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Volume 6 ... #4
God Delivers HIS People
God sent the children of Israel down into Egypt to survive a famine in the land. God had prepared the way for them by putting Joseph as a ruler in Egypt.
God goes before us making the way unto which HE is sending us.
They lived in Egypt 430 years. God ordained a time that HE would deliver them out of Egypt.
God selects for us the exact time that we live on this present earth and the exact place that we live.
Acts 17:26 ... HE determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.
(NIV: Original Translation)
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God does the same today for HIS people. It is not accidental that we live in the country where we now live. It is not accidental that we live in the exact house where we now live. And we live in the exact period of time as ordained by God. If God moves us, HE will go before us in the move and set up what we need and that which will accomplish HIS purpose for us on this present earth, exactly as God did for the children of Israel in the story we read in Exodus.
God is in control. God is in charge both of the believer and of the unbeliever. God hardens the heart of one (Pharaoh) and gives salvation to eternal life to another (Paul).
Everything is "by the will of God".
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Thus we read, in Romans 8 ... And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to HIS purpose.
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The children of Israel were terribly afflicted by the Egyptians and it got worse for them toward the end of their stay in Egypt.
- Their work load as slaves to Pharaoh increased dramatically.
- Their family life was made terrible by Pharaoh ordering the destruction of the male babies born to the Hebrews
In their affliction, they cried out to God.
God made a way to deliver HIS people at the exact time ordained by God.
Exodus 12 ... And the children of Israel went away, and did as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.
And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle. And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.
And he (Pharaoh) called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as ye have said.
Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also.
And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men.
And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneadingtroughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders.
And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: And the Lord gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.
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What an incredible sight this must have been. 600,000 men (plus women and children) walking out of Egypt. (Ex. 12:37)
Ex. 12:39 ... And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual.
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They are walking into a wilderness where there is no provision for them.
God was to be their provision.
Exodus 13:9 ... with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt.
... And 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: But 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.
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God knows exactly how to lead us to keep us in the way.
Exodus 13 ... And 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: HE took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.
(Today God leads HIS people by HIS Spirit, the Holy Spirit, which HE puts in HIS people.)
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Now God is going to lead HIS people into an "impossible" situation.
Exodus 14 ... And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 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. For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in. 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.
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After the Hebrews leave Egypt, Pharaoh has "a change of heart" and decides to go get them to return them to Egypt as slaves. (Notice the change of heart against the children of Israel is of God for God told Moses "HE", God, would harden Pharaoh's heart.)
Pharaoh takes 600 "chosen" chariots ... and captains over every one of them... a formidable group of men to go after the Hebrews to bring them back into slavery.
Exodus 14 ... And 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. And 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? Is 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.
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They apparently forgot the terrible hardships of Egypt even unto the rule of Pharaoh that they must destroy their male babies!
There was a rejoicing when God brought them out of Egypt, but as soon as things got difficult they were as leaves blowing in the wind, changing directions in their thinking, murmuring against God and against Moses the servant of God.
Exodus 14 ... And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which HE will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
And the Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: 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. And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get ME honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gotten ME honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
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: 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.
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.
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.
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(The only way they could go was forward.)
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.
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, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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God destroyed all the Egyptians by HIS plan.
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.
Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore. 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.
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For us today:
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have:for HE hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. Heb. 13:5-6
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The wickedness will increase. The wrath of God will come. The heavens and the earth as we currently know them will be destroyed by God. II Peter 3
God will deliver HIS people.
I Thess. 4 ... But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep (dead), that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with HIM.
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (precede) them which are asleep (dead).
For the Lord HIMSELF shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Wherefore comfort one another with these words.