The Exodus of Unbelief

Introduction:

This morning, I am going to take us back to a super familiar narrative of the Old Testament. One that I hope will have a new and refreshing take upon our lives. For me as I was studying this passage in my devotional life this past week, I couldn’t help but be encouraged, excited, and exhorted at the reminder and directive that God laid on my heart. This passage really drew me in as I see how it so relates so well with all that is happening to us these days. With so many people hurting and with the world in the state it is in, it is very easy to identify with the people in this passage. So with that being said I do hope that we will all be deeply encouraged and walk more vibrantly with the Lord because of what is heard today.

As we begin our time diving into the scriptures, I know for many of you this is not the first time you have heard of this account or the first time you have read it, nor do I believe that it will be your last. But what I hope that will happen today is that you will take this title “The Exodus of Unbelief” and that title will forever stick in your mind of what took place in this passage. The Israelites departure from the land of Egypt was a grand event. One in which God worked incredible power and made himself vastly known here on this earth. Yet, in all the glorious power revealed, I don’t want us to miss the incredible amounts of unbelief that happened during this event as well. This title has a bit of a double meaning to it as well. Not only are we looking at the exodus which was characterized by much unbelief, but I also want us to leave here seeing this as a passage of how we can “exit” or literally leave behind unbelief. The Exodus of Unbelief in our own lives.

With that being said, let’s pray to begin our time together.

Before we read our passage, let’s first get a little context.

Nation of Israel, long ago was but a small nation. Abraham the father of the Nation begot a son named Isaac who gave birth to a son Jacob who himself had 12 sons. One of those sons, Joseph, was the youngest and most favored. Because of that his brothers sold him to slavers who brought him to Egypt, there through many things and through many difficulties, God raised him up to become the second most powerful man in all of Egypt. God used this event to bring Joseph’s family to Egypt where there were kept fame from a severe famine that lasted seven years. During that time in Egypt, Jacobs sons flourished and multiplied and became a large people. Many years past and Joseph eventually died but the people stayed in Egypt. A new Pharoah arose and feared the great numbers of the Israelites. It was in his fear that he made the Israelites to serve him as slaves and endure hard laboring so that a revolt wouldn’t take place. It was during this time that God raised up a man, Moses, to be his vessel in freeing the people from slavery. God had shown incredible acts called the plagues to not only free the people from Pharoah but also to show to Israel and the nations that He alone was God, He alone was supreme, all these others gods that the Egyptians created couldn’t do a thing against Him. God’s final plague was the taking of all the first born sons. He would send His death angel to kill all of them but would spare them that killed a spotless lamb and put the blood on their doorposts. This the angel of God would “passover” that house and that would be freed from that fate as well. Upon this final plague, pharaoh finally agreed to let the people go. No more battering, no more, trying to control the terms of their exit. There were commanded to leave and commanded to take the lifestock as well. All could leave. It is about there that we pick up the events in our passage.

The first thing we see in this passage is…

I. Preparation of God’s People (v.1-4)

Exodus 14:1–4 ESV

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell the people of Israel to turn back and encamp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, in front of Baal-zephon; you shall encamp facing it, by the sea. For Pharaoh will say of the people of Israel, ‘They are wandering in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.’ And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord.” And they did so.

Those that are familiar with this passage what is about to happen in the next events. The great crossing of the Red Sea. But it is very intriguing as we look at this account to see all the little details we may have missed before. We know that Israel was about to face some extremely difficult trials. The very immediate trial was one that there very lives were at stake. Yet, just as it is with God, He never leaves his people unprepared. We see God prepared the people in two ways.

I(A). He prepared them for their direction

Reading again in verses 1-4 it says that “the Lord said to Moses, tell Israel that we are going to instead of going a straight line towards Canaan, (what they might call the “way of the sea” -Mediterranean sea) We are going to head more of a south easterly course. Then as this passage clarifies, when they reached the Red sea to the southeast of Egypt, instead of taking the journey east they went more southwest which put the Red Sea between them and Canaan the land of their new home. Now this next part in verse 3, I am not certain but feel fairly confident that God not only told the Israelites what direction they would take but also the trials that would await them.

