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EXODUS 14:13,14

"THE SALVATION OF THE LORD"

Intro: God has afflicted the Egyptians with all the plagues, now after the death of the
       first born the Pharaoh in an emotional decision has ordered them to go. Now that he
       has had time to consider, he ordered his army to pursue them.

I. MOSES, IT SEEMS, HAS MADE AN OBVIOUS BLUNDER.
        A. He has led the people into a valley toward the sea.
                1. With the sea in front of  them and mountains on both sides, no where to
                   go but back.
                2. When the Pharaoh was told of their location he said: They are entangled
                   in the land, the wilderness has shut them in." He ordered his army to
                   close off the valley, and they were trapped.
        B. The men of Israel seeing what had happened, lost confidence in Moses' leadership.
                1. There was no where to turn, so they turned on Moses.
                        a. Why did you lead us here?
                                1. Not enough graves in Egypt?
                        b. Why didn't you leave us alone?
                                1. We were better off as slaves.
        C. A look at verses one and two show it was not a blunder by Moses.
                1. It was God who had led them into this trap.
                2. Why would God lead them into such an obvious trap?
                        a. He wanted to demonstrate to them His mighty power.
                        b. He wanted to teach them valuable lessons.
                                1. If God is for us who can be against us.
                                2. The Lord can make a way where there is no way.
                                3. Whenever things got dark, remember the God who brought
                                   them through the impossible.

II. MOSES ADVISE TO THE PEOPLE.
        A. "Fear not."
                1. They probably thought - Oh good, Moses has a plan.
        B. "Stand still."
                1. Oh no, he's crazy and we were crazy to follow him.
        C. "See the salvation of the Lord."
        D. "The Lord shall fight for you and you shall hold your peace."
        E. These were words of faith for up to this point Moses did not know what God had
           in mind.
                1. He only knew that when God guides, God provides.
                2. He started to pray.
                        a. God said: "Wherefore criest thou unto Me?"
                                1. Time has come for action.

III. GOD'S MIGHTY DELIVERANCE BY TOTALLY UNEXPECTED MEANS.
        A. God made a path through the sea.
        B. The guiding  cloud moved behind them and settled down upon the Egyptians,
           creating a zero visibility fog. The pillar of fire lighted the scene for Israel
           and that night they made their escape.
        C. We sometimes find ourselves in tight positions with no possible avenues of escape.
                1. God has allowed me to get there.
                2. He wants me to trust wholly in Him.