Exodus 14; "Broken Wheels and Mended Hearts"
ZADOK PUBLICATIONS - Dr. C. R. OLIVER
June 1, 2016
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Introduction:June 1, 2016 Exodus 14 "Broken Wheels and Mended Hearts" Exodus fourteen begins with God and ends with Him. Sandwiched in between are the people of God. Within that sandwich are seven major considerations, all of which are based on one fact: the children of Israel obeyed God and did what He instructed. Strict obedience to the will of God always yields voluminous success. Since the chapter is a recount of one of the most widely known events in history, often it is read with such familiarity that most of the seven items are not apparent--being submerged in the account itself. In order to draw these seven truths from the account, there must be a prime consideration-which is, "Every one of the seven items hinges on two factors in the first four verses." God had an exact location for the camp of Israel. I like to call it, "the place called THERE." (Read more about this in the book, En Punto, Zadok Publications). No other place but Pi Hahiroth would be safe, have the protection of God and house the miracle of God. It had to be this exact place. (How difficult then is it to understand Paul's message in Acts 17? "He has determined the bounds of our habitation." Thousands of people are shifting countries, and moving to other addresses, in order to escape this or that perceived judgment or calamity. They have not sought the Lord for the place called THERE. As the children of Israel learned, there is no place as fine as God's THERE.)Exodus 14:1-4 When God spoke to Moses, he was already practiced in hearing The Lord's voice and obeying His command. All people need leadership that hears from Him for the national good. So, the instructions were "to turn." Then Moses was given an exact geographic location followed by a simple command, "Camp there." Also, the Lord confided in Moses the very thoughts of Pharaoh. Militarily, Pharaoh's strategy was the correct one. He intended to overtake and overpower the multitudes who were supposedly unarmed and re-enslave them. His military commanders were all in agreement and with plenty of armament, they correctly surmised with a surprise factor, fear would reign and give them victory. WRONG. The major factor they did not consider was the same one they experienced at the hand of Moses-the God factor. It would seem they should have gleaned something about their encounters with flies and death angels, but somehow their habits of "strongman wins" clouded their minds. God said He would harden Pharaoh's heart and cause him to enter God's trap. No concern is greater than this next phrase. Exodus 14:4 says affectionately, "And they did so." What? The people of God did what their God instructed and followed the directions of the man of God? Such is almost unheard of today. But, alas, there is an absence of men like Moses. When that little phrase is emphasized, "and they did so," immediately all seven factors begin to fall in place. Somehow, those seven items are contingent on following God's guidance. Every one of the Old Testament "Greats" practiced this form of obedience. They waited until they heard God and then did what He said. Ezekiel is one of the best examples of this, and yet, he is not mentioned by name in Hebrews eleven's Hall of Faith. "And they did so," how absolutely beautiful that sounds. However, it does not carry with it immunity from doubt and fear. Verses 10-12 give the details of how the approaching army and Israel's vulnerability caused fear to rise to its highest level. Many sermons have been formed around the people rising up and challenging Moses and his leadership authority. When man's rationale enters the picture, faith exits. Fear of death came trooping in: "Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness?" The Scripture says they cried out to God, AND THEN said to Moses these things. Panic often does that! "Oh God," would have sufficed. Waiting in silence for His defense would have been enough. Public fear likes to blame someone they can see and accuse. They said, "Let us alone." "Let us alone," was the abject cry of the man who was demon possessed when Jesus approached. It was the outcry of a people full of boldness just two verses prior to these. "Better to have been servants to the Egyptians than dead in the sands of a desolate location," was their response. (They got one out of three things correct.) They were correct in saying that after the Passover, there were "no Israeli graves in Egypt." There were plenty of graves and weeping and sorrow among the Egyptians, as even Pharaoh had to bury His first-born son. Every captain of his hosts had lost a child. Every soldier at arms had lost their first-born. Tragedy marched through their souls and they blamed it on Israel, who lost not a one. The blood prevailed. Yes, Moses' invective was short and precise, "Do not fear," "Stand still." In other words, they were to quit speaking and acting in unbelief (This is the message which must be given to God's people today!). The children of Israel were standing on holy ground. They might not have recognized it, but they were walled about with the Cloud and the Fire. Their obedience to "Camp before Pi Hahiroth" gave God a green light to "do His thing." Obedience to His instructions gives Him solid ground with which to work. His finished plan was actually working in advance of their arrival. When the last tribe stepped into that blessed territory, the "Deus ex Machina" got busy. Seven bold factors were set in motion by their obedience. Often we do not know the complete ramifications of doing the exact will of God. It has far reaching effect and "cause and effect" has something to do with the "God Factor." Deliverance from Egypt was to be vividly done before their eyes to imprint them forever. A slave class must be delivered from a slave mentality before there can be freedom. The greatest transition of their mortal lives was about to take place, and they had to walk through the baptism of waters before there could be a realization of their deliverance. The waters that engulfed Pharaoh were the