Êxodo 13

Êxodo 13

Morgan - God led them not by the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near.—Exodus 13.17. A great principle of the Divine government emerges in these words, an under-standing of which will explain many experiences through which His people are called to pass. These people were but now released from slavery, and were undisciplined and untrained. Before they could be ready to withstand the opposition of new enemies, they had much to learn, and many experiences through which to pass. The near way geographically to their destination lay through the land of the Philistines, but to pass that way would inevitably have involved them in conflict. For this they were not in any way pre-pared. To have been thus plunged into it, would necessarily have filled them with despair, producing a change of mind which would have sent them back to Egypt. Therefore God led them round about, by a longer way, having its own difficulties as the sequel will show, but delivering them from this first peril. How constantly God does this with His people! He leads us by ways which seem to us to be long and tedious, when there are ways apparently so *much more direct to the goal where we know He wills we should be. Let us ever know that when He does so, He is avoiding for us perils of which we may not be conscious, but which are far graver than those through which we pass as we travel the pathway He marks out for us. The nearest way is not always the shortest. Our God never permits us, as long as we obey Him, to meet any danger unprepared. The length of the way, and the slowness of the method, are really making for quick and sure arrival. (Life Applications from Every Chapter of the Bible). Handfuls of Purpose - James Smith LED BY THE LORD Exodus 13:16–22; 14 The invisible God led the children of Israel as His own people by the visible, moving, guiding, cloudy pillar. So the Holy Ghost does as really lead us now through the pillar of the Word. As God made the pillar a sheltering cloud and a shining fire, so the Holy Spirit makes the Word to every believer a place of refuge and a guiding lamp. Those led by the Lord— I. Have been Delivered by the Lord. “The Lord brought us forth out of Egypt” (Ex 13:16). Not rebels but sons are led by the Spirit. While under the dominion of sin we are in “the house of bondage.” We must be freed by His blood before we can become “a kingdom of priests unto God” (Rev. 1:5, 6). “Salvation is of the LORD” (Jonah 2:9). II. Should Unwaveringly Follow. “God led them not through the land of the Philistines, although that was near, but through the way of the wilderness” (Ex 13:17, 18). It is comparatively easy for us to follow the Lord when we are led the near way, the way we expected to go, but faith is more severely tested when the way leads us round about, and that through a wilderness. When HE leads us let us be assured it is the right way. It may be through the wilderness of adverse circumstances, bodily affliction, or bereavement (Psa. 107:7). III. Shall Follow in an Orderly Manner. The children of Israel went up by five in a rank out of Egypt” (v. 18, margin). They went out following the Lord as an orderly, armed host. Can there be anything else than harmonious regularity when the Lord leads, and when all are alike willing to follow Him. From whence cometh divisions (1 Cor. 1). Out of the depths of our proud, carnal, self-seeking minds. “I am of Paul, I of Apollos, Is Christ divided?” (1 Cor. 1:12, 13). Holy Spirit, lead Thou me on. IV. Will Walk in the Light. “The Lord went before them to lead the way by a pillar of fire to give them light by night” (Ex 13:21). God in the pillar led them, sheltered them, satisfied them with bread, and in the wilderness darkness shone upon them. Jesus said, “He that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12). The light of God’s presence still shines out upon His people in the darkness of this wilderness world through the holy pillar of His Word. “Walk in His light.” “Follow on to know.” V. Will be Pursued by the Enemy. “And Pharaoh pursued after the children of Israel” (Ex 14:8, 9). He said, “They are entangled in the land” (chap. 14:3). They are crazy, and don’t know where they are going. Such weak-minded people will be an easy prey. Yes, when we are led by the Lord we appear fools in the eyes of the worldly-wise. As soon as Christ was led by the Spirit He was tempted of the devil. If any man will live godly he must suffer persecution. It is only after we have escaped out of the kingdom of darkness that we are pursued by the devices and rulers of the darkness of this world. “Woe unto you when all speak well of you” (Luke 6:26). VI. Shall see the Salvation of the Lord. “Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace” (Ex 14:13, 14). The victory is to be one of faith. This is the weapon of our warfare, fight the good fight of faith. “Your strength is to sit still” (Isa. 30:7). “Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand, and having done all, stand, stand therefore” (Eph. 6:11–14). The great wrestling struggle of faith is that we should be able, in the face of all opposing forces, just to keep our standing in Christ Jesus, where we are complete. Stand still, trust on, and ye shall see the salvation of God. The Lord shall fight for you, He shall make a way through the deep, and thou shalt glorify Him. VII. Shall Sing the Song of Triumph. “Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song” (Ex 15:1). A Red Sea often rolls between our sorrows and our songs. “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning” (Psa. 30:5). “Call upon Me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver you, and thou shalt glorify Me” (Psa. 50:15). The song of praise will surely follow the restful trust of faith. Think of David’s words, “I will not give sleep to mine eyes, nor slumber to mine eyelids, until I find out a place for the Lord” (Psa. 132:4, 5). Have we found out a place for the Lord in all the plans, purposes, and affairs of our lives? Make room for Him, and your songs of victory will never cease. God’s Timing For every matter there is a time and judgment. — Ecclesiastes 8:6 Today's Scripture: Exodus 13:17-22 Pastor Audley Black’s church near the south coast of Jamaica has been in a building program since at least 2005. That was the first time I visited his church and saw that they were expanding. The last time I was there—in the spring of 2011—some of the walls were up. By that summer, they had started on the roof. When I suggested to Pastor Black that perhaps the church would be done by 2013 when I thought I might return, he said it was a possibility. There was no hint of disappointment that this project could take 8 years or longer! No, Pastor Black and his people are excited about what God is doing, and they’re patient with His timing. We are often not that patient. We want our church to grow quickly, our young people to mature right away, and our problems to be fixed today. Maybe we need to be reminded that some things take time—God’s time. For instance, when the Israelites first left Egypt, God sent them on the long route to the Promised Land (Ex. 13:17-18). During that time He prepared them, taught them, and challenged them. He does not lead me year by year, Nor even day by day; But step by step my path unfolds; My Lord directs my way. —Ryberg God’s timetable may move slowly, but it does move surely. Exodus 13:18 Hence God led the people around by the way of the wilderness to the Red Sea; and the sons of Israel went up in martial array from the land of Egypt. Currid - So God led the people by the way of the wilderness to the Red Sea, and by divisions the children of Israel went up from the land of Egypt. led the - Ex 14:2 Nu 33:6-8 De 32:10 Ps 107:7 went up in martial array- Ex 12:51 Exodus 13 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Red Sea Hence God led the people around by the way of the wilderness to the Red Sea (click here for the upper portion of the map enlarged and showing the Gulf of Suez and Gulf of Aqabah) - "around by the way of the desert to the Red Sea." Specifically God directed Israel to go in the opposite direction of where she was headed. God did not lead Israel ON the shortest or fastest route to the Promised Land, but it was His path for them. His path is always the best path!