YAHWEH'S MOUTHPIECE

Still on our gleanings from Israel’s journey to Canaan, we look at something from the fourteenth chapter. God by His mighty hand brought them out of Egypt. He led them in a pillar of cloud by day to show them the way, and a pillar fire by night to give them light. He dictated the direction of their journeying by not leading them by the way of the land of the Philistines, though it was shorter, but by the way of the red sea. The reason for this is that they might not go back to Egypt when they see war. “God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that which ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way of escape that ye may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

God hardened the heart of Pharaoh and he pursued after Israel hoping to bring them back into captivity. Israel was fearful and began to speak that which they shouldn’t. 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?” (Exodus 14:11).

Know that the Lord’s hand is not just mighty to save but also able to keep you safe. God never promised to just bring them out of Egypt. With His promise to bring them out of Egypt is the promise to bring them into the land of Canaan. “And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.” (Exodus 3:8)

He that has saved you is able to keep you safe and secure till the promised end. As long as we go the way the Lord leads us, we are bound to dwell in safety. Safety here doesn’t me the absence of threats and turbulence, but God being a shelter and shield in the midst of the turbulence and threats. “And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel removed and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night” (Exodus 14:19). Though Egypt advanced towards Israel, there was a limit to how far it could advance by the severance orchestrated by God. For “When the enemy shall come like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him” (Isaiah 59:19).

Egypt cannot take back captive the Israel of God. But, as a note, Israel can of their own will surrender themselves into the hands of Egypt when they walk out of God’s will. God will not suffer Egypt to come to Israel but will not stop Israel from going back to Egypt (in their hearts or acts). Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand” (John 10:17 – 18). In His leading, there is security and sustenance even till the possession of the inheritance.

As long as you’ve been saved by Him, you are safe in Him, and your life and destiny are secure in Him. Your life is safe with Him. Entrust it in His hand and let Him and lead you and keep you in the path of life.

“For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day”
(2 Timothy 1:2).

“Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time”
(1 Peter 1:5)

“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy” 
(Jude 1:24).

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand:
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.

Lord, we trust your ability to keep us. You who have saved us are able to keep us till that final salvation. In this, we rest. We refuse to be bothered by the storms and the “advancement of Egypt” unto us. We know that the waters, how deep and boisterous, cannot overwhelm us; neither can the fire consume us for you are with us. We will be led by you for then are we shielded by you. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.