God Makes a Way

Context

Journey of Faith. Highlights from Genesis to Judges. God’s people called to faith, rescued from bondage in Egypt, and brought into the Promised land. Much to teach us about our journey of discipleship to God through Jesus Christ.

Currently in the book of Exodus.

Last week Exodus 12: Israel set from from slavery in Egypt after God worked 10 plagues through his servant Moses against Pharoah the King, so that the Pharoah finally released God’s people.

Since that reading. Moses has led the people of Israel out of Egypt by following God’s presence in a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. They have been led to the shores of the Red Sea.

Seeing that the Israelites are at the borders of the wilderness and the sea, and that Egypt has lost its primary labor force, and eager to reassert his power, the Pharoah, has brought his army against Israel to recapture them and re-enslave them.

The people of Israel are thrown into a panic — they are trapped — but Moses exhorts them to trust in the Lord, who can make a way.

We are told this story.

Text

Exodus 14:19–31 “Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was the cloud and the darkness. And it lit up the night without one coming near the other all night. Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. The Egyptians pursued and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. And in the morning watch the Lord in the pillar of fire and of cloud looked down on the Egyptian forces and threw the Egyptian forces into a panic, clogging their chariot wheels so that they drove heavily. And the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from before Israel, for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians.” Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.” So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal course when the morning appeared. And as the Egyptians fled into it, the Lord threw the Egyptians into the midst of the sea. The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen; of all the host of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea, not one of them remained. But the people of Israel walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses.”

Introduction

Israel is trapped. Pharaoh, Sea, Wilderness. Seems like there is no way. Dead End.

But what is a dead end to them, is not a dead end to God.

To Israel, it seems like there is no way forward. But God makes a way…and in leading them through the way he provides, strengthens their faith in him as their all-powerful, fully committed God.

Exegesis 1: The Cloud moves between the Israelites and the Egyptians

The Israelites are trapped. They look east, the sea. They look west, Pharoah and his vast army with horses, chariots, armor, and weapons. All around them nothing but wilderness.

The people begin to panic. They accost Moses — why did you lead us out here, only to die? Only to be taken back into slavery? Only to get our hopes up?

Moses exhorts them to trust the Lord, who has a plan and who has the power to save them.

Then, as the Egyptian army draws near, Exodus 14:19 “The angel of God who was going before the Israelite army moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from in front of them and took its place behind them.”

The angel of God, hidden in the pillar, stations itself between God’s people and the Egyptians. And remains through the day and transforms into a fiery pillar at night.

God’s presence creates a barrier between the Egyptians and the Israelites. The one group cannot approach the other.

The God who was leading them forward, now repositions behind them. In this visible way, God is communicating to his people: I’ve got your back. I’m protecting you. I’m with you.

God is in the impossible situation with them. They are not alone. When they look toward Pharaoh’s army, they also necessarily see God is with them.

Through the night the wind picks up. The pillar burns. There is a moment of waiting and gathering faith for what the Lord is about to do.

Application 1: God is with us in our impossible situations

Examples:

When we get the diagnosis. No way forward.

When we lose the house, the bank account. Trapped.

When the marriage is on the brink. Impossible.

God is with us. He’s got our back.

He positions himself right between us and our problem. As if to say, see me between you and your crisis.

Jesus, the Son of God, showed us this.

Woman caught in adultery. Trapped. Caught in the act. Religious leaders ready to stone her, rocks in hand. No where to run. Jesus stood between her and her judges. Who is without sin?

When he was in the garden of gethsemane. The guards came to arrest him. The disciples were panicked. Jesus said, Who do you seek? They said, we seek Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus said, I am he. Let these others god.

When our situation is impossible. God is near.

And before anything happens. There is a moment when God makes his presence felt. Asks us to have faith in him.

Exodus Illustrations to Chapter 14 (Rev. WM. Adamson)

“When the sky is black and lowering, when the path in life is drear,

Upward lift thy steadfast glances; ’mid the maze of sorrow here.”

—Luther.

Lift up the spiritual gaze, the pillar is present, between you and the problem is God. God makes a way.

