"Escaping from a desperate Situation"

KEY PASSAGE: Exodus 14:1-31 | Isaiah 41:9-13

Many of us are familiar with one of the most interesting and amazing events in the Old Testament, but we may not understand how it applies to us. After all, how could an event that happened thousands of years ago be relevant in the 21st century? It’s because nothing in the Bible is unnecessary or unimportant. Although civilizations and cultures frequently change, the principles found in Scripture remain constant because our God never changes. The bible says that God is changeless In other words, He do not improve. He is already and remains the GOAT. Situations change and environments change, but the principles of the word of God do not change. Everything that went on in the Old Testament in Genesis is still going on today and all the way to the Revelation. Ecclesiastes says, “what has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” He has given us this book to teach us who He is and how He operates so we can apply His Word to our lives.

You Ready… Let’s Go!!

History and Background

The book of Genesis records the story of Joseph, who was sold into Egyptian slavery by his jealous brothers. After God gave him the interpretation of Pharaoh’s dream, Joseph was promoted to the position of overseer of Egypt.His interpretation and wise advice saved the Egyptians from starvation due to an extended drought, and it also provided an opportunity for Joseph’s extended family to join him in Egypt. The Israelites multiplied so quickly during their 400-year stay in Egypt that a future pharaoh, who didn’t know Joseph, enslaved them because he was afraid they might become powerful enough to be a threat to the Egyptians.

God chose a Hebrew man named Moses to lead the sons of Israel out of Egypt. He’d been raised and educated as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. However, after he killed an Egyptian who was beating a fellow Hebrew, he was forced to flee for his life and ended up spending 40 years in the Midian wilderness until the day the Lord spoke to him in a burning bush. God sent Moses back to Egypt to set His people free and bring them to the land He’d promised to give them.

Because Pharaoh was hard-hearted and stubborn, the Lord sent 10 plagues to the land of Egypt. Finally, when the last plague resulted in the loss of all the firstborns in Egypt, Pharaoh relented and let the Hebrews go. Passover

There are four principles we can learn from the Israelites great escape.

 1. God always knows which way is best. 

Although Pharaoh had let the children of Israel leave Egypt after the 10th plague, shortly afterward he regretted his decision, assembled his army, and set out to bring them back. Under God’s leadership the Israelites had arrived and set up camp near the Red Sea when Pharaoh and his forces overtook them. Upon seeing the Egyptian army coming toward them, they realized they were trapped and, in fear, called out to God. Although the situation looked desperate to the Israelites, the Lord was in control and was going to use this circumstance to show the Egyptians that He was Israel’s God and the only true God.

Therefore, whenever we face difficult times, we too should call on the Lord and remember that He orchestrates such situations for His divine purposes, to demonstrate His glory, and to show us that His ways are
always best.

 Don’t forget that God is sovereign; He is in charge

 Sometimes you won’t get what you want; it’s not what is best; God has something better

 Ex.- relationship, job, position, house

2. God is always present to guide and provide for His
people. 

Although the Israelites thought they were trapped by the Egyptian army, in reality, God was the one who put them in this impossible situation because He had a great goal in mind that they couldn’t perceive. The only way they could escape was if God intervened and rescued them. Human reason is no match for the Lord’s omniscience because He knows the beginning and the end of everything. Our response should be to trust Him and obey whatever He tells us to do. A lack of understanding of all
the details is no excuse for disobedience and doubt.

 We don’t need to know everything; God will make it clear

 If God tells you to do something, He is responsible to make it possible to make it happen in your life

 Be like Nike… Just Do It!

 Just be obedient to God!

 You don’t have to please anybody but God!

 God assumes full responsibility for the consequences of your obedience; you don’t have to worry about what’s going to happen

3. God’s simplest command can result in surprising and powerful consequences when we obey Him. 

The Israelites were no match for the Egyptian army with all their chariots. These former slaves were not trained soldiers and had no equipment with which to fight. Their only hope was to trust the Lord, who by His grace had kept them alive for all those years in the land of Egypt and caused them to proliferate into a great multitude.

 This is where we make mistakes in life. When often times we don’t have an answer, we make a way for ourselves which is often disastrous.

 Sometimes the best answer is to sit tight, be quiet and wait on the Lord; just trust Him

Exodus 14:13-14 (NLT)
But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the LORD rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again.  14  The LORD himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”

 When things look bad, have Supernatural faith

 He will make all your worries and doubts disappear

 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?
(Romans 8:31)

Read Exodus 14:15-16 (NLT)

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving!  16  Pick up your staff and raise your hand over the sea. Divide the water so the Israelites can walk through the middle of the sea on dry ground.

As the people marched forward at God’s command, what seemed like an insurmountable situation became a miraculous deliverance. The pillar of cloud moved behind the Israelites to separate the Egyptians from them as they crossed over the seabed between two walls of water. When the Egyptians followed them, Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the water flowed back, killing Pharaoh and his entire army. We must never look at our situations based on our own abilities but on God’s faithfulness. Then in obedience we should follow His commands and trust Him to work out the situation and handle all the consequences.

 Some of us need to stop crying and start moving

 If the Lord has told you to do something then He has already gone before you and worked it out

 He will take care of all your enemies and obstacles

4. Don’t look for someone to blame for your circumstance, but look for God to help you. 

When the Israelites first realized that the Egyptians were closing in on them,

Exodus 14:11 (NLT)

and they said to Moses, “Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt?

It’s always easier to blame someone else for our difficulties rather than to trust God’s purposes and His faithfulness to us in the situation.

 We are always looking for someone to blame when things are not going your way (mother, father, friend, devil)

 Whatever the situation or circumstance you are in, if you are in the will of God, God is responsible for getting you through it.

Read Isaiah 41:9-13

I have called you back from the ends of the earth, saying, ‘You are my servant.’ For I have chosen you and will not throw you away. 10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.

Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. 11  “See, all your angry enemies lie there, confused and humiliated. Anyone who opposes you will die and come to nothing. 12  You will look in vain for those who tried to conquer you. Those who attack you will come to nothing. 13  For I hold you by your right
hand— I, the LORD your God. And I say to you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.

What an appropriate scripture when you are escaping a desperate situation

Who do you blame in your life?

The wise thing to do is look to God Look to God for help; He is the only one who can help us through situations and circumstances

He is the only one that can heal us

He is the only one who can provide for us when nobody else knows our need.

He is the only one who can give us direction for our lives with absolute certainty.

Just TRUST Him and you will always come out right!!