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Exodus 13:17-14:31

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

  • Rich Jones
  • Weekend Messages
  • December 11, 2018

Exodus 13-14 is certainly an amazing part of the story because it seems that God led them straight into a trap. They would find themselves between a rock and a hard place; caught between the army of Egypt that came out to pursue them and the sea in front of them.

This is a major event in the history of Israel. It’s also a picture of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. There are also many spiritual lessons and personal applications as we understand what God was doing within Israel and what he desires to do within us.

  • Sermon Notes
  • Transcription
  • Scripture

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Exodus 13:17 to 14:31

At this point in Exodus Pharaoh has finally relented and let the people of Israel go. The plagues have come to an end. God established the Passover so the Israelites would remember that God saved them from the condemnation of death and from the slavery and oppression in Egypt.

Being set free from Egypt, Israel began their journey through the wilderness.What’s interesting is that God did not lead them directly to the land of the Philistines, modern day Gaza, in what would have been a fairly straight journey to the Promised Land; a distance of perhaps 120 miles to the east.Instead, God led the people south, down the Sinai Peninsula, around by the way of the wilderness to the Sea.

This is certainly an amazing part of the story, because it seems that God led them straight into a trap. They would find themselves between a rock and a hard place; caught between the army of Egypt that came out to pursue them and the sea in front of them.

This is a major event in the history of Israel. It’s also a picture of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.There are also many spiritual lessons and personal applications as we understand what God was doing within Israel and what he desires to do within us.

I. Let God Lead the Way

  • One of the first things to see from this story is that it was God who was leading Israel through the desert.
  • It appeared to the Egyptians that they were wandering aimlessly.
  • But God knew what He was doing, and He knows what He is doing in our lives as well. 

A.  He leads by day and by night

  • The Lord was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night to give them light. This would continue for forty years, until they came into the Promised Land.
  • There is significance and meaning in God leading them by a cloud and by fire, but first we must recognize that he was always leading them. The question is whether they would follow with their heart.
  • One of the great causes of difficulties in people’s lives is that they only want God to lead them part of the time, but God wants to direct our lives all the time; both by day and by night.
  • In other words, don’t take a break from the wisdom of God’s Word. 

Illus – Some people appear to be perfectly led by God’s Word until something happens.Some people, it seems, turn into a different person when doing sports, or when troubles come into their life, or when a dispute arises; they throw the principles of God’s Word out the window. In other words, they only follow God part of the time.

Proverbs 4:18, But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines brighter and brighter until the full day.

Isaiah 58:8, “Then your light will break out like the dawn, and your recovery will speedily spring forth; and your righteousness will go before you; The glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.”

  • God’s leading is like a covering over you. You will discover that your life will be greatly blessed when you follow after God with all your heart.
  • God’s presence was seen in the cloud and in the fire. Both were good and pleasant. The cloud would be a covering and protection from the desert sun and heat and the fire at night would provide heat and light.
  • God’s presence would be seen in a cloud and in fire throughout the rest of the scriptures.

B.  God leads by His Spirit and His Word

  • The purpose of the cloud and the fire was two-fold.The first was to lead them as God would direct.The second purpose was to give them protection and covering.

Psalm 105:39, He spread a cloud for a covering, and fire to illumine by night.

  • In the same way, God’s Word is given both to lead our lives with God’s wisdom, and to protect us from the destruction of going our own way.

Psalm 119:105, Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

  • When Jesus was teaching his disciples, he referred to the Pharisees one time and said…

Matthew 15:14, “Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”

  • The Holy Spirit was present with Israel, leading them in the desert and the Holy Spirit is leading in our lives as well.

Nehemiah 9:20, “You gave Your good Spirit to instruct them, You did not without your manna from feeding them and You gave them water for their thirst.”

II. There are No Dead Ends with God

  • This next section is such an important part of the study of Exodus because of its relevance to our own lives.
  • God was clearly leading them, but it seemed He was leading them into a dead end. In actuality He wasn’t leading them into a trap, He was leading their enemies into a trap and would demonstrate His power to strengthen their faith. The Israelites were shown one of the greatest miracles in the history of Israel when he brought them through the sea on dry land and destroyed the Egyptian army when they went in pursuit.

A. Not all dead ends are God’s doing

  • Some people who read this story may wrongly conclude that if we end up on a dead-end and there seems to be no way out, that God was leading them into it.
  • But that would be a false conclusion.There are many dead ends of our own making.If we make foolish choices, we could find ourselves in difficult situations, but it was our own doing.
  • Others around us may make wrongful or hurtful decisions and lead us into difficult situations, but this was not God’s hand either.