same waters that stood at attention for Moses. Moses pledged Israel would see those very Egyptians they once were familiar with, no more! "Their old home place just wouldn't be the same now would it." There is nothing quite as graphic as seeing thousands of dead bodies on the shores they just left and not one dead body among them. God's protection is absolute. THE SEVEN ITEMS: 1. When we do the will of God, Holy Boldness overtakes us.Nothing invigorates the spirit of man more than the forthright determination that comes in carrying out God's plan. Just let someone believe God in a matter and watch the tenacity of that person in life. You couldn't pry them off their task. They have the "God Factor" at work in them, and they know what they are doing is blessed by the most High God and nothing else matters. With boldness, they enter a mission field where others have failed. With boldness, they start on a task where none have ventured before. With boldness, they confront Pharaoh's with a stick. With boldness, they do not count the opposition; they survey the provision of the Lord (look at Elisha and review Hezekiah).Ex 14:8-9 2. When we do the will of God, we have confidence of victory.Closely akin to the boldness factor is an area termed, "confidence." Nothing may have changed but one's attitude. God has not moved behind them yet, He has not separated them from the ensuing military yet, but faith was building.Ex 14:14 God said to Moses: "Move forward!" Moses was instructed to lift up the stick and hold out his hand over the waters, and he was assured the waters would divide. He did and they did! This is the same stick and hand that rose against Pharaoh's threats and O' what confidence imbued his spirit as he lifted that rod and shot forth his hand! 3. When we do the will of God, ALL the promises He has made to us are in FULL effect.The force of this statement needs to be mulled a bit. Just meditate on the power of the song, "nothing between my soul and the savior." Every need is met; every circumstance is overcome; every aspect of fullness of life is in force when we do His will. There is immense power in its fullest expression as the Word takes hold of every detail. (We have what the Word says we can have, nothing broken, nothing lacking and nothing missing.) The Israelites were standing on the Promises of God! The blessings of God upon an obedient people are myriad and ALL of them are in force at ONCE. Think of it! 4. When we do the will of God it allows God to work without hindrance (with impunity).The song says, "Look what the Lord has done; He saved me just in time - I'm going to shout and sing., and I'm going to praise His Name."Ex 14:19-20 Miriam couldn't contain herself; she had to lead the children in that beautiful song, "The horse and rider drove into the sea." Doing the will of God enforces the promises and allows the Lord the freedom to do as He sees best. However, this is not always the case. For instance, when unforgiveness or sin is in the camp, it makes it difficult for Him to work in one's behalf. Oh Yes, He can do like He did in Isaiah where He overlooked all their sin and transgression and sent grace anyway. It is better though, when His children are clean, pure and holy. 5. When we do the will of God, we can expect to be separated from the world."Come ye out and be separate" is not a suggestion. It is a necessity in order to see the miracle of God. A separated people are useable in the hand of God to bring judgment and justice. When there is none in the land, that means the people are joined to the enemies of God and cannot be used as vessels of righteousness.Ex 14:19-20 There were some of these Israelites that had never known freedom. All their lives, they were unpaid servants and many of them were intricately tied to Egyptian families. The caste system caused their own families to know "there place" in society, but at the same time, they loved many of their masters dearly. Separation was not an easy task. Sometimes loved ones and friends have to be estranged in order for us to be separate. (Lot had to separate himself from Sodom - however, his wife did not make that separation.) 6. When we do the will of God, it opens the door to the supernatural.It is time for the supernatural to take hold again and allow people to realize with Whom they are dealing. A cleansed, obedient people enable God to work His supernatural, extraordinary, marvelous power in their behalf. "Signs following" is reserved for those doing His will and obedient to His Words.Ex 14:21-29 The Egyptians sinned away their day of grace by resisting Moses in the first place. Now, the revelation about the Lord fighting them was too late. "Payday someday" is coming for those who have been resisting God and their time is running out! Their wheels are bogging down and the hope of a distant shore becomes more and more impossible. (I have traveled over the Red Sea and have seen the places that are described in the Exodus 14 account. I, too, have viewed the video segments of submerged wheels still acting as testimony chariots don't float.) 7. Doing the will of God, re-establishes authority's rightful place.The five fold ministry is really not very effective among a people who are not obedient to God. The gifts of the Spirit do not function well when people are not obedient to the Spirit. Authority is always re-established when Divine Order is restored. For the time being, the Israelites stopped their whining and believed the Lord and trusted Moses. Satan tried many times to undermine that force-field and many times succeeded. BUT, many times Israel prevailed (if we choose to underline their successes, note when Jericho feared them greatly and rightly so).Ex 14:30-31 Notice: Someone in this vast audience desperately needed this study, for the Lord literally dropped it into my lap and told me to make this the June newsletter. It is a newsletter in a format that is different from my normal applications, so, whoever you are-may the Lord quicken you as you read this text. For all others-it will do you good too---it did me. Until Next month, Dr. Cosby R. Oliver, PhD. |
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