I(B.) He prepared them for their trials

In verse 3, God literally shared with the people that Pharoah would be coming after them but that He would deliver them again. Whether or not their certainly did know that detail, Moses definitely knew and He was well prepared for the trial that would come.

What is absolutely wonderful about these verses is the wonderful care that God exhibits on His people. Never have we ever seen in history past and present nor we will see it different in the future, that God sends trials to people who are unprepared. Think of all the people that God sent hard trials to in the Bible, yet with each one of them, God had equipped them with all the tools to prevail within His power. Think of David in facing Goliath. A huge trial but God had been equipping him while he was yet a shepherd in the fields. Think of Paul, even while he was yet Saul and a persecutor of God’s people was not God preparing him to be one of the greatest evangelist the world had ever known. How we was able to speak before Herod and the Sanhedrin and even his Jewish audiences because God used his past for that very reason. Think of Jesus in John 15. He told His disciples on multiple occasions that they would face hard trials and diverse persecutions because of their following of Him. He told them this so that they would be prepared. Think of even Moses in this passage. Leader of billions of people. Did he think himself qualified for such a task? Did he think he could accomplish this thing? We find that he had plenty of objections to God’s assignment, but God knew he was ready! God had been preparing him for this very thing. Just in case you weren’t already aware, Moses would have been over 80 years old at this time. He spent 40 years in Egypt as a prince. God was preparing him there. God certainly groomed in him a desire to help his people. He did it in the wrong way by striking down an Egyptian soldier. He was proud at that time and thought he was the answer. He couldn’t understand why the people rejected him at that time. It’s fascinating. You’ll have to look at Acts 7 in your spare time to see more of those special details that Steven reveals in his sermon. From a once proud prince in Egypt, he runs for his life to a land far away and spends another 40 years in the wilderness learning humility, tending sheep, and perhaps working on his faith. God was preparing him even then so he could be ready to lead the people and He would by the power of God.

And God is the same God now as He was and is then. We read in 1 Corinthians 10:13

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

The key word again is “beyond your ability.” He knows you far better than you know yourself.

1 Timothy 1:12 KJV (WS)

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;

Who enabled or who strengthened me. That’s what He does. And has He given us everything we need today in order to live for Him. Absolutely. His word, His spirit, His church… we have it all and He is equipping us with it. We may doubt his decision, but He is faithful to prepare us for the trial ahead of us! That is the God we serve. He will not throw us into something that we cannot handle without His strength but can be more than conquerors through Him. The reason we fail in those trials isn’t because we have been i’ll prepared but because we have been unfaithful. The problem we have with failures can never be the fault of a holy God but the fault of imperfect man. Just know that God is not insensitive and callously throws us to the wolves. No He adequately prepares us.

II. Opposition Allowed by God (v.5-9)

Exodus 14:5–9 ESV

When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the mind of Pharaoh and his servants was changed toward the people, and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” So he made ready his chariot and took his army with him, and took six hundred chosen chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them. And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the people of Israel while the people of Israel were going out defiantly. The Egyptians pursued them, all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and his horsemen and his army, and overtook them encamped at the sea, by Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon.

In these next verses, we read that God not only allowed this evil man to do his deeds but actually ordained it to be so. We read in verse 8, that the Lord hardened the heart of Pharoah the king. And why did God do this? verse 4 actually already told us the answer.

Exodus 14:4 ESV

And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord.” And they did so.

So He would get the glory and all will know that I am the Lord. This is hard concept to grasp and one that challenges our minds in many ways. It puts question about man’s choices and all sorts in our minds, yet the verse reads very clearly that God did the hardening. I know some well meaning people and pastor’s have said that God only hardened his heart only after Pharoah’s heart was already wicked and wrong before God. He made his choice and God only cemented it in him further or something along those lines. But I don’t believe we can see that true. God made the move. God caused Pharoah to act in this way. Even before Pharoah had made up his mind to pursue the Israelites, God had already paved the way. He directed the Israelites to go south at the Red Sea instead of East toward Canaan which is part of the reason that Pharoah believes he should overtake them. He believes them lost and trapped. Look at verse 3 again. But who trapped the Israelites in reality. God did. And why did He trap them. So Pharoah would pursue them. And why did he want Pharoah to pursue them. So he could receive glory, His name and power would be known. We could further say it was to test his leader, Moses, and we could say that it was to test and train the Jewish people. They had weak faith and we can see in their history was exhibited time and time again. But God needed to reveal His power to them again and in this way. So He set Pharoah to do His work so that all these things could be accomplished.

