the Exodus.

I am currently reading through the book of Exodus, and the encouragement I have received from my Father through His word is so extremely overwhelming.  


God's people came to Egypt during the beginning after Joseph was sold by his brothers to be a slave, and through a series of events he became Pharaoh's right-hand man. Through God's grace, God used Joseph to save all the people from famine.   The Israelites began settling in Egypt and for a long time they had favor with the Pharah and Egyptians. Over many many years, it was forgotten how the Lord used Joseph to save the land, and the Israelites had become slaves to Egypt.  It was finally time for them to leave and return to the land God had promised them.  God called on Moses to be his messenger, and Aaron was his spokesperson.  God told Moses he would bring the people out of Egypt.  God hardened Pharaoh's heart over and over again and Pharaoh did not want the Israelites to leave, but finally after many plagues and the Passover, Pharaoh wanted them gone. And he let them go until his heart was hardened again and decide to chase after them and bring them back to Egypt as his slaves once again.

"The time that the people of Israel lived in Egypt was 430 years. At the end of 430 years, on that very day, all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt. It was a night of watching by the Lord, to bring them out of the land of Egypt; so this same night is a night of watching kept to the Lord by all the people of Israel throughout their generations."  Exodus 12:40-42

God  brought the people of Israel out of Egypt. He watched over them then, and He watches over us now.  How comforting is it to know that God is watching over you and I now?  And He protects us!

"When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, "Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt. But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle." Exodus 13:17-18

God watches us, and He guides us.  He led the people through the wilderness because He was protecting them and their eyes from war.  He wanted them to feel safe, and He knew their hearts to know that seeing war might make them return to Egypt where it was comfortable  even though the people could not freely worship Him.    He wants the best for us and knows the course we need to take if we will allow Him too. He will protect us and guard us.

 The people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle. 

  He equips us with His Word for battles.  He equipped His people in the Great Exodus, and He equips us now.  He's given us His Word, and because of Jesus's death, resurrection, and ascension, we have the Holy Spirit to guide us.  I'm so overwhelmed.  I don't have to fight Satan on my own because God will do it for me if I'll allow Him to.  The Israelites were afraid.  But God stayed true to His promise.  He fought the fight for them.   He led the people across the Red Sea and swallowed the Egyptians into the Red Sea.  All so that the people would never have to see them again, and God would receive the glory.

And Moses said to the people, "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today.  For the Egyptions whom you see today, you shall never see again.  The Lord will fight for you, and you only need to be silent."   Exodus 14:13-14

Fear Not, Stand Firm, and See the salvation of the Lord.

He will fight for you.  Just be silent.  Don't try and fight it on your own, but wait for Him. Let Him fight the battle for you.  After all, He is God, and He already won the battle for us when He sent Jesus to die on a cross for us.

And right now as I struggle in a battle I'm trying to fight on my own, God is telling me to be silent and stop trying to fight this own my own.  Let HIM take control.  I'm letting Him take control.  He had the power to part the Red Sea, let us pass through, then swallow the enemy by the Red Sea.  So today, I will allow God to lead me across the Red Sea . I will not look back, and I will trust Him to part it, take me across, and swallow the enemy behind me.