He's Just God Like That

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.

It is inevitable that there will come a time in this life that you will experience moments when it looks like all hope is gone. There will be times when even the very best that you have to give and the very best effort that you can put forth will not be sufficient. There will be some times when desperation seems to be your constant friend and doubt your forever companion. The odds will be stacked against you, the storms will rage, the winds will blow, the lightening will flash, and failure and destruction seem to be lurking just around the bend. But as believers, as the children of God, as the heirs to the Kingdom, we can take courage in knowing that just like in all the times before, no matter how dark the midnights seem to be, that God will show up right on time. He’ll step in and He’ll show out. He’ll dry the tears and bring with him the joy that follows the weeping. We can have faith that God will fight our battles and speak into our lives those famous words – PEACE BE STILL. We can have this courage and we can hold this faith because time and time again He’s shown us that He’s just God like that.

As we look at our text this morning we find here the Israelites in the midst of a desperate situation. A situation that God Himself has directed them into that He may show them in glorious fashion that He really is just God like that. See, if you look at the history behind this text, you will see that the Israelites had been in bondage for many years, enslaved by the Egyptians, under the rule of Pharaoh. And now, after their many years of crying out to God about their suffering, they are witnessing God moving in their situation. Finally, God has looked down from heaven and said enough is enough.

It’s a good thing that every now and then, God takes the time to look down upon an old wretch like you and me and say enough is enough. It’s a good thing that God in His mercy sees fit to dry our weeping eye. See, He really is just God like that.

Now God is getting ready to step in. He rises up among them a liberator in the form of Moses. Moses, born as a Hebrew slave and raised as an Egyptian Prince. Moses, a Shepard, who God chose and caused to be raised up as a prophet, a priest, a lawgiver, a judge, a miracle worker, and most importantly a God ordained emancipator. You know the story, Moses, this ordinary man, with divine purpose, stood before Pharaoh and delivered the message that doth sayest the Lord - Let my people Go.

Pharaoh, had hardened His hard and refused to set the Israelites free. He had made up His mind that He was gonna fight it out with God. But he found out, after death, destruction and plague that His arm was too short to box with God. So the Israelites were headed toward Freedom. Now God, knowing the heart of Pharaoh sent them to camp in a place that was bordered by mountains on one side, fortresses on the other, and a sea out in front. With Egyptians coming up behind it looked as though there was no chance for victory and the people began to question Moses’ sanity for trying to bring them out, Saying that they would have preferred to have been left in their chains.

I have to take Pause her for a moment, and beg the question, how many of us have taken to heart the attitude that the Israelites had on that day. How many of us have questioned and decided that it is better to live as a slave than it is to die trying to be free. How many of us have made it up in our minds that it is better to be enslaved by the things of this world, to be chained to our strongholds, bound by our failings, enraptured in our flesh, to stick with the crowd than it is to be called out, singled out, be called a peculiar people. How many of us are missing our destiny because we have made it up in our mind that it’s okay to be on the other side of the fence. I mean that’s where the good stuff is, that’s where he is, that’s where she is, that’s where our friends are. But see, God has called us to be more, He has called us to be better. He has called us to a destiny. He has called us to be free. See what the Israelites did not understand that day and what many of us fail to recognize even today is that Whom the Lord sets free is free indeed. There are no chains that can keep you bound when the Lord himself holds the key. Oh, but I digress.