September 8, 1999
FAMILY BIBLE SERIES:
Stand firm, God's army told
in battle against evil
___Exodus 13:17-14:31
___By Susan Pigott
___Logsdon School of Theology, Abilene
___The Hebrews were dressed for battle. They had plundered the Egyptians when they left Egypt in haste (Exodus 12:36) and now were marching out boldly toward the Promised Land (Exodus 14:8). But there was one small problem: They weren't ready for battle.
___God guided them on a less direct route toward their goal, because threat of war might make them change their minds and return to Egypt (Exodus 13:17). And, once Pharaoh challenged the fleeing Hebrews, they complained to Moses it would have been better to remain slaves in Egypt than to face death in the desert (Exodus 14:12). Some army! Butthe key to the Hebrews' escape from Pharaoh at the Sea of Reeds was not human valor or strength. Rather, the focus of this story is on God's sovereign power and glory.
___Perhaps one of the most difficult issues to address in this narrative is the repeated statement that God hardened Pharaoh's heart so he would pursue the Hebrews and wage battle against them (Exodus 14:4, 8). To modern readers, this manipulation of Pharaoh may seem contrary to the gracious aspects of God's character. How could God harden a person's heart and then hold that person accountable for his actions? For the biblical writer, the answer was found in God's glory. God's purpose in hardening the pharaoh's heart was to "gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord" (Exodus 14:4). Because the Egyptians worshiped numerous gods (even Pharaoh was considered a deity), God's purpose at the Sea of Reeds was to demonstrate beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Egyptian gods (including Pharaoh) were not gods.
___But the Egyptians were not the only ones who needed to know this. The Hebrews had dwelled in Egypt for a long time and were not well-acquainted with their own God. Even after being witness to the plagues, they lacked faith when faced with Pharaoh's indomitable army. But instead of a call to arms or an appeal to human courage, Moses merely commanded them to stand still and watch because God would fight for them (Exodus 14:13-14). When the waters returned to their places and the Egyptian threat was vanquished, the Hebrews could do nothing less than reverence this God who had fought their battle for them.
___Christians today face battles on many fronts. We live in a society which has become increasingly antagonistic to Christian morals and beliefs. We stand immobilized by the violence and hatred that shake our communities. While church membership steadily declines, we witness the proliferation of a popular spirituality that requires no commitment and yet promises life. In times like these it is easy to be dismayed. But like the Hebrews at the Sea of Reeds, we must remember the battle is not really ours to fight. "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. ... The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still" (Exodus 14:13-14).
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