No Rest for the Weary.

No Rest for the Weary. Exodus 14:1-10.

“I’m sorry for the way I have been. I want to give my life to God and go to church. I want my life to change.” Oh do you?

Many who have said these words do not understand what they are saying. I would never encourage people not to give their life to the Lord; however, these words of commitment are going to be tested and when tested, made strong.

The Children of Israel had believed in God, fled Egypt, and were now in the classroom of the Lord. God was teaching them to have commitment, reverence, and devotion.

God had instituted an annual feast to celebrate the goodness of God in passing over their homes when the death angel came upon Egypt. In this celebration they were to teach their children and conduct the feast of Passover faithfully forever.

This was to be the start of many lessons Israel would learn as God would demand their respect with actions of holiness and faith. Yet, to be the people God wanted, it was going to take time; and one lesson at a time, they would face.

That leads us back to our opening about desiring to be a Christian. When committing your life to Christ, you enter into God’s classroom, as did the Israelites.

God knows exactly what it will take to mature you to be a man or woman of God. For Israel, it began with a trip through tough rugged terrain.

For most all people, the hardships of traveling through this wilderness would be all they would choose and after they would expect some reprieve or a time to rest; however, God was about to increase their trials and it was for their own good.

Now the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: “Speak to the children of Israel, that they turn and camp before Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, opposite Baal Zemphon; you shall camp before it by the sea.  Exodus 14:1-2(NKJV)

Moses was a go between; he took the message of the Lord and presented it the people. Like a pastor at church, Moses would deliver the message and it was up to the people to accept it and act upon it.

This message seemed agreeable for the place God was sending them was near the sea and being a peninsula, it provided an element of protection. Therefore, the message was easy to accept and they turned to the exact area the Lord led them to.

Life was going to be great; they would rest up, feed their livestock, and relax from their wilderness walk. This was an easy decision and was an ideal situation; so they thought.

For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, ‘They are bewildered by the land; the wilderness has closed them in.’ Then I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, so that he will pursue them; and I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD.” And they did so.  Exodus 14:3-4(NKJV)

This is the second half of the message and it does not say if Moses delivered the second part; however, the Pharaoh was going to again desire to enslave the Israelites and haul them back to Egypt; so that work would restart on his treasure cities.

Hearing this, I would guess that Mosses’ countenance greatly changed and staring towards the ground, his eyes shifted back and forth, Moses wondered how the people were going to react to the threat of being pursued. In addition, how would he tell them?

Meanwhile, back in Egypt, the streets were quiet and all work on the Pharaoh’s project had stopped. The Pharaoh starred out a window wondering what he was going to do to get the treasure city built.

As Pharaoh pondered his dilemma, aids, confidants, and advisors approached him with ideas and each new idea seemed more ridiculous; so did the idea of letting Israel go free and leave the land of Egypt.

Now it was told the king of Egypt that the people had fled, and the heart of Pharaoh and his servants was turned against the people; and they said, “Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” So he made ready his chariot and took his people with him. Also, he took six hundred choice chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt with captains over every one of them. And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the children of Israel; and the children of Israel went out with boldness. Exodus 14:5-8(NKJV)

There is no better feeling to have come through a trial and sit on the other side in relaxation. Looking back it is easy to proclaim, “That was not so bad.” Yet, it will never be God’s intention that we should rest too much; for He is readying us to come to eternal rest with Him.

In the scriptures, God is referenced as being a shepherd. Jesus called Himself the good shepherd and as a good shepherd He tends to His flocks with diligence.

One truth, all Shepherds know, is you have to keep the sheep moving or they will eat and rest in the same place they defecate. Fields can produce mites, and bring diseases to the flock; therefore, the Shepherd must keep them on the move.

The same concept applies to those who dedicate their life to God. God will keep them on the move and often time’s one trial will be followed by another. Because the trials help us in knowing God better, each new trial brings us one step closer to being ready to live in eternity with God. That is why the Apostle James told us to welcome trials and consider them precious. Now that is a big shift in thinking; welcome trials into our life?

So the Egyptians pursued them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen and his army, and overtook them camping by the sea beside Pi Hahiroth, before Baal Zemphon. And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the LORD. Exodus 14:9-10(NKJV)

Our focus is on Israel’s response, they “cried out to the Lord.” Their first instinct, which was a new instinct, was to cry out to God. Years before they would not have given the Lord a thought; yet, now they called out to God.

The classroom of the Lord taught them well. When we face adversity, we are to cry out to the Lord and seek refuge in Him.