Exodus - Part 7- "We're In A Tight Spot" Series

Exodus “The story of God’s presence”

Part 7

"We’re in a tight spot! "

Exodus 14:1-15, 21-31

Many years ago when I was younger, thinner and dumber

I had great aspirations of being a world champion bareback rider

I can tell you I had the desire but not the ability

And

I still often feel the pains associated with abusing my body in such a way as bronc riding

I can tell you I got bucked off a lot

Rarely made the buzzer

And got in more than my share of wrecks

One time in particular

I managed to stick my right spur in my bareback riggin on the way off a horse

And I still wear a huge scar on my right knee

And often limp

From that predicament

Have you ever found yourself in a predicament?

We have a lot of word pictures in the English language to describe being in a predicament.

We often hear and use phrases like

“You sure have painted yourself into a corner,”

“Being caught “between a rock and a hard place,”

“Up against the wall”

Or

“In a pickle.”

I love the line from-- Oh brother where art thou—

Where Everett says while they are surrounded by lawman with machine guns while the barn is burning down around them

“We’re in a tight spot”

In our passage for today

Moses and the people of Israel found themselves in “A tight spot”.

The Israelites found themselves trapped between Pharaoh’s Army and the Red Sea.

After the Tenth plague and the death angel’s appearance resulted in the death of all of the first born among the Egyptians, Pharaoh finally allowed the Israelites to go free.

He did not want to

But God had gotten his attention

So he did

Exodus 12:31-33

31 Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron during the night. “Get out!” he ordered. “Leave my people—and take the rest of the Israelites with you! Go and worship the LORD as you have requested. 32 Take your flocks and herds, as you said, and be gone. Go, but bless me as you leave.” 33 All the Egyptians urged the people of Israel to get out of the land as quickly as possible, for they thought, “We will all die!

So the Hebrews gathered their stuff and left

God’s word says they left in a hurry

Wrapping their belongings in their clothes

Not waiting for the bread dough to rise

Gathering their things

Their Kids

Their livestock

Even asking the Egyptians for gold and silver and being given those things

And heading out into the dessert

Following God

By Faith

In our human brains we often tend to think in a very narrow way

When we want to go from point A to point B

We chose a direct route

In God’s word we see that that is not how God always works

Sometimes to get to point B

We must go from A to G to S

To get to B

Look at verses 13:17-18

“When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” 18 So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea.[a] Thus the Israelites left Egypt like an army ready for battle.”

Skipping to Chapter 14:1-4

“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.[a] I have planned this in order to display my glory through Pharaoh and his whole army. After this the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD!” So the Israelites camped there as they were told.”

So to recap just a bit

God told Pharaoh to let his people go

He refused

God sent plagues – increasing in severity – until Pharaoh finally listened

Then God lead the Hebrews from Egypt

But did not take them on a direct route to the land he had promised

They went from point A to point F

Ending up with their backs to the Red Sea

So in the mean time

Old Pharaoh had time to rethink his decision

And he changed his mind

Fear, pride, anger all played a part in his decision

But I truly think greed is what made him go after them

The Hebrew slaves represented great wealth to The Egyptians

Think of all you could accomplish if you had free labor