App – but of this you can be certain, God may not have led you into a dead end, but He will certainly lead you out!!

Illus – Many people plant weeds in the lives and end up with nothing but trouble all around them. The question is what they will do now!! God may not have led you into that field of weeds, but he certainly knows the way out!

Illus – There was an old children’s song we used to sing in Sunday School, “The Lord knows the way through the wilderness, and all I have to do is follow.”

  • God will also use this situation in your life both for His glory and the strengthening of your faith and character.
  • In other words, God wants you to learn to trust Him in every difficult circumstance; that will strengthen your faith. And He wants you to learn to live in the truth of God’s Word; that will strengthen your character.
  • What do you do when you find yourself surrounded by weeds and troubles all around? First, stop planting weeds, second, start planting the seeds of righteousness by following God. He knows the way through the wilderness, all you have to do is follow.
  • Keep learning, keep growing, keep walking. 

Illus – Babies are adorable!But no one wants their baby to stay a baby.You want to see your children grow into mature adults, being able to make wise decisions for themselves.

Hebrews 5:12, For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

Hebrews 5:14, But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

B. Know how to respond to a dead end

  • You can learn both what not to do and what you need to do in the Hebrew’s reaction.
  • Pharaoh decided the Israelites were wandering aimlessly in the land. When he saw them moving into the valley by the sea and thought they were trapped, he chased after them with the horses and chariots of Egypt.
  • But when Israel saw the Egyptian army bearing down on them, they became frightened and cried out to Moses, “Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why didn’t you leave us as slaves, so we could serve the Egyptians?”
  • Here’s how you should respond if you should find yourself at a dead end…
  • Keep your eyes on the Lord.Take your eyes off the situation and put them on to the Lord. 

Hebrews 12:2, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith,

  • You would think that after all the miracles they had seen in Egypt that the people of Israel would have seen enough for them to believe; but miracles are not enough.

Illus – There is a story of a rich man and a poor beggar named Lazarus who both died… miracles are not enough.

Luke 16:19- 31 The rich man and Lazarus

  • Don’t look for someone to blame. When Israel saw the predicament they were in, they turned to Moses and started blaming him.One thing is for certain, finding someone to blame does nothing to make the situation better.
  • Do not fear. Vs 13. Moses responded to the people’s blaming by telling them to “fear not.” This may seem easier to say than to do, but it is a constant admonition of the Lord.It is seen in scripture more than 60 times.If our hearts are filled with fear, then there is no room for faith.
  • Stand still.In other words, stop complaining, stop whining, stop panicking, and “Be still and know that I am God.”

There’s always someone in a crisis who panics and cries out, “We’re going to die!” But know that God will fight for you. “Take your stand,” it literally means.

C. Trust God and move forward

  • Vs 15, then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me?Tell the sons of Israel to go forward.”
  • There is a time to stand still.There is a time to pray.There is a time to call out to God.
  • But there is also a time to move forward, to do what God is asking you to do.
  • There is a time to take action by trusting that God will work in your behalf. “No weapon formed against you will prosper.” Is 54:17 

Illus – When you’re in a dead end and need 10 miracles in a row, keep moving and trust God at every turn. I found this true one day when I was late for the airport to speak in another city.

2 Chronicles 16:9, “For the eyes of the Lord search to and fro throughout the whole earth in order to show himself strong in behalf of those whose hearts are completely his.” 

Jeremiah 32:27, “Ah Lord God! Behold, Thou hast made the heavens and the earth by Thy great power and by Thine outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for Thee,”

Psalm 34:19, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”

Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Exodus 13:17 to 14:31

At this point now, through the Book of Exodus, the Pharaoh has finally relented. He's come to the point where he's agreed to let the people of Israel go and we were talking, last week, about the last of the plagues by which God established the Passover as the commemoration that they would always remember, that God is the one who saved them from death, that God saved them from the slavery and oppression of Egypt.

Coming now to this section, being set free, Israel is going to begin their journey through the wilderness. What's interesting is that God does not lead them directly to the land of the Philistines, which would be in the-- What we would call today Gaza Strip area, on the Mediterranean toward the South, which would be the main entry point into the Promised Land. He does not lead them there, he said, even though it would be maybe 120 miles, literally, it would only take them days to get there, but it would bring them right into war.

He said, "Lest they be discouraged and turn back," He sends them a different way leading the people South by Southeast, down the Sinai Peninsula, around by the way of the wilderness to the sea.
Now this is an amazing story because it seems that God is leading them, it seems that God is leading them into a trap. Because they will find themselves between a rock and a hard place, between the army of Egypt that had come out to pursue them, and the sea, in front of them, and hemmed in by mountains on the other side. Now this is the major event in the history of Israel, and it's a picture of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the salvation that He brings to us.

