As Israel left Egypt, the Lord sent them in an unexpected direction:
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon. Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.’ 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.” So the Israelites did this (Exodus 14:1-4).
When you follow the Lord to your promised land, He may lead you by a not-so-straight path that to the natural eye doesn't seem very efficient or easy. In this situation, God wanted to teach His people about His ways and faithfulness that would require their trust but also provide an important lesson for where they were going. We read that Pharaoh did indeed take the bait and pursued the people he had given permission to leave: "As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord" (Exodus 14:10).
Fear and terror are the opposite of faith when you are following and trusting the Lord and of course, the Israelites gave in to their fear when they saw the Egyptian army. Moses tried to console his people with these words: “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still" (Exodus 14:13-14). The problem was that it was too late for this admonition, for the people were already terrified! The same may be true for you. By the time you hear the Lord say, "Fear not," you are afraid just like they were.
As you express your purpose, it may seem like the finances will never flow, the results will never come, and the people will never hear. That is not true, although it sure seems like it when Pharaoh and his army are pursuing you. Paul wrote the Ephesians with advice that resembled what Moses said and it is good for you to hear if you are afraid as you do what you believe God has put in your heart to do: "Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand" (Ephesians 6:13).
Do your current circumstances have you afraid? Does it feel like Pharaoh has you cornered? Have you put on the full armor as described in Ephesians 6:11-20? If you have, then the word of the Lord to you is fear not, be still, and stand firm. The Lord will deliver you, although not according to your timetable but His. As He told Moses, He will gain glory for Himself in defeating your enemies as He promised He would do.
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