Following Through the Unknown

Introduction

Have you ever been going somewhere but you don’t know how to get there, so you are relying on others to lead the way? Anytime I take a trip, I rely on the GPS. If Kiersten is riding with me, I rely her on her to give me the directions. Sometimes we will get busy talking we both forget to listen for the directions. Then we’ll end up in a place that is unfamiliar and Siri says “You’re on your own. You didn’t listen to me on the way, but as soon as you got lost and missed your exit 10 miles back, you’re listening and watching my instructions.” Siri can be sassy sometimes - that’s how I hear it. She normally sounds so kind and says rerouting, but my interpretation adds the sass in her voice

Today we’re going to read about the children of Israel and how they followed God’s direction when leaving Israel. The Bible shares a way that God did not lead and then where God was leading. It is the same way in our life. There are places where God leads us to and there are places where God keeps us from.

Join me in Exodus 13:17-22 “When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, “Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.” But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle. Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones with you from here.” And they moved on from Succoth and encamped at Etham, on the edge of the wilderness. And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.”

Where have the children of Israel come from? - slavery in Egypt

Who did God use to fight for their freedom? - Moses

What happened to the Egyptians and Pharaoh, that led to the decision of freeing them? - 10 different plagues upon the land

Now we are at the point where they are leaving Israel. Scripture presents two options of travel. We are going to have a small study on these two options and discover how we can see options of travel and how to discern what is God’s plan for travel.

Where God Doesn’t Lead

The Israelites were not led by the way of the Philistines, although it was a close option. The Philistines were a group of mean/bad to the bone people. Of the nations that Israel will fight in the future, the Philistines is a group that Israel will continue to face for many years to come. They were a group of people that would not likely accept foreigners to come through.

Could God have shown His might and give strength to the Israelites and defeat the Philistines. 100%!!!!! The Lord wanted to show His might in a different way and show His might against the ones who enslaved His people. Based upon Scripture, the Philistines had done nothing to this generation of Israelites. God told Abraham, generations back, that his descendants would take the land from the Amorites/Caanaanites (Gen 15:12-19). God would use his people to send judgement upon the Amorites & Canaanites. When God told Abraham this, the Philistines were not living in this area; therefor they were not on the list to be conquered. A day will come when they battle the Philistines

The Egyptians on the other hand had severely abused the Jewish people. God wanted to show His might and destroy the Egyptians AND BOY DID HE!!!

Where God doesn’t lead is for a reason. The way God leads may be different than the easy way out. Remember, going through the Philistine land was easier but it wasn’t God’s plan. The easier options in your life may not be God’s plan.

There have many times I am traveling one way but it was’t God’s way. There are times when I have taken the easy way out, and it’s not God’s way. God protects us from where He doesn’t lead so that we do not change our minds from Him. This is what He did with the Israelites (vs 17).

God protected them from immediate war so that they would not choose to return to Egypt. The Lord knew what the Israelites had been through in Egpyt. He was aware of all their pain and hurt. He protected them from going into war.

Christ knows what we have been through. He is aware of the pain and hurt in your life. Sometimes it may seem that the Lord does not lead you down the easy path. In those moments, where the Lord is not leading the easy route, He is protecting you so that you don’t change your mind about Him. BUT that you see more of who HE is.

Where God Does Lead

We see at vs. 18 that God led the people around by the way of the wilderness, toward the Red Sea. Notice the next phrase, “Israel went up out of the land equipped for battle.” Where God was leading the Israelites, He prepared them for battle. The literal translation is that there were groups of men in the thousands, hundreds, and fifties. While they were in a military formation, it is likely that had no swords and military weapons. The Egyptians feared the Jews would one day overtake them, so they ensured the Jews received no military training. While they were not equipped for military training, the Lord had them appear they were ready for war. Remember the Egyptians feared the Jews and the possibility of them overthrowing Egypt.

Where God leads, He will equip His people. You may be thinking, Noah, they were not equipped with swords and weapons. BUT they didn’t have to be because God was on their side. The Lord wants us prepared for battle. He will equip us with the necessary tools and weapons. Where God leads, He provides. You may feel that you are missing your sword or spear for battle, but I can promise if you are going where the Lord leads He will provide. We just need to be equipped for battle.

Worship

Learning the Bible

Spiritual application

Prayer

Where God leads, He calls people to be ready. Where He calls to be ready, He provides.

Be equipped for school and times with your friends!

Be equipped at home with your family!

Be equipped when you are alone!

Be equipped all the time!

2 Tim 3:16-17 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”