I. Let God Lead the Way

Now there's a lot of spiritual lessons, there's a lot of personal applications for what God is doing in Israel and what He would do in us when we see the story and understand how to apply it to our lives, so let's read it. I'm going to read the whole story. It's quite a few verses but I want us to really get the context and the backdrop to what God is doing in this story.

We're going to start in chapter 13:17. It came about that when Pharaoh had let the people go that God did not leave them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near, for God said, "Lest the people change their minds when they see war and they return to Egypt." Hence, God let the people around by the way of the wilderness to the Red Sea.

By the way, since he brings up the Red Sea, let me add a point of clarification because the Hebrew is not best translated Red Sea, it's actually best translated as Reed Sea. Somewhere, many presume, when it was being translated into the Greek, and thus, later into the Latin, and then, later, into the English, who was doing the translating into the Greek thought they would do us a favor and add a bit of commentary by calling it Red Sea. The best translation is actually Reed Sea. The exact point of it, place of it is really unknown.

Many theories have come-- I have my own theories which I'll share on Wednesday, but it's a very important part of the story.
So they were coming around by the way of the wilderness of the Red Sea and the sons of Israel went up in Marshall array," in an orderly way, "from the land of Egypt. Moses took the bones of Joseph," I love this part of the story, "for Joseph had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear saying, 'God will surely take care of you and you are carrying my bones from here with you. Do not leave me in Egypt, I want to be buried in that land that God promised to our fathers.'" I just love this part of the story too.

They're going to do it, they're taking the bones of Joseph because God's doing it. God's fulfilling His promise.
Then they set out from Succoth and they camped at Etham on the edge of the wilderness. The Lord was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night," so they can make quite a bit of distance traveling by day and by night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people. In fact, it would be there the entire 40 years.

He would not leave them until they entered into the promised land. Chapter 14:1, "Now the Lord spoke to Moses and he said, 'Now tell the sons of Israel to turn back and camp before Pi-Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. You shall camp in front of Baal-zephon, opposite it," in other words, Baal-zephon would be on the opposite side, across the sea.

"Pharaoh will say of the sons of Israel, 'They are wandering aimlessly in the land and the desert has shut them in, thus, I will harden Pharaoh's heart and he will chase out to them and I will be honored through Pharaoh, and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am Jehovah. They did it." "When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his servants had a change of heart toward the people and they said, 'What is this that we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?'" "He made his chariot ready and he took his people with him, he took 600 select chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them. The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and they chased after the sons of Israel as the sons of Israel were going out boldly.

Then the Egyptians chased after them with all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen and his army, and they overtook them camping by the sea, beside Pi-Hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon."

"As Pharaoh drew near, the sons of Israel looked, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they became frightened." "The sons of Israel cried out to the Lord."
Now listen to what they said, "They said to Moses, 'What is this? Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Is that what it is? Why have you dealt with us this way, bringing us out of Egypt? Is this not the word that we said to you in Egypt? We said, 'Leave us alone,' that we may serve the Egyptians. Didn't we say that to you? It would've been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.'" That is an interesting way of thinking.

We want to look at that and understand it because many people will find themselves stuck in the same way of thinking. Moses said to the people, "Do not fear. Stand by and watch," I love this speech. "Don't fear, stand by, and watch. See the salvation of Jehovah which he will accomplish for you today, for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent." I'll tell you what, that's a great word.

"Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Why are you crying out to me? Tell the sons of Israel to move, move forward. As for you, lift up your staff, stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, and the sons of Israel shall go out through the midst of the sea on dry land. Now as for me, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them, and I will be honored through Pharaoh, and all his army, through his chariots, and his horsemen. Then the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord Jehovah, when I am honored to Pharaoh, through his chariots, and through his horsemen.'

The angel of God, who had been going before the camp of Israel," in other words, in the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night, "he moved and went behind them and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them." "It came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel, and there was this cloud, along with the darkness, yet it gave light at night. Thus, the one did not come near the other all night."

"Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea and the Lord swept the sea back by a strong wind, all night, and turned the sea into dry land so the waters were divided. The sons of Israel went through the midst of the sea, on dry land, and the waters were like a wall to them, on their right and on their left." That's the key right there. "Then the Egyptians took up the pursuit, and all of Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen went in after them into the midst of the sea."

