Lesson 13
Exodus 13

16 And it will be like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead that the LORD brought us out of Egypt with his mighty hand."

17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, "If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt."

18 So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea.

The Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle. Our expectation can affect our propensity to change our minds and revoke victory. Here we see the Israelites armed for battle even though God emphatically let them know it would be by His hand not theirs. They expected to lose. How could a generation of slaves, untrained in batttle, expect to do anything but lose? Their mindset was still defeatist.

God knows us. He purposefully set them up to win and sent them to the Red Sea. He knew He could bolster their confidence there with a rousing victory over Pharoah by His hand, not theirs. He was building their resolve.

ACT!
Think of an area where you have your own plan in your hand instead of trusting God. Put it down. Follow His path. Don't forsake His direction.

PRAY!
Father, I really would rather do it myself. Help me trust You and tend to what you want for me. Help me to go Your path instead of mine, trusting You will get me there.

copyright 2000, Philip A. Larson

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