Read Exodus 13:17-22; 14:10-14, 19-20, 21-22, 26-31.
The final plague against the firstborn devastated the people of Egypt. It forced Pharaoh to demand that Moses and Aaron take the people of Israel and leave. Instead of taking the northern route which would have made the journey to the Promised Land shorter, God led them southeast into the wilderness. God’s visible manifestation led the people with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night on their journey.
The threat came in the form of the Egyptian army, bearing down on Israel. The very people who had seen Yahweh God do mighty acts and miracles against the Egyptian cowered in fear. Their dread was so much that they actually longed for the “good old days” of slavery. Moses told the people to stand still and shut up because God was about to move in their midst again. God drove the sea in front of the people apart, creating a path of dry land for the Israelites to cross into safety. The pursuing Egyptian army was swallowed up by the water and were never seen again. Finally, the people of Israel feared God and believed in Moses. However, this would not last long.
God has done great and dramatic things in our lives as well. Why do we cower in fear over a circumstance that doesn’t seem to go our way? Much like the Israelites, we forget how God has worked in our lives. But, we should never fear following Him, even when the path is not the one we think we should take.
Mark Riser - Apologist 