"They came about at the morning watch," so this had been happening all night, that, "at the morning watch, the Lord looked down on the army of the Egyptians, through the pillar of fire and cloud, and He brought the army of the Egyptians into confusion. He caused their chariot wheels to swerve and made them drive with difficulty. The Egyptians said, 'Let's flee from Israel for the Lord is fighting for them against the Egyptians.'"

"Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Now stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may come back over the Egyptians, over their chariots, and over their horsemen.' Moses stretched out his hand over the sea and the sea returned to its normal state at daybreak while the Egyptians were fleeing right into it.

Then the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea, and the waters returned, and covered the chariots and horsemen. Even Pharaoh's entire army that had gone into the sea after them, not even one of them remained. The sons of Israel walked on dry land to the midst of the sea, and the waters were like a wall to them on the right and the left. Thus, the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore."

When Israel saw the great power which the Lord had used against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord." This is a key component to faith, and they believed in Jehovah and his servant Moses. By the way, one of the reasons that people don't like the phrase Reed Sea is because to them, it suggests that it's shallow and that's taking away from the miracle. Which reminds me of a cute little story.

A little girl was trying to explain to her teacher about the miracle of God bringing the Israelites through the sea and the teacher responded, "Well, you know, it was only a few inches deep." I love the little girl's response. She says, "Well, that's a great miracle do that God could destroy the entire army of Egypt with just a few inches of water," but it's interesting because doing good study and research on this, many would surmise that at the point where they cross that actually would be closer to 100 to 150 feet deep. I'll speak to that a little on Wednesday, but this is a great story.
One of the greatest miracles in the history of Israel and there's so much for us to learn and to apply from it. Key is verse 31, where it says, when they saw the great power, which the Lord had used, they feared the Lord and they believed. God is doing something to make his name great and to establish faith. He's going to change these people, the way they think, and their hearts. This is a great story and there's a lot of application for us, starting with this point for us, let God lead the way.

A. He leads by day and by night

One of the first things you see from the story is that God is leading them through the desert, but to the Egyptians, it appeared that they were wandering aimlessly, but God knew what he was doing. This is important to recognize because God wants to lead us. This is a key component to our faith. God wants to lead us and we got to see that He leads by day and by night. God is going before them in the pillar of cloud by day, pillar of fire by night and this is going to continue for 40 years until they get into the promised land.

The significance and the meaning of God leading by a cloud and by fire is so important. You can do a study through the Scriptures, because you will see this in many different ways throughout the Scriptures, but the keys that are understand here is that He's leading them. The question is whether they would follow with their heart. This became an issue. This became an issue for 40 years. Will they follow with their heart?

You see, one of the greatest causes of difficulty in people's lives, is that they only want God to lead them part of the time, but God wants to direct our lives all of the time by day and by night. In other words, don't be a part-time follower. God's wisdom is to be lived all the time, by day and by night. By leading us, He is strengthening us and helping us but don't be a part-time follower.
Sometimes, you can see someone, you look at them and you might think, "Oh, look at that. They're doing well. They're following after the Lord." Yes, that is until something happens, some event happens, or they do something like sports. All of a sudden, they take all the principles of the Lord and throw them out the window. I, myself, I'm not a competitive person. I am probably the most noncompetitive person that you know. Okay, that's a joke.

Whenever we've done men's retreats or whatever, and we're going get the men together, and let's say we're going to play a game of basketball or volleyball or something, I like to gather them in together and have a little speech. "We're going to play basketball now together and let me remind us all that we are Christian men, and that we should live by Christian principles in this game." Can I have a witness on this? Because what happens is that, all of a sudden, here's a nice guy.

By all appearances, a wonderfully nice guy until we start playing basketball, and then or baseball, or volleyball, or something, and what happened? He turned into a monster or conflict arises in marriage. Then what happens? They take the principles of God and throw them out the window. Well, what happened there? God's wisdom is to be applied, especially in times like that. That's when we need the Lord. Don't be a part-time follower because God is going to do something. God's going to use it, if we just would follow and let God lead us even especially in times of that.
He'll do something. Proverbs 4:18, "The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn that shines brighter and brighter until the full day," or Isaiah 58:8, "Your light will break out like the dawn and your recovery will speedily spring forth, and your righteousness will go before you. The glory of the Lord will be your rear guard."

He's doing something through it. See, God's leading is like a covering protection. You will discover that your life will be greatly blessed when you follow all the time, by day and by night with all of your heart. "God's presence was seen in the cloud and in the fire and both were good and pleasant." See it's good and pleasant to have God's leading you. The cloud would be a covering and protection for them from the desert hid and the sun, and the fire at night would provide light and heat. It's good and how pleasant.

B. God leads by His Spirit and His Word

God's presence is seen in the cloud and fire throughout the Scriptures from this point forward. That's important for us to recognize He's leading in our lives because he leads today by His Spirit and by His word. The purpose of the caught in the fire was two-fold. The first was to lead them as God would direct. The second is to give them covering, protection over them. It mentions this in Psalm 105:39, "He spread the cloud for a covering and a fire to light them by night." This was the point. In the same way God's word then is given both to lead our lives with God's wisdom and to protect us.

Same two-fold purpose, to lead and to protect, and bring a covering, and to protect us from the destruction that comes from going our own way. If we do not follow after God, but follow our own, it will surely lead us into the path of destruction that God is trying to protect us from that. This is like Psalm 119:105, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and it has a light to my path. It shows the way in which to go." In the same way, the Holy Spirit. It tells us that the Holy Spirit was with Israel in the desert. Nehemiah 9:20 speaks about it. It says, "You gave your good Spirit to instruct them." He's speaking to Israel in the desert and you're gay and He does the same for us. Jesus spoke of that. He gives the Holy Spirit to instruct us. He did not withhold manna from feeding them.

II. There are No Dead Ends with God

In the same way, He is the bread of life that strengthens and nourishes the soul. It says, "You gave them water for their thirst." Jesus is our living water, satisfying the thirst of the soul and He gives the Holy Spirit. I love that verse in Isaiah, where it says, "You will hear a voice behind you. This is the way, walk in it." That's the leading of the Holy Spirit. This is important to recognize the Holy Spirit will lead us and speak to us. "This is the way. Go this way. This is the way. This is the path of righteousness. This is the path of blessing," and that's the leading of the Lord.

Now, going back to the story in Exodus, we got to also recognize that there are no dead ends with God. This section is so important because of its relevance and application. God is clearly leading them but it seemed least to the Egyptians that He was leading them into a trap, but he was not leading them into a trap.

He was leading their enemies into a trap, but He was going to demonstrate His power and to strengthen their faith. The Israelites were shown one of the greatest miracles in the history of Israel when He brought them through on dry land and destroyed the Egyptian army when they went into pursuit. This was not a dead end. This was God doing something to strengthen faith and to bring about a tremendous victory for the name of God.

A. Not all dead ends are God’s doing

This we got to recognize because I think many of us encounter troubles and dead ends in our lives. We got to see this, not all dead ends are God's doing. Some people who I think read the story, may wrongly conclude that if you end up in a dead end, God let us into it, that would be a false conclusion, because there are many dead ends of our own making if you make foolish decisions, if you go your own way, do not follow the wisdom and principles of God.

You might find difficult circumstances and situations, but it was the decisions that lead into that dead end or others around us, may make wrongful hurtful decisions, and lead us into difficult situations, but that was not God's end either. Of this you can be certain, God may not have led you into a dead end, but he will most certainly lead you out of it.

I remember a number of years ago, a fellow called, the church was quite young and he had looked this up in the phone book. This is back in the days when phone books were a thing, and he just opened up the churches, and somehow our name just jumped out at him. He called and asked, "Is there anyone I can talk to? I need to talk to a pastor." I said, "Sure. Come."

He comes and he's beginning to explain, and all my heart started to break for him, because oh my goodness, the story that he related, the troubles that were surrounding him were immense, and of course, he wants me to speak into it, and he wants me to say something. After he finished telling me his story, I said, "Should I make an observation?" He said, "Well, yes, sure."

I said, "It seems to me that what has happened is that you have been planting weeds in your life for many years, and those weeds, briars, thorns, and are now coming up, and you are surrounded by all of these weeds, but you've been planting these weeds for years." I said, "Do you see it?" He said, "Yes, I can see it, but what do I do?" I said, "Well, my first suggestion is to start planting weeds, don't plant anymore."

I said, "When I was a kid, we used to sing a song in church, and it went like this. 'The Lord knows the way for the wilderness, and all we have to do is follow.'" I said, "The Lord knows the way out of this, but you've got to change your direction." Even planting these seeds, you got to stop planting those seeds, stop planting weeds, start planting seeds of righteousness, as you walk along the way. Follow after God, step by step, day by day planting, right seeds, and I tell you, it will bear forth, it will return to you, it will bless your life, but it starts with repentance.

You got to turn your life in a different direction. I said, "Would you let me pray for you?" He said, "Sure." I said, "Actually, I like you to pray, can we get underneath?" He said, "Okay." We get underneath together, I put one arm around her shoulder, and I put one arm on the chair in front of us, and he starts crying, and tears start flowing down his face. I'm going to tell you something so beautiful to me. Here's my arm and felt like this. Then he's crying, and his tears are like wetting my arm. I had a long sleeve shirt on, and it was just wetting my arm.

I looked at that and there's something just hit my heart. I thought these are the most beautiful tears, these are the tears of repentance, it's beautiful. You know that Scripture? It's in the Psalms that says, "He holds our tears in a bottle." I love that song because it really-- You know what it speaks about? It says, "That's precious. That's precious to God." When someone comes to that point where their heart is turning, and they've come to see it, and now they're trusting God, that's a beautiful point, and I saw those tears wetting my arm and, oh, that is beautiful.

This is an important story because a lot of people, find themselves in dead ends, and had been planting weeds for many years, and I think the same word would apply. Stop planting weeds, start following after God. He knows the way to the wilderness. All we have to do is follow, but follow every day, follow every step, and turn. See, God will use the situation in your life, both for His Glory and to strengthen your character. He'll strengthen your faith.

In other words, God wants you to learn to trust Him in every difficult situation, and that will strengthen your faith. He wants you to learn to live by the truth, and the wisdom, and the principles of His word that will strengthen your character. What do you do when you find yourself surrounded by weeds and troubles? Stop planting weeds, start walking after God, and planting seeds of righteousness. He knows the way. Keep learning. Keep growing. Keep walking. Keep learning. Keep growing. That's what God wants to do.

I love kids. I think God has a heart after kids, but here's the thing, I don't want kids to stay kids all their lives. I want them to grow up. Kids are beautiful. Kids are cute. Kids are wonderful, but I don't want them to stay as kids, I want them to grow up, and be successful in life, be godly, have a future, have a hope, have a foundation. That's what I want. The same is true for us. God wants us to grow. He wants us to keep growing, establishing in our faith.

Hebrews 5:12, the writer admonishes them, by this time, you ought to be teachers, but you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles, literally the ABCs or the oracle of God, and you've come to need milk enough solid food. How do you respond?

B. Know how to respond to a dead end

See, know how to respond to a dead end. You can learn a lot, both from what to do and what not to do when you see the Hebrews reaction here. Pharaoh decided the Israelites are wandering aimlessly. This is His opportunity.

He sees the moving into this valley, that's by the sea, hemmed in by the mountains and the ocean, he chases after them with the horses and their chariots, but when Israel saw the Egyptian army bearing down, they became frightened, and they cried out to Moses. Listen to what they said. "What is this? Is it because there were not enough graves? Is it in Egypt that you have taken is out here to die in the wilderness? Is that it? Why did you do this? Why did you leave us as slaves?" That we could serve the Egyptians. We would have preferred to have stayed slaves.

How do you change? Here's the problem. They had been so long in their oppression and in their slavery, they couldn't break out of it. Their mind, their heart, how do you change? How do you break out of it? Because many people they've lived so long in darkness or oppression or difficulty, and they can't break free, they're stuck.

I can relate, many of you know my story. I understand this, growing up, a father who was an alcoholic, abusive yelling in the house all the time, dysfunction, chaos, the entire growing up years until I moved out to go to college. I tell you what, that is not exactly a foundation for a successful life, and many people who grow up in situations like that, you know what happens? They repeat it, they do it. They do the same thing.

Many people who grow up on that they become alcoholics themselves or they become abusers. What is that old saying? Hurt people, hurt people, but I'll tell you what? I respect my mother very much because she made sure that we got to church, someway somehow she is going to make sure we get to church, we can hear that preacher, give the Word of God, and something took hold, something happened so that I didn't have to repeat what I had lived for 18 years. God can break free, God can break free. Do you believe this?

God can break free. Know how to respond. How should you respond if you should find yourself at a dead end? First of all, keep your eyes on the Lord. Take your eyes of the situation and put them on the Lord. That will strengthen faith right there. If your focus is entirely on the problem, the problem is going to consume your mind and your heart. Hebrews 12:2, "Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author, and finisher, or perfecter of our faith." This is an important part of the story.

Then I should say don't look for someone to blame. When Israel saw the predicament that they were in, they turned to Moses and started blaming him. We told you, "Don't take us out of slavery. This is your fault." Aren't you glad? Aren't you glad that God did not listen to them? Aren't you glad that God didn't say, "You know what? You're a bunch of whiners. You can just go back to Egypt since you want to do it so bad." Aren't you glad God didn't listen? God's going to see them. Don't look for someone to blame, that doesn't help either.

