Wednesday, September 18, 2013

God delivered Israel but destroyed Pharaoh

Pam Padgett ... teacher

As they were leaving Egypt, God instructed Moses to have the children of Israel camp between Migdol and the sea, making it look to Pharaoh like they were trapped ...  

Exodus 14:1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baalzephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea. 3 For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in.

God told Moses HE would harden Pharaoh's heart so Pharaoh would come after the children of Israel.  But God would deal with them, and the Egyptians would know that HE is the Lord ...  

Exodus 14:4 And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am the Lord. And they did so.

As God purposed, Pharaoh pursued the children of Israel to the sea ....

Exodus 14:8 And 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. 9 But 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 Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon.

Although they were at the sea, God instructed Moses to have the children of Israel go forward, and told Moses to lift his rod and stretch his hand over the sea, dividing it, so the people could go through the sea on dry land ...

Exodus 14:15 And the Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: 16 But 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.

An angel of God and the pillar of the cloud stood between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel, keeping them separate, and bringing darkness to the Egyptians, but light to Israel.  During the night, God caused a strong wind to cause the sea to go back, dividing the water, and making dry land in the midst of the sea ...

Exodus 14:19 And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: 20 And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night. 21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.

The children of Israel went across the sea on dry land.  But when the Egyptians followed, God troubled them greatly, causing their chariot wheels to come off.  The Egyptians recognized that it was God fighting against them and they wanted to flee ... 

Exodus 14:22 And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.  23 And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. 24 And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the Lord looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians, 25 And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the Lord fighteth for them against the Egyptians.

But God told Moses to stretch his hand over the sea and cause the waters to come upon the Egyptians.  Every one of the Egyptians was killed ...

Exodus 14:26 And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. 27 And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. 28 And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.

Although none remained of Pharaoh and his army, the children of Israel were delivered, going safely through the midst of the sea on dry land.  And as they saw what all God did, they feared and believed God, and believed Moses HIS servant ...

Exodus 14:29 But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. 30 Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore. 31 And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses.