They Will Know

Exodus 14:4 “And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.”
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Exodus 14:27 Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward it, and the Lord swept them into the sea.
 
THE night had been long, dark and frightful. The Red Sea was in front of them, and the powerful Egyptian army was behind them. The Israelites, just freed from Egypt, had no safe place to go. They fearfully wondered about God’s purpose: Exodus 14:11 They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?” We can even look back to wonder why God put them in such deadly peril.
      We wonder and ask, “Why?” often when our lives become dark and frightful, don’t we? As Christians who hear the message, “God loves you. God saves you.” we assume all will always be good for us. Some even say that all the bad things that happen are the devil’s work. But we must know God will test you in different ways, sometimes even suffering and persecution. The Bible’s narratives are very honest and clear to tell us that it was God’s most faithful prophets and apostles who often suffered the most.
      Know then, that God’s purpose in the Jews fearsome night on the shore of the Red Sea is the same as his purpose for testing you today. It was to grow their faith in him and to bring glory to his name. God caused and used this to expand their minds and hearts to trust him even in the most difficult circumstances. The Egyptian army, the Red Sea, the wind and Moses would be his instruments to display his sovereign authority to protect his people.
      God was developing a reputation as a saving, merciful God to those he called to be his own. When the Jews remembered this in their journeys, he blessed them. When they forgot their God, he judged them back to faith. Forty years later as Israel prepared to enter the Promised Land, Moses encouraged them to remember God’s protection: Deuteronomy 7:18 But do not be afraid of them; remember well what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt.
      Ah, yes. We must live dependent on God’s power to save and protect, to conquer ass the power above all things. This is God’s testing lesson, and you must know this to be an effective, empowered Christian. Regard testing as opportunities to grow more closely to your Savior. See the trials as strengthening times to prepare you to confront and conquer the fearsome temptations that threaten our lives.    Remember, as God has 13chosen  you, he will come powerfully to your life. When you call out to him amid the troubled places he leads you, the LORD God will comfort, help, restore and renew you.
      Be of faith. Walk steadfastly with Jesus.
 
LIFE Link: God gives you the power to pass the test.