Then, verse 13, "Don't fear." Moses responded to the people's crying out and blaming, "Don't fear." Now that may be easier to say than to do but it's a constant admonition of the Lord. You would be amazed how many times, in the Scripture, that God says to the people, "Don't fear." You know what? More than 60 times He says this, "Don't fear." Because this is the condition that we're born into. Don't fear. Fear is the opposite of faith. There's no room for faith when your heart is filled with fear.

Next, the point out of the Scriptures is, "Stand still." In other words, stop complaining, stop whining, stop panicking. "Be still and know that I am God," the Scripture says. Now there's always going to be someone in the crisis who panics and says, "We're all going to die, but know that God will fight for you," it says. When you keep silent, God will fight for you. Take your stands what it literally means.

C. Trust God and move forward

Then lastly, trust God and move forward. See, verse 15, "The Lord said to Moses, 'Why are you crying out to me? Tell the sons of Israel to move forward.'" There's a time of standstill, there's a time to pray, there's a time to call out to God, and there's a time to move, to do what God is asking you to do. There's a time to take action by trusting God that God will work in your behalf. "No weapon formed against you will prosper," it says in Isaiah 54. There's a time to move. See, when you're in a dead end and you need 10 miracles in a row, keep moving and trust God at every turn.

One of the greatest illustrations of that that came into my life-- I could write a book on how God has shown Himself strong, amazing provision and miracles of God. I want to relate the story, some of you heard it before, but it's important because of how it applies to the story. What had happened was I was asked to speak in another city, I was going to speak to Swiss stockholders, a stockholders meeting in this company. The reason I was asked to speak is because this company had been strongly financially supporting our work in Russia.

I was supposed to go to the stockholders meeting, give a report of how we had used their funds, the last year, and then, they were going to vote to support us again the next year. They were very big contributors. I was friends with the executives and that's how that happened. Well, what had happened was, then, my plane was scheduled to leave at like 7 or 6 or something, and my wife woke me up at like 6:30 a.m, like, "Hey, aren't you supposed to be at the airport right now?"

What had happened was I set my alarm clock for PM rather than AM. You know that sinking feeling? By the way, you only need to do that once in your life and you'll never do it twice. I threw my clothes on, I got in the car, and I got on the cell phone, and I called Alaska Airlines. Back in those days, you can call legally from your phone. I'm calling Alaska, "Is there another flight that can get me to that--" it wasn't far away. "Is there another flight that would get me there?" "No, there's none."

I said, "Would you mind looking at the other airlines?" "Okay, well, there's a flight on Southwest at 7:16." I said, "Can I get that number?" I called Southwest, "Can I get a ticket on that flight?" "Not this late, but there's a kiosk, at the airport, if you really want to." I said, "Thank you very much," hung up the phone, and then I started praying. "God, I need 10 miracles and I need them in exactly the right order."

I would drove through Beaverton, and I'd tell you, I went straight through Beaverton and I never hit one red light. Right there's a miracle. I get to the airport, it was the wrong parking area, but there was a bus, it was empty, the driver was there. I just jumped on. I said, "Could you just take me?" "Okay." We drive up, I run up the stairs. There's the kiosk right there. I buy a ticket and I literally am sprinting. You know what? My gate is at the very, very last. I know.

I'm just sprinting, everything, sweat's coming down my face. I run right past the gates. Back in those days, you had to get a boarding ticket at the gate, you'd counter a person. I ran right by-- I didn't have a boarding pass. I ran down the jetway and there I saw it. Big open space where my plane should've been, and I looked and could see the tractor pushing it away. I said to the guy, "Bring it back."

He said, "No." I said, "You don't understand. That is the only plane that I can be on that's going to take me where I have to be. I have to be on that plane." He said, "It's not coming back for anybody." I said, "Okay," turned around, and started walking back up the jetway. I said, "Lord, I did this. This was me. I don't blame you for anything. You've been so good to me. You have been amazing to me in my life. I have nothing to say but thank you. I did this. This is me. I did this."

I walked up to the counter there to the gate, and I said, "I need a refund." I could see my plane, the tractor had pushed it all the way out and turned it, and, "Oh Lord, what do I say? How am I going to explain this?" Then, I'm looking, and the plane went this way and started coming this way. I looked like this, she saw the look on my face so she turned and looked and she said, "What are they doing?" I said, "I have no idea but I need the boarding pass."

Absolutely true. Came back-- I'm not making any of this up. Came back, gave the guy my boarding pass, they opened the door, I got on, they closed the door, and they left. I'm standing now in front of the whole plane. They started clapping. Obviously, somehow the fight attendant must have said something. Then we get airborne. See, I'm on the wrong plane that's going to arrive late and they were going to send somebody that didn't know my face, they were just going to hold up a card.

