Victory and Glory

The scriptures say that close to 40 years had gone by.  The Israelites must have thought after all those years that their crying had fallen on deaf ears. Was the Lord listening? Were they crying in vain?

Do you ever feel that way? You have asked God to deliver you from something and it seems as though the God of the Universe has not been listening. Let me encourage you dear one, He does not ignore the cries of His people. He has not ignored your cries. Just as God had a sovereign plan designed to free His people from slavery, He has a sovereign plan to free you from anything that holds you captive.

The cries of the Israelites were heard and answered in Genesis chapter 13. Finally, they were going to be free from the bondage of slavery to the Egyptians. Don’t you know they were thrilled beyond words? Life in total freedom was just over the horizon! However, the plan for deliverance from Pharaoh led them straight from Egypt to the desert. Funny how God works, isn’t it? The desert was God’s idea of freedom.

Isaiah the prophet tells us in chapter 55 that God’s ways and thoughts are higher than our ways and thoughts.  I don’t know about you, but that gives me great comfort. Genesis 13:17 demonstrates this concept, “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.” I really like shortcuts, but God thought the shortcut out of Egypt was not the best route. He was even gracious enough to explain His reasoning.

God wants to deliver us from our bondage, but many times we want the easy way out, the shortcut: “Get me out of this mess Lord, but please don’t let the way out cause me any pain or inconvenience.” God knows our weaknesses. He knows how easily we would slip back into bondage if faced with adversity in the easy way out. In His great wisdom and sovereignty, His plan for the exodus of our bondage is not the quick, easy way. He will lead us out through a path that will create a dependency on Him. This path will also strengthen our relationship with Him, give us a renewed assurance of our faith, and equip us for a possible slip back into the pit. Read verses 18-19, “So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle.” Did you catch that last part, “armed for battle?”

The way out of bondage is sure, but not always swift. In some situations God shows His great mercy, the exit is quick and we are left in awe by His power. In other situations, God chooses to take us by the desert road to “arm us for battle.” Two things are for certain: victory for us and glory for our God.