God wants all people, everywhere to know Him and to glorify Him. At various points in history, God has moved in such a manner in order that the people Carraige us Christians of the world would be reminded that He is God and not us. In every situation the results were the same, the proud were humbled and God’s people were encouraged. Notice this cycle being executed within this familiar passage of scripture:
1. The proud persecute God’s people as a result of their hardened hearts.
Ex. 14:4 “And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD. And they did so.”
2. The weak respond with fear instead of faith.
V10-11 “And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD. And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?”
3. God increases His people’s faith through the proclamation of His word.
V13-14 “And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.”
4. God is honored through the judgment He renders upon the proud.
V17-18 “And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.”
5. The obedient are rewarded for their faithfulness.
V27-28 “And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.”
6. God finally receives the glory which He deserves!
V30-31 “Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore. And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses.”
LESSON - If we were to seek opportunity to glorify God every day with a humble spirit, we would experience firsthand the power of God in our lives. The world does not need to see Believers cowering in the midst of troublesome situations. They need to see courageous Christians remaining faithful regardless of their circumstances. When God is ready to perform His next miracle, will you be an active participant like Moses or merely a spectator?
~Mike
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