I think, "I need some more miracles." We get airborne and I said to the flight attendant, "What time does this plane land?" She says, "Well, excuse me, but aren't you the one that made us late?" Okay. That's true, but I still got to get there. It ended up, we had a tailwind, so we ended up landing just a short time after the other one was supposed to land. Before we landed, I said to the flight attendant, I said, "You think there's any way that I could get first off?"

To which she said, she said, "Oh, anything for you." She brought me up and I sat in like 1C and as soon as they opened the door, boom, I was out. There was a shuttle, took me to the main terminal, and I was the last on the shuttle, the first one off, biblical principle. I get inside and they're paging me. When I get off the main channel, they're already paging me, "Pastor Rich Jones, pick up the--" so I picked it up. "I'm here. I'm here. I'm here."

The timing was so amazing that they drove me to the meeting. I walked in the room. I took out my coat and walked up to the podium and I had a story to tell. Here's my point, I didn't quit. Didn't quit. Keep moving. We've got to believe that our God is able. Too many people, they quit. They quit on God.

2nd Corinthians 16:9, "The eyes of the Lord, searched to and fro throughout the holder in order to show himself strong in behalf of those whose hearts are completely His." How do you break through? So many people have lived so long in oppression or darkness, and it's affected how they think, it's affected their heart, and they don't know how to trust. We must believe. This is what God is trying to show Israel. You watch, and you watch, and you will see the deliverance of God. It says, "They believed."

Now, this is important, because we must believe, break through, trust God. Keep moving. Don't quit. Don't quit. Keep moving and watch.

Exodus 13:17-14:31 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
God Leads the People
17 Now when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near; for God said, “The people might change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.” 18 Hence God led the people around by the way of the wilderness to the [a]Red Sea; and the sons of Israel went up in martial array from the land of Egypt. 19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, “God will surely [b]take care of you, and you shall carry my bones from here with you.” 20 Then they set out from Succoth and camped in Etham on the edge of the wilderness. 21 The Lord was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might [c]travel by day and by night. 22 [d]He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.
Pharaoh in Pursuit
14 Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Tell the sons of Israel to turn back and camp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea; you shall camp in front of Baal-zephon, opposite it, by the sea. 3 For Pharaoh will say of the sons of Israel, ‘They are wandering aimlessly in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.’ 4 Thus I will [e]harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will chase after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.” And they did so.
5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, [f]Pharaoh and his servants had a change of heart toward the people, and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” 6 So he made his chariot ready and took his people with him; 7 and he took six hundred select chariots, and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them. 8 The Lord [g]hardened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he chased after the sons of Israel as the sons of Israel were going out [h]boldly. 9 Then the Egyptians chased after them with all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen and his army, and they overtook them camping by the sea, beside Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon.
10 As Pharaoh drew near, the sons of Israel [i]looked, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they became very frightened; so the sons of Israel cried out to the Lord. 11 Then they said to Moses, “Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us in this way, [j]bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘[k]Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”
The Sea Is Divided
13 But Moses said to the people, “Do not fear! [l]Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. 14 The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent.”
15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the sons of Israel to go forward. 16 As for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, and the sons of Israel shall [m]go through the midst of the sea on dry land. 17 As for Me, behold, I will [n]harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. 18 Then the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord, when I am honored through Pharaoh, through his chariots and his horsemen.”
19 The angel of God, who had been going before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them. 20 So it came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel; and there was the cloud [o]along with the darkness, yet it gave light at night. Thus the one did not come near the other all night.
21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord [p]swept the sea back by a strong east wind all night and turned the sea into dry land, so the waters were divided. 22 The sons of Israel [q]went through the midst of the sea on the dry land, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 23 Then the Egyptians took up the pursuit, and all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots and his horsemen went in after them into the midst of the sea. 24 At the morning watch, the Lord looked down on the [r]army of the Egyptians [s]through the pillar of fire and cloud and brought the [t]army of the Egyptians into confusion. 25 He [u]caused their chariot wheels to swerve, and He made them drive with difficulty; so the Egyptians said, “Let [v]us flee from Israel, for the Lord is fighting for them against the Egyptians.”
26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may come back over the Egyptians, over their chariots and their horsemen.” 27 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal state at daybreak, while the Egyptians were fleeing [w]right into it; then the Lord [x]overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. 28 The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen, [y]even Pharaoh’s entire army that had gone into the sea after them; not even one of them remained. 29 But the sons of Israel walked on dry land through the midst of the sea, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.
30 Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 When Israel saw the great [z]power which the Lord had [aa]used against the Egyptians, the people [ab]feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in His servant Moses.

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