When The Smoke Clears

And Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid.  Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today.  For the Egyptions whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever."
Exodus 14:13 NKJV

The Isrealites, Gods chosen people, had their backs against the wall.  The Lord God had afflicted their Egyption captors with several plagues in order to convince the Egyption Pharoh to release the Isrealites from bondage.  The funny thing is, God had CAUSED Pharohs heart to be hard so that he refused to release his captives.  Even after plague upon plague afflicted his land, Pharoh still stuck to his guns and refused to release the children of Isreal.  Then, one night, the angel of the Lord decended upon Pharohs kingdom and death came to every firsborn child in Egypt that didn't have the doorway of the home marked with the blood of a lamb.  The angel of the Lord "Passed over" each and every home marked with the blood of the lamb.  This was the final straw for Pharoh, he'd battled with the God of Isreal long enough.  He now released the Isrealites from bondage and, not only that, sent them away with treasures from Pharohs own Kingdom!   However, God wasn't finished with the Egyption king, for He once again caused his heart to be hardened and to pursue the Isrealites to the banks of the Red Sea.

"Then I will harden Pharoh's heart, so that he will pursue them; and I will gain honor over Pharoh and over all his army, that the Egyptions may know that I am the Lord."  And they did so.
Exodus 14:4 NKJV

The Isrealites had been serving the Egyptions for years, why had the Lord waited so long to deliver his people?  Well, in Exodus 14:4 we may get a glimpse as to why  the Lord waited.  For God had hardened Pharohs heart "That the Egyptions may know that I am the Lord."   Sure, God could have saved the Isrealites sooner, but we should also remember that Gods timing was the key factor here.  For whatever reason, God waited years before approachinng Moses to help liberate the Isrealites.  Of course, Moses had to be convinced to do so.  Regardless, the chain of events had began.  As the Lord worked on Pharoh, he also worked on His people.  Now was the moment to show all of Egypt the glory of the God of Isreal.
The Isrealites, Gods people, with their backs to the wall and with escape seemingly impossible, now faced being wiped out by a vengeful Egyption Pharoh.  Yet, God had them right where he wanted them.  For it was in this vulnerable moment that the God of all Isreal rose to show these Egyptions his glory.  How much of this moment in Egypt is like our very own stressful situations?  Day upon day we endure as we cry out to the Lord as the Isrealites did.  "When will you deliver me, Lord?"  Despite our own worst fears, God DOES hear our cries.  The day will surely come when he will whisper in our ear, "Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will accomplish for you today!"

~Scott~