In today’s conversation, we’ll continue on with our journey through the Exodus era of the Bible as we follow Moses and the Israelites out of Egypt and through the Red Sea. We’ll discuss the importance of trusting what we know about the character of God when we read things in the Bible that are difficult to understand. We’ll talk about the intentionality of God to take us on the route He knows we’re ready for—and the route which keeps us moving forward. We’ll be challenged to confront our responses to fear, and we’ll concede that sometimes we just have to be quiet and let God fight for us. We’ll watch God part the famous waters of the Sea, and we’ll continue to see how God's plan unfolds throughout every era of this amazing Book, all of them working together and pointing to our blessed Deliverer and Redeemer—the spotless Lamb of God—Jesus. So, pull up a chair at our table, and let’s dive into the conversation.

Scriptures:

• Exodus 12:1-5, 12-13, 21-28, ESV
• Ezekiel 33:11
• 1 Timothy 2:4
• 2 Peter 3:9
• Exodus 13:17-22, ESV
• Exodus 7:4b
• Exodus 13:17-22, ESV 
• Exodus 14:15-25
• Exodus 14:26-31, ESV
• 1 Peter 1:18-19, ESV
• 1 Corinthians 5:7b, ESV

TEACHINGS & DISCUSSIONS:

• When God brings us out of one season, it is to lead us into a greater one. Or we could say a “higher” one—to level up. 
• They were equipped for battle, but they were not ready for battle—their minds weren’t ready. Sometimes we can feel like we’re so equipped for something, but God knows we’re not ready yet.
• Just because we’re not ready yet, doesn’t mean God doesn’t allow us to begin walking in what he knows we are or begin to call us by what he knows we are. 
• Trusting the path God takes us on. “Led” in verse 18 is not the same word as “lead” in verse 17. It’s actually the same word as “around” just a few words later in verse 18. It means God took them a roundabout way. He took them on a roundabout way to avoid the Philistines and to get them to the Red Sea. 
  • God has purpose for our path, even when it seems like He’s taking us on a long, roundabout way. God has purpose for our path, even when it looks to us like we’re stuck between “a rock and a hard place.”
• Their “stuckness” at the Red Sea was God’s way of keeping them moving forward. He could have fought for them either way—whether he was fighting the Philistines or the Egyptians—but if he had taken them the shorter way through the Philistines, the people could have turned back and gone back to Egypt—that’s what God said in verse 17. So God took them to a place where they were STUCK, so they couldn’t turn back! Their “stuckness” was God’s providence and protection!! What we might see as God's oversight is actually God's intentionality. 
• They feared greatly—and their fear turned into panic. This is a pattern we’re going to see with the Israelites over and over again.
  • Fear responses: Blame. You…You….We said this, but you…. Make dramatic assumptions and fail to think logically. We’re going to die in the wilderness…
  • Moses’ response—God will fight for us, but we have to be quiet. Moses says fear not, stand firm, and basically watch. 
• God stands between us and our enemy—even when his presence looks cloudy.
• The blood on the doorposts