Exodus 14:24 Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt.”.
After being oppressed for over 400 years, the Israelites embarked on the journey of escape from Egypt. However, their rejoicing lasted only until they saw the large army of 600 chariots and the Pharaoh chasing them. Terror struck as they were stuck between the rock and the hard place. Egypt was almost left in ruins by the ten plagues that the Lord did through the hands of Moses. They had lost their livestock, crops and their first born. Even the Pharaoh’s officials lamented “Do you not yet realize that Egypt is ruined?” (Exodus 10:7b) yet, the stubborn, callous and rebellious heart of the Pharaoh hardened to pursue and persecute the Israelites.
Are you stuck between the desert and the deep sea? It is God’s route to bring glory to His name. Exodus 14:3-4 Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.’ .. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord”. The enemy, the devil is relentless, restless and merciless. He will steal what is precious to us, then kill our joy, unity and peace and will not rest until he annihilate God’s purpose in His children but when we walk in obedience, God will be glorified in our victory.
Three steps to victory when we are cornered and hemmed in by the enemy:
1. Move: Exodus 14:15 Tell the Israelites to move on; (Verse 17) And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. If the terrified slaves refused to moved into the narrow pathway walled by the sea on both sides, they would not have reached the shore of victory. The 600,000 men, their wives, children and their cattle moved on in faith into the dry holy highway in the middle of the sea. God’s route of escape might look narrow, lonely and deserted; move on.
2. Midst: Exodus 14: 19 Then the angel of God, who had been travelling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The enemy could be fierce, ferocious and furious but the Lord will put a hedge of protection around us and everything that belongs to us. The choicest chariots of the Pharaoh could not overtake the slaves on foot and the Lord stood in the middle as the barricade. The intimidating enemy cannot cross the blood line of protection around us.
3. Mystery: The Pharaoh thought that the Israelites were wandering around the land in confusion when he pursued them, but the Lord threw the Pharaoh’s army into confusion. (Verse 25) He jammed the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving. The escaping slaves did not know what was happening to the chasing chariots behind them. The Lord was jamming the wheels and toppling the riders. Egyptians tried to get away as they knew that the Lord was fighting this battle. It was only after the whole flock of the escaping slaves reached the shore of success did they turn around to see the sinking soldiers. The mystery of the miracle will become evident only if we walk in the narrow path of obedience walled by the waters.
When the enemy is closing in, when the battle is too fierce for us to handle and when we are tired of fighting, struggling and battling, just walk in obedience. The mystery of the victory is only for those who walk in obedience, patience and deference.
Exodus 15:3-4 The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is his name. Pharaoh’s chariots and his army he has hurled into the sea.
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