Overcoming impossible odds ∙

Overcoming impossible odds ∙

But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, the LORD will rescue you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see them again.” – Exodus 14:13

Exodus 14:1-14

 1 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. 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.

 5 When word reached the king of Egypt that the Israelites had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds. “What have we done, letting all those Israelite slaves get away?” they asked.

 6 So Pharaoh harnessed his chariot and called up his troops.

 7 He took with him 600 of Egypt’s best chariots, along with the rest of the chariots of Egypt, each with its commander.

 9 The Egyptians chased after them . . . [and] caught up with the people of Israel as they were camped beside the shore near Pi-hahiroth, across from Baal-zephon.

 10 As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the LORD,

 13 But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the LORD rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again.”

 14 “The LORD himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”

In the catchphrase of Fox News, “We Report. You Decide.” And by the way, Snopes.com debunks the information below as fallacious. Before you rely too heavily on Snopes.com, remember that we, children of the King, believe that the Biblical texts of Moses are true historically accurate documents. How do you suppose Snopes.com rates that assumption?

For decades, divers have searched the Gulf of Suez in vain for artifacts to verify the Biblical account. But more recently a search was conducted in the Gulf of Aqaba. At Nuweiba, Egypt, a large beach is found there. Today it is a tourist spot. Thinking this might be a perfect location for the Israelite camp at the Red Sea, Ron Wyatt did some preliminary investigation in 1978.

Numerous dives were conducted offshore around and 1 1/2 miles, at depths ranging from 60 to 200 feet deep. Of all things, Ron Wyatt reported to have found and photographed, chariot parts scattered across the seabed. Various types of artifacts were discovered as well, including wheels, chariot bodies, human bones, and horse bones.

Since 1987, Ron Wyatt has claimed to have found three four-spoke gilded chariot wheels. Coral does not grow on gold. Thus the wheel has retained its shape, although the wood inside the gold veneer has disintegrated making them too fragile to move. Other wheels were found with a metal detector. Some are an exact match to the chariot wheels found in Tutankhamen’s tomb.

One of the mineralized bones was examined by the Department of Osteology at Stockholm University. It was determined to be a human femur, from the right leg of an approximately 5 1/2 tall man.

        

While I learned about these “discoveries” many years ago, I cannot guarantee their accuracy. What I can guarantee is the accuracy of the historical account of the opening of the Red Sea as the Father had Moses record it for us in Exodus 14.

REFLECT & PRAY

Luke 1:37 For nothing is impossible with God.

Father no matter how terrible or impossible our circumstances may be, we can always stand still and see the salvation of the Lord!

INSIGHT

To simply sum up the situation, after a great deal of reluctance and resistance, the Pharaoh of Egypt finally allowed the nation of Israel to go free. And they started in the general direction of the Promised Land. The Father then hardened the Pharaoh’s heart (Exodus 14:4,5,6,8). He saddled up his chariot along with 600 of his finest charioteers and all the rest of the charioteers and they headed out in hot pursuit (Exodus 14:4,6-8). Certain death awaited the children of Israel. There was nothing they could do against the horses, chariots, spears, and swords of the Egyptians. It was only a matter of time.

However, behind the scenes, the Father God is orchestrating all these events, setting the stage for one of the most remarkable and memorable miracles recorded in the Old Testament. The Father had already revealed at least part of the plan to Moses (Exodus 14:1,2). He purposely led Moses and the children of Israel to the Red Sea. And there they camped not knowing what was going to happen next. I guess once you get used to following a pillar of smoke and a pillar of fire, it becomes routine standard operating procedure.

At exactly the right moment in time, not a moment too soon nor a moment too late, the Egyptians arrived. At this time, the Pharaoh (A.K.A. Yul Brenner), remarks, “Moses God is a poor general.”

Now consider the spectacle, to the North and the South mountains are blocking their escape. In front of them is the Red Sea which is impassable. And behind them are the charging chariots of Egypt. What did the people do? They panicked. They are terrified at the prospect of immediate death (Exodus 14:10). Then they begin to blame Moses for their certain death. What poor judgment and leadership Moses exercise. We can imagine that there were a few threats and curses as well.

Exodus 14:11-12

 11 Then they said to Moses, “Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us in this way, bringing us Out of Egypt?

 12 “Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians ‘? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”

Moses’ response demonstrates classic perfect faith and trust in the Father. Moses models “perfect faith” for all children of the King, for all ages to come.

Exodus 14:13-14

 13 But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, the LORD will rescue you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see them again.”

 14 “The LORD will fight for you while you keep silent.”

Then the Father speaks. His words are life for the children of Israel, but death for the armies of Egypt.

Exodus 14:15-16

 15 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the sons of Israel to go forward.

 16 “As for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, and the sons of Israel shall go through the midst of the sea on dry land.

And thus, the Red Sea split wide open, and dry ground appeared amid the walls of water.

Exodus 14:26-28

 26 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may come back over the Egyptians, over their chariots and their horsemen.”

 27 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal state at daybreak, while the Egyptians were fleeing right into it; then the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.

 28 The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen, even Pharaoh’s entire army that had gone into the sea after them; not even one of them remained.

This was the Father’s plan all along. He promised to fight for Israel and destroy the armies of Egypt and so He did!

Henceforth, you can be certain that the Father demonstrated His glory and the Egyptians will do that he was the LORD! The Pharaoh,  Yul Brenner, defeated and dejected returns to Egypt alone. He sits on his royal throne and declares, “Moses’ God, is God.”

But there’s more.

There’s a hidden gem that can only be seen in the original Hebrew.

Exodus 14:13  “Don’t be afraid, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD.”

The Hebrew word which is translated salvation is yeshuah. Yeshuah is the Hebrew word that is translated into English as Jesus.

You connect the dots.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 3-22-2