And that is exactly why God allows trials in our lives. It is consistent with His character. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

James 1:2–4 ESV

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Romans 5:3–5 ESV

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

1 Peter 1:6–7 ESV

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Know this, that it is God’s divine plan to use hard trials in our lives. The trial of Pharoah’s pursuit would have been terrifying. He had sent 600 of his “Chosen” chariots. Chariots were an incredible weapon then. Their speed, power, and weaponry were devastating. Usually chariots had 2-3 well trained men ride on these horse drawn carriage often with knives protruding from the wheels and chariot. Not only did he have 600 of these menacing machines but he had selected his best soldiers for the job as well. This would have been a fearsome sight and a terrible thing to see coming your way. Same could be said of the days we are living in. We will and have seen some terrible things head our way. The “woke” movement, the attack of righteous things, we see the destruction of homes, and government, sickness everywhere, death and suffering, and we too may face the pressure to respond in the wrong way. But know all of these things were told to us that they would come. And God has prepared us for these things for that we “may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ”. So with this truth understood, let us consider how the people of Israel responded.

III. Response of the Unbelieving (v.10-12)

Two things appear to stand out from this people. The first notice their...

III(A). Bipolar Faith (v.8,10)

When I say bipolar, I mean to say that it was inconsistent, lacking, quick to change, and ultimately UNLOYAL!!! To understand this, let’s go back to verse 8 for a minute and look at how the Israelites had responded up to that point. In verse 8, we read

Exodus 14:8 NASB95

The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he chased after the sons of Israel as the sons of Israel were going out boldly.

Exodus 14:8 ESV

And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the people of Israel while the people of Israel were going out defiantly.

These words accurately describe how the Israelites felt out God, themselves, and their enemies during the good times. After the battle had been one and they left Egypt as conquerors. They left Egypt boldy and confidently because they saw the power of God again work incredible works on their behalf that even the great king of Egypt who they once feared cower at the mighty power of God. The ESV correctly states that they not only went out out confidently but even defiantly against Pharoah. They gave him so to speak the proverbial stick eye. Like “ha you cant touch me” kinda thing. They had these feelings again because times were good. God delivered them and now was active leading them by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of cloud by night. You could almost hear them say, “God is good.” So even when Moses warned of the coming danger, they weren’t worried but had confidence. But notice how quickly that all changed for them.

Exodus 14:10 ESV

When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord.

They feared greatly. Not days before they had complete confidence and now suddenly an utter change in character. Where was their faith in God to deliver them, where was their defiant belief that Pharoah couldn’t touch them, where was their “God is good” attitude. All of the quickly changed based upon the circumstances they found themselves in. Their unbelieving heart not only revealed itself in a bipolar faith but also improper speech.

III(B). Improper Speech

By improper speech what do I mean to say in this. I mean that their speech was poor, unbiblical, and sinful!!! Their unbelieving heart manifested itself in sinful speech and we will see the 5 progressing sinful speech they had. (not going to read this passage but look what they said in verses end of 10-12)

“Cried out to God”

Sarcastic- “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness.”

Blame Shifting - “What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt”

Selfish Vindication- “Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians.’”

Complaining, Groaning, Lamenting- “For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”

As you look at the response of the unbelieving do, you find yourself to relate too well to this response. A bipolar faith. God is good when times are good. But do you still believe that even when times are bad. Do you confidently hold faith in God’s power and plan even when times are rough. Job faced the hardest trials perhaps any man has ever faced and do you know what he said.

Job 1:21 ESV

And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

How inconsistent, how quick are we to change our tone, how unloyal are we to God. God does many wonderful things for us in our lifetime. How quickly do we forget those things in our times of trouble. God requires that we look back on those times and remember His faithfulness.

