by Shirley Rosemarie Evans
Then the Lord gave these instructions to Moses: 2 “Order the Israelites to turn back and camp by Pi-hahiroth between Migdol and the sea. Camp there along the shore, across from Baal-zephon. 3 Then Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are confused. They are trapped in the wilderness!’ 4 And once again I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will chase after you
Exodus 14:1-4 NLT
God ordered the Israelites to go back on themselves and He did this so that the Egyptians would think them confused. He wanted Pharaoh to think that Israel was trapped with the army in front of them and the sea behind them and that they had no way out. But this was a set-up. God was about to show his hand and what a hand! God was about to perform a miracle that for me just about trumps all biblical miracles as being the most outstanding, jaw-dropping, standing ovation moments in biblical miracles.
I can imagine that Pharaoh was not the only one confused. The children of Israel must have been wondering what on earth was going on. If we are honest, we too can relate. There have been times in our lives when despite our prayers it seems the situation is getting worse. I remember a season in my life following the breakdown of my marriage that one thing after another seemed to be going wrong, I seemed to be in a continuous cycle of unending trauma, debt, grief and despair. It was a period of two years when I experienced a time of Huge life-disturbing issues, overnight I went from an average middle-income family to a struggling single-parent home, finances were non-existent, debts were rising, and I was battling with depression. Then my mother passed suddenly and that was quickly followed by us losing our home, my worst nightmare was realised. My children and I were homeless! But all of this God allowed as a means for Him to show His hand. It was a set-up!
Through all of this, I learnt how to pray, how to rely on Him as provider, and how to trust Him even when it looked like all was lost. My relationship with God deepened and I was being transformed, conforming to the image of the Son. A process that continues to this day.
Perhaps right now you too are in a season when everything in your life seems to be falling apart, when the tunnel seems ever longer and the light never seems to be getting any closer. Perhaps you too are experiencing a God-ordained set-up.
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Romans 8:28. This doesn’t mean that we don’t experience difficulties it just means we should trust God through the process. God holds all the cards and He doesn’t lose.
Ask - What was God trying to teach not only Pharoah but the children of Israel in this episode?
Seek – In what areas of your life do you sense there is a God Set-up and what lessons are you being taught?
Knock – What situations do you need to truly lay down and trust God?
(Inner Photo by Amber Janssens from Pexels)
(Main Photo by James Wheeler from Pexels)
