Today is Sabbath, April 19, 2025. This is Day 7 of Week 1 in our Counting toward Pentecost. Today is also the Last Day of Unleavened Bread.
It was on the Last Day of Unleavened Bread several thousand years ago that God finally brought ancient Israel completely out of Egypt. Although the Israelites walked out on their own two feet, clearly, they were not able to free themselves from Egypt. That was God’s job. And, God was more than capable of all of the additional mighty miracles required to complete the job.
As the massive group of people moved toward the Red Sea, they became aware that they were being pursued by Pharaoh and his massive army of chariots and horsemen. Of course, being typical Israelites, they panicked and began to criticize God’s process of salvation.
Exodus 14:9-12 (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.
As true Believers we want to be very careful to avoid ALL of the mistakes that Israel made. God recorded many of the events and Israel’s weaknesses to warn us, to benefit us, and to keep us on track with God’s plans and purposes.
Psalm 106:7-12 (7) Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked Him at the sea, even at the Red sea. (8) Nevertheless He saved them for His name’s sake, that He might make His mighty power to be known. (9) He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: So He led them through the depths, as through the wilderness. (10) And He saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy. (11) And the waters covered their enemies: there was not one of them left. (12) Then believed they His words; they sang His praise.
Israel did not understand what God was doing in Egypt. Let each of us pray God will grant us understanding. And, let each of us pray we remain steadfast and faithful during the time that any specific understanding may be delayed for a season of our lives.
All Israel had to do was stand still and see the salvation of the LORD. The 14th chapter of Exodus brings the story of the Exodus to a close. Israel was saved, God’s name was glorified, and the enemies from Egypt were destroyed.
God does the same for us today.
Ben Faulkner, Pastor
© Copyright 2025, Church of the Sovereign God