Maybe you think you are good now. Maybe you don’t feel like you struggle with a bipolar faith or an unbelieving like heart. Does your speech line up with that. If your speech looks more like the Israelites in this passage… over sarcastic, often passing the blame on others, always looking to make yourself look right, and complaining often… it is very likely that you too have a heart that resembles unbelief.

This time in our world has shown the light of this on many a person, revealing to many the hearts that struggle with belief in God. We see lots of blame shifting… this is Biden’s fault, this soo and soo faults, should have listened to us, then the complaining, then the depression and on and on. I ask, who has allowed these things to happen, ultimately? God. Who is still in control? God. Who is using these things to illumine this heart of unbelief in us and mold us to be more faithful followers of Him? God.

As God had used this event to make Himself known in the Israelites life, that HE IS GOD and HE WILL HAVE THE GLORY so to is He doing this with us. It may look like we are trapped up against the Red Sea and have no where to go, but GOD who is rich in mercy and loved us… saving us from our sins as is told in Ephesians 2 is also rich is desiring the best in us and will raise us up to walk worthy in Him.

If you think it looks to be too difficult to have this kind of faith, let’s look at the next point, the..

IV. Confidence of the Righteous (v.13-14)

If anyone had doubts about their ability, it was Moses as we have already discussed. But look at what God can do in man. Look at His power to change. Do you think that Moses felt a bit overwhelmed. Yah, I would say he has. I have heard alot of people say in the last 4 years about our previous president and the current one, boy would I hate to be in their shoes. Well, I personally think that it may have been even harder to be in Moses. The nation was looking to him to guide them. A nation of well over 600,000 men, if we counted the women and the children and the other people of other races and nationalities that joined Israel during the exodus, it is easy to imagine that their would easily be well over 2 million people that Moses is leading. And this people were a hard to please group. Oh it would have been agitating to lead this group. How many times did they grumble and complain and disobey. They acted so much like toddlers. Moses become like the nanny to a nation of toddlers. It would have been exhausting. And now they are coming to him, pressing him for answers, mocking him, blaming him, scolding him while a giant army comes to wipe them out. And he is responsible for this group. It could have been very easy for him to revert back to a time when he doubted in himself and even God. But what does this man do.

Exodus 14:13–14 ESV

And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

He was convinced of God’s power. He remembered God’s promises back in verse 1-4, He remembered that God keeps His promises. Every promise that God told to Moses long ago even when he was at the burning bush, God had fulfilled with exact detail and Moses knew that He would do it again. He remembered God’s power over the Egyptians and he chose to believe that. That’s what separates Moses from Israel. He kept His mind on the things of the Lord.

Just like for us.

Philippians 4:4–8 ESV

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Isaiah 26:3 ESV

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

And just like that, Moses faith was well founded. Cause at that moment, God prevailed.

V. Prevailing of God (v. 30-31)

You guys well know what happens in this story. God separates the Egyptians from the Israelites with the pillar of cloud. Then during that time, God opens up the red sea and the people crossed unharmed while God closes the sea on the terrified Egyptians. It is interesting to hear the Egyptians thoughts.

Exodus 14:25 ESV

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.”

They recognized God just as God said they would. Same will be said of all the difficulties that we face. All the ones that give us a hard time now. All will bow down before Christ and proclaim Him be King.

Philippians 2:10–11 ESV

so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

We can have confidence in this prediction because God is consistent in character. He kepts His promises. It’s not on our time table, but on His. Israel was in captivity in Israel for 400 years. Some might have questioned God’s promise but He made a promise to them to bring them to the land and He did. Joseph believed that before He died (see Exodus 13:19, Moses believed that, and we should believe that God keeps his promises as well. God will prevail. We may not see all of it even in our lifetimes just like some who lived and died in Egypt, but don’t let that discourage you. The Bible reminds us that 1) God is in control, 2)He is faithful, 3) He cares for you, 4) What He does is for our good and His glory.

With these truths, today be one of the days God uses as the “Exodus of Unbelief” in our lives that we too would know the true power of God and give Him glory.