Slices
Prepare
As a teenager, I had a go-to song to sing in my head at difficult times, to encourage myself in God. It ended with the reminder that in Christ we are more than conquerors. What helps you in such times?
Bible passage
14 Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 ‘Tell the Israelites to turn back and camp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. They are to camp by the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon. 3 Pharaoh will think, “The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.” 4 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.’ So the Israelites did this.
5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, ‘What have we done? We have let the Israelites go and have lost their services!’ 6 So he had his chariot made ready and took his army with him. 7 He took six hundred of the best chariots, along with all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers over all of them. 8 The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out boldly. 9 The Egyptians – all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots, horsemen and troops – pursued the Israelites and overtook them as they camped by the sea near Pi Hahiroth, opposite Baal Zephon.
10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. 11 They said to Moses, ‘Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, “Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians”? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!’
13 Moses answered the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.’
15 Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. 16 Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. 17 I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. 18 The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.’
Explore
This passage has three main characters: Pharaoh, Moses and God.
Pharaoh has been informed of the Israelites’ departure (v 5). He galvanises his considerable army into action and chases after the Israelites to re-enslave them. They quickly catch up with them. This understandably terrifies the Israelites. They make the first of their ‘We should have stayed in our captivity!’ complaints (vs 10–12). From marching along with confidence (v 8), they’ve immediately changed their minds about their situation.
Moses, therefore, is dealing with them. His confidence in what God will do, as he speaks to the frightened people, is wonderful (vs 13,14); he believes utterly that the Lord is in control. His conviction that the Lord will do a wonderful thing shines out.
And God? God planned it like this (vs 1–4). The confrontation between Israel’s God and the gods of Egypt, already seen in the plagues, is now about to culminate in the final overthrow of Pharaoh’s army. His instructions to Moses (vs 15–18) are clear and show that this is all about God gaining glory and renown.
Respond
It can be really hard, in the middle of sudden, frightening or upsetting situations, to keep our focus on the Lord and wait for his deliverance. Pray for anyone known to you who needs ‘only to be still’.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Jeremiah 21,22; Psalms 117,118
Pray for Scripture Union
Please pray that Ben Poch will have discernment as he leads the Regional Mission team, and that as the team gathers this week to reflect on all that God has done they will be encouraged and equipped to support Faith Guides effectively.
