Exodus 14 -- Not A Wrong Turn

God had set the Israelites out on one path, then told them to turn around and go back another way.  He didn't do this because He'd changed His mind or made a mistake.  He was making Egypt believe that they were lost and wandering, setting up a final encounter that would cause all of Egypt to know that He is the only God.

When they reached the sea, the angel of the Lord and the pillar of cloud/fire moved between the two groups.  The pillar of fire provided light to the Israelites while the pillar of cloud produced absolute darkness for the Egyptians while the wind blew from the east all night, drying up the exposed seabed, allowing the Israelites to cross on dry ground.  I have often imagined the droplets or molecules of water surrounding all of the soil at the sea bottom hearing God tell them to get out, and I've thought of how each droplet or molecule hurried with everything they had in them to obey God!  

Moses told them to stand still and to be still.  My commentary reminded me here that "faith is not believing in spite of evidence -- that's superstition -- but obeying in spite of consequence."

God even stopped the wheels of the Egyptian chariots from turning before drowning them all when He released the sea.  Egypt would finally know that Jehovah was the Almighty God.

Father, I thank You for teaching me through Josh's adoption that faith is obeying in spite of consequences.  You proved You are God to me during that time, and I'll never forget it!

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford