“AND THE LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baalzephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea.”
A long journey stretched before Israel. Delivered from the oppressor and claimed by God as His “peculiar treasure,” they faced a vast wilderness, at the end of which the prosed land awaited them. Many experiences awaited them also along the way, many testings of faith, many reminders of their own failures and weaknesses, and many evidences too of Jehovah’s patience with them and His power for them. In this, Israel is a type of God’s people today. All who have been redeemed “with the precious blood of Christ” are also on their way to a more wonderful destination, a heavenly one, “a city whose builder and maker is God.” But this pathway also often appears long, full of trials and hazards and faith is often sorely tried. If he dwells on things around him and thinks of his puny strength, his confidence is shaken and he becomes the victim of unhappy doubts and fears.
Satan, the enemy of God’s people, is the source of such unhappiness. Well aware that he has lost possession of those who were once his servants, he endeavors to hinder their progress, to discourage them in the Christian pathway, and ensnare them again with the old lusts and worldly appetites from which they have been delivered. The evil one can never again have dominion over a redeemed soul, but if the Christian is not watchful and walking close to his Saviour, Satan may succeed in marring his testimony, as well the enjoyment of his Saviour and the prospect before him at the end of the journey.
But God, in His Word, prepare His people for these very attacks from the enemy, so that not one His children need be taken by surprise nor caught unprepared when Satan approaches. “Be sober, be vigilant"; He tells us, “because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” Again, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” 1 Peter 5:8; 4: 12,138Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (1 Peter 5:8), God provides too for the believer’s encouragement when confronted with trials. How precious these promises: “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation [or trial]"; and again: “God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted [tested] above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way of escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 2 Peter 2:99The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: (2 Peter 2:9); 1 Corinthians 10:1313There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13).
The first thing which the Lord did was to shut up His people, as far as man was concerned, in a hopeless position. Encamped by the sea, surrounded by the wilderness, He placed them so that if Pharaoh followed after them, just as God knew that he would, that there would be no human way of escape. Thus was brought about Pharaoh’s complete destruction while Israel was made to feel entirely dependent on the Lord. The Egyptians were to know that Jehovah was the Lord and the Israelites were to confess that He was their salvation.
ML-06/15/1969