Exegesis 2: God divides the Red Sea

When the morning comes, the Lord commands Moses to lift up his staff and the Lord parts the Red Sea.

The Lord makes a walkway between walls of water on either side.

The Lord bids the people enter. Walk into the midst of the valley of water.

eg: link bridge into fog. I’m not going on that!

Let us remember the Israelites have never seen or heard of such a thing as this. They don’t know the end of the story…they only know they are being called to take step into a scary path of deliverance.

The people have to trust that God will uphold the waters and see them through.

So with great faith and probably fear too, they enter.

Once they enter there is only one way to go: Forward.

The Egyptians pursue them, cutting off the retreat.

So one step at a time God’s people progress, straining their eyes for the light at the end of the path.

wisdom: set your eyes straight ahead. Do not look to the right or to the left.

God makes a way, he says to his people, eyes forward, one step at a time.

Application 2: We commit to the way God provides

When God opens the way forward we have to step out in faith and take one step at a time.

I for one want to know the whole journey ahead of time. But God often asks us to trust him one step at a time.

Often the way forward is not a bypass from the obstacle, but through the thing that was scary.

example.

Spouse says, I am willing to get counseling, have to go for it. Have to wade into the deep. Talk and confess and go through it together.

Will the walls cave in?

Trying to break an addictive pattern?

Will the past catch up?

Medical plan. I’ll face what comes next.

what about all the costs that will wipe me out?

Gospel: Peter had to keep his eyes on Jesus to walk on water. When he looked to the sides he began to sink.

God says, Eyes forward. Just take the next step. I am making a way!

Exegesis 3: God destroys the Egyptians

While both parties are passing through the midst of the sea, God throws the Egyptians into a panic and slows their wheels.

Israel can get to the other side, but Egypt cannot. The promised land is not for them.

Now the Egyptians are trapped.

The LORD causes the sea to rush together again.

The Egyptian army is destroyed. Their bodies wash up on the shore.

The enemy is no longer a threat to come after them.

As long as Egypt was back there, they could come after them, threaten them. No longer.

God not only got Israel out of Egypt, he got the Egypt out of Israel. They are now truly free from Pharoah and Egypt: the LORD is their power and they can follow Moses, God’s servant.

The spiritual outcome of this event is key: Exodus 14:31 “Israel saw the great work that the Lord did against the Egyptians. So the people feared the Lord and believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses.” The Israelites are amazed at God. They place their faith in Moses God’s servant.

Application 3: When God makes a way our faith is strengthened.

When we step out in faith with God, we can trust he will deal with our problem in a way that ultimately deepens our commitment to him and confidence in him.

A man or a woman getting out of an unhealthy relationship. I thought I would never heal, but Gid has made me whole again, so that I won’t make the same mistake.

retirement. I didn’t know what i was going to do…God called me into service.

hurt from a church. I thought I would never darken the door again, but God has slowly shown me grace in community.

God gets us through our problems he is also getting through to us with a message: Nothing is more powerful than me, no past, no present, no future, no enemy, no situation, no hurt, not fear, nothing can take you from me.

Gospels: The apostles thought that when Jesus was crucified, his enemies has triumphed over him. But they were transformed when Jesus rose from the dead. Not even death could hold him. He came to them and claimed them as his own. No past — not Jesus’ death, not the disciples sins, not their enemies, nothing — could compare with his resurrected power.

As a consequence, the apostles were filled with a dauntless hope, free to live fully for Christ.

God wants to lead us to a similar place of faith: If God got me through that problem, and he did, then he can get me through this problem. And even more, he will get me through this whole life as I trust in him.

Jesus said, I am the way. I not only make a way, I am the way.

Conclusion

Israel was trapped.

The army, the wilderness, the sea.

When it seemed there is no way — God made a way. A way that assured them of his presence, led them one step at a time, and freed them for a new future.

The same is pattern holds for God’s people today.

Pray to Jesus: Where are you trapped. A moment to know that God has your back. What way is he opening? How can you step out in faith. Give him the faith and praise.