Do you ever feel you are wandering around aimlessly? Like you have no purpose or you don't know where to go next? The people of Israel had just left Egypt. They had seen mighty powers of God displayed and now they were free, but Scripture tells us they "were wandering aimlessly" verse 3 says. They felt "shut in". Even though they were free they were feeling like they had no place to go, BUT GOD ...
If you have known me for very long you know that is one of my favorite phrases ... But God had a plan. God was going to send Pharaoh and his army after the people! What? What kind of plan is this? They were free. God's purposes had been fulfilled, so why all the drama and the big chase? Verse 4 gives us that answer, so "I will be honored ... and the Egyptians will KNOW that I am the LORD."
So 600 select chariots plus an unnumbered amount of other chariots headed into the wilderness after the people of Israel who felt like they were wandering aimlessly, without purpose. You can just imagine them trudging through the dusty wilderness. No life to be seen around them. Dust, dirt, mountains, a few desert plants ... no work to be done (they had worked tirelessly for years and years!) and now they had suddenly "retired" and didn't know what to do next ... Then all the sudden out of deserted "nowhereness" comes an army of chariots! Talk about livening up the evening ...
Once the people saw the army they "became very frightened" (vs 10) and they cried out to the LORD. When perhaps they couldn't get God to answer they started in on Moses telling him that he had just brought them out to die in the wilderness. They were losing hope fast!
What was Moses' answer? "Do not fear! Stand still and see the LORD's salvation ... the LORD will fight for you while you keep silent."
When you are wandering around aimlessly, without purpose and no where to go just take a minute and stop, look and listen. Moses told the people:
1) Stand still
2) See or watch for the LORD's salvation
3) Be quiet (stop your crying! as my son would tell my daughter)
Once they stopped, looked and listened God gave them His instructions, "move forward" (vs 15) and let Me show you my glory ...
Then with an outstretching of Moses' staff a way was made, God opened the Red Sea and the Pillar of Fire directed them through it all night long. (Stop for a minute, look with your imagination and hear the sounds of the wind and the glory of God ~ what an incredible experience this must have been!!)
The end of chapter 14 says that the LORD saved Israel that day and when Israel saw the great power of the LORD they believed in Him.
How have you seen God move powerfully in your life lately? Have you seen Him clear a path for you through insurmountable or aimless circumstances? Are you wandering around aimlessly and wondering what is next? Then stop, look and listen and watch for God's glory ... it's probably just around the next bend ...
Blessings Abundant,
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