which they had no maps, through which they had no guides. When they marched, this pillar went before them, at the rate that they could follow, and appointed the place of their encampment, as Infinite Wisdom saw fit, which both eased them from care, and secured them from danger, both in moving and in resting.
It sheltered them by day from the heat, which, at some times of the year, was extreme.
It gave them light by night when they had occasion for it, and at all times made their camp pleasant and the wilderness they were in less frightful.
WoW!!! . . How nice is that . . . I was thrilled when we got a GPS .. Imagine all that!
(v. 22): He took not away the pillar of cloud;
not when they seemed to have less occasion for it, traveling through inhabited countries
not when they doubtful
it never left them, till it brought them to the borders of Canaan.
It was a cloud which the wind could not scatter. Neh 9:19; Ps 78:14.
There was something spiritual in this pillar of cloud and fire.
The children of Israel were baptized unto Moses in this cloud
Some make this cloud a type of Christ.
The cloud of his human nature was a veil to the light and fire of his divine nature; we find him (Rev 10:1) clothed with a cloud, and his feet as pillars of fire. Christ is our way, the light and guide of our way.
It signified the special guidance and protection which the church of Christ is under in this world.
Imagine how afraid the Israelites were
Christ was with the church in the wilderness.
Chapter 14
The extreme distress and danger that Israel was in at the Red Sea.
Notice was given of it to Moses before, ver. 1-4.
Where to go v.1,2
What will happen v.3,4
The cause of it was Pharaoh's violent pursuit of them, ver. 5-9.
Israel went out with a great deal of courage and bravery, triumphing in their release, and resolved to break through the difficulties that lay in their way. V.8
Those that in good earnest set their faces heaven-ward, and will live godly in Christ Jesus, must expect to be set upon by Satan's temptations and terrors.
- Israel was afraid, ver. 10-12.
They knew very well the strength and rage of the enemy, and their own weakness
They are giving up
God is no longer strong enough for them
dying in the wilderness
As the Egyptians were angry with themselves for the best deed they ever did, so the Israelites were angry with God for the greatest kindness that was ever done them; so gross are the absurdities of unbelief.
Moses encourages them, ver. 13, 14.
He answered not these fools according to their folly
He assures them that God would deliver them, that he would undertake their deliverance, and that he would effect it in the utter ruin of their pursuers
The wonderful deliverance that God wrought for them out of this distress.
Moses is instructed concerning it, ver. 15-18.
God designs, not only to deliver the Israelites, but to destroy the Egyptians
With ONE miracle .. The same one delivers both functions … cool!
Gets honor of the Egyptians
Lines that could not be forced are set between the camp of Israel and Pharaoh's camp, ver. 19, 20.
The Angel of God went from guide to guard
And it confused the Egyptians, so that they lost sight
This was not the first time that God was the divider between good/bad … light and darkness (Gen 1:4) / peace and calamity (Isa 45:7) . . . at the same time, allotted darkness to the Egyptians and light to the Israelites
the Eternal division between knowing Him and not … between Heaven and Hell.
By the divine power the Red Sea is divided (ver. 21-29), and is made,
A lane to the Israelites, who marched safely through it, ver. 22, 29. But,
- To the Egyptians it was made,
An ambush into which they were drawn, ver. 23-25. And,
A grave in which they were all buried, ver. 26-28.
How they were infatuated. In the heat of their pursuit, they went after the Israelites into the midst of the sea, v. 23. "Why can’t we go where Israel did?" Once or twice the magicians of Egypt had done what Moses did before.
God reckoned with Pharaoh for all his proud and disrespectful conduct towards Moses his ambassador
- The impressions this made upon the Israelites, ver. 30, 31.
We have here the history of that work of wonder which is so often mentioned both in the Old and New Testament, the dividing of the Red Sea before the children of Israel .. Just some examples:
It was the terror of the Canaanites (Josh 2:9, 10) .. Joshua‘s spies to Jericho
the praise and triumph of the Israelites, (Psalm 114:3).
It was a type of baptism, (1 Cor 10:1, 2) … Paul refers to it binding the Israelites together
Shows God's almighty power in the kingdom of nature, in dividing the sea . . . it was done by a strong east wind, signifying that it was done by the power of God, whom the winds and the seas obey … of course with the added SuperNatural effect of making walls on both sides.
AND .. Check this out: probably written about 30-years earlier in Job 26:12 .. By his power he stills the sea; by his wisdom he cut Rahab the great sea monster to pieces
God can bring his people through the greatest difficulties, and force a way where he does not find it. The God of nature has not tied himself to its laws, but, when he pleases, dispenses with them, and then the fire does not burn, nor the water flow.
This was done, and recorded, in order to encourage God's people in all ages to trust in him in the greatest straits. What can’t He do who did this? What won’t he do for those who Love Him?
now they feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses, v. 31.
Now they were ashamed of previously not trusting in Moses and God
they would “never again” despair of help from Heaven . . . They were now baptized unto Moses, 1 Cor 10:2. (And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea)
When things are “bad” … we need to remember “the good times”
Chapter 15
gives glory to God, and triumphs in him
As their own God, and therefore their strength, song, and salvation (v. 2)
As their fathers' God. … God loved their fathers so He cared for their fathers’ children
As a God of infinite power (v. 3)
As a God of matchless and incomparable perfection (v. 11)
to preserve and perpetuate the remembrance of this work of wonder to after-ages . . . It will be sung again after the Beast is defeated in Revelations … again in front of a sea .. of glass. (Rev 15:2,3)
God helps us when we’re afraid
God is mighty.
Trust God When You’re Afraid
Wrong choices
Need sound doctrine from the word of God
God builds our strength … not just gives us everything through miracles
Answering prayers . . . kids’ thoughts
Those whom God brings into a wilderness he will not leave nor lose there, but will take care to lead them through it
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