Hold Your Peace, the LORD Shall Fight for You!

Posted on Posted in Audio Sermons 2013, December 2013, Sermon Notes, Prayer Meeting Tagged with , , ,

Hymns: 351 He Leadeth Me 352 All the Way My Savior Leads Me 353 God Will Take Care of You

Hold your peace, the LORD shall fight for you!

(Exodus 14)

Exodus 14:1-31 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baalzephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea. 3 For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in. 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. 5 And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us? 6 And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him: 7 And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them. 8 And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an high hand. 9 But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon. 10 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. 11 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? 12 Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness. 13 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. 14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

15 And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: 16 But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. 17 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. 18 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. 19 And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: 20 And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night. 21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. 22 And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. 23 And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. 24 And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians, 25 And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians. 26 And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. 27 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. 28 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. 29 But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.

30 Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore. 31 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.

OUTLINE

  • God plans His people’s future (v1-14)
  • God leads them along (v15-29)
  • God’s people learn to rest in His care (v30-31)

 

INTRODUCTION

The rescue of the nation of Israel from the iron furnace of Egypt has to be one of the greatest events in the history of the world. The Passover signifies a new beginning for Israel. The lamb was slain, the doorposts sprinkled with blood, the firstborn of the Egyptians destroyed, and Israel delivered, their salvation secured.[1] They were not longer slaves but free men.

Exodus 13:3-5 And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten. 4 This day came ye out in the month Abib. 5 And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou shalt keep this service in this month.

Whitcomb observed how even evangelicals today doubt the Exodus account, “But judging from how much God says about it in the Bible, in the actual record in the book of Exodus and retrospect, flash back statements all through the Old Testament, and of course in the book of Hebrews as well and Stephen’s message in Acts 7 which gives many Old Testament events interpreted from God’s perspective, we realize that whatever the world might think of this, liberal and godless scholars even Jewish scholars are trying to influence evangelicals, pushing them to a little bit uncertain, hesitant and cautious about pushing too strongly for the literality, the historicity and the genuineness of the Exodus narratives. That is so sad and tragic. What more could God say than He had said to communicate the facts that it really happened exactly as He had said it did. He demands, He does not just suggest, we believe this and act in the light of it. There is an absolute urgency to simply taking God at His Word. Until we stop debating whether it is relevant or not relevant, we are not going to go anywhere.”

Inerrancy is the basic foundation for the study of Scripture and with it the doctrine of preservation that indeed, God has record in truth through the chronology of history His saving works. This is the same God who leads His people today.

If we doubt the Bible, we doubt God’s good plan for our lives. Pastor James Smith puts it clearly, “Christ is our Passover Lamb. His blood was shed for us and is sprinkled upon us; our foes are destroyed, and our salvation secured.”[2]

If we believe this God of the Bible who led Israelites of old, this is the same God that is leading us into a glorious future to the glory of His Name.

Three thoughts: (1) God plans His people’s future (v1-14) (2) God leads them along (v15-29) (3) God’s people learn to rest in His care (v30-31)

 

(1) God Plans His People’s Future (v1-14)

Notice in these verses that the children of Israel did not demonstrate faith to trust God’s guidance although He has been manifesting His power to lead them!

Exodus 13:20-22 And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness. 21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: 22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.

 Do we not often doubt God’s presence, power and good plan for our lives? Look at Israel’s response to trouble.

10 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.

Fear overtook them to the point that they could not discern the will of God blessing them as His national witness.

They spoke faithless words, murmuring to Moses, why did you bring us out of Egypt, so that we would die in the wilderness?

11 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? 12 Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.

If you travel to Israel today and head south from Jerusalem and continue to travel down, you will find greenery slowly and surely becoming less and less and finally, you arrive at barrenness. You will understand Israel’s reservations!

In Egypt there was the Nile River sustaining and giving life but here in the wilderness, their naked eyes told them the hopelessness of their predicament. But did they not just experience how God had demonstrated He is in control of the situation by the ten plagues?

Remember Peter who walked on water at Jesus’s bidding? When he looked to Jesus, he floated and continued to walk but when he took his eyes off the Lord and focused his thoughts on the storm surrounding the boat, fear came upon him, he panicked and found himself sinking into the water.

Like Israel did, Peter also cried to the Lord, “Lord, save me!” And did not our Lord stretched out His hand to hold him allaying all his fears? Israel will experience also the same!

The life of faith is a life of risk, isn’t it? Israel was called upon to risk their lives by trusting God’s guiding Hand to do them good! Peter risked his life by obeying our Lord’s call to walk upon the water.

The life of faith is secured risk! It is worth taking the plunge. God simply wants us to surrender our lives to Him and so let His power be manifested to lead us.

13 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. 14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

 God wants us to know that when we commit our lives to Him, He will surely take good care of us!

(2) God leads them along (v15-29)

The specular nature by which our Lord delivered must cause us to marvel what a great God we follow!

The angel of God was with them to protect them going before them to make the way for them and was behind them to protect them.

19 And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: 20 And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.

 The pillar of cloud that were before them provided a shield for them against the oncoming rage of Pharaoh’s chariots and horsemen by a supernatural darkness for the whole night. Israel witnessed the protective hand of God upon them. We who have the Scriptures in our hands today do bear witness of this record by faithfully rehearsing them to members of the household of faith so that they too may have faith to trust in the unfailing, omnipotent hand of God, leading us along on the path to our heavenly home.

 15 And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: 16 But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea…21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. 22 And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.

The shepherd’s rod in Moses’s hand became God’s instrument by which He demonstrated He is most capable to care, protect and provide for them in the their time of need as He leads them by His directive will.

 The Red Sea parted. It was divided to provide dry ground through the midst of the sea, a most unusual dam, on both sides that was erected instantaneously, miraculously and surely surpassing all human ingenuity! We are connected with the creative acts of our Almighty God. Power beyond us yet power demonstrated to show how precious we are in His sight and how He is able to protect us from His enemies.

 17 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. 18 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…23 And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. 24 And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians, 25 And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians.

 When the Egyptians realized that precarious state they were in, it was too late.

Proverbs 1:25-31 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: 29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: 30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. 31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

 God’s judgment came swiftly. It was impossible to escape.

 26 And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. 27 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. 28 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. 29 But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.

What a wonderful Saviour we worship and follow.

(3) God’s people learn to rest in His care (v30-31)

30 Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore. 31 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.

Faith in God begets faith. Doubts were quelled. They saw how God was Saviour to them and was Judge to their enemies. The fear of the LORD filled their hearts. As they looked back upon their faithless words when faith was most needed, it must have rebuked their hearts. They blamed their leader.

11 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? 12 Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.

The outlook was bleak when it was earth-bound, man-centered and godless. But when they would look heavenward, the up-look was always comforting and consoling. Physically and mentally speaking, they were already stretched to the limit. They knew the power of Pharaoh’s fighting machines. They surely would all perish.

They saw the great work of the LORD. Do you see it too? We affirm the literality, the historicity and the genuineness of the Exodus narratives and we are comforted in our hearts to rest in His care.

CONCLUSION

God plans His people’s future (v1-14), God leads them along (v15-29) and God’s people learn to rest in His care (v30-31). May this be your portion this week till we meet again this Lord’s Day! Amen.

[1] James Smith, Daily Remembrancer, Reformation Banner Publishers, 2005, 394.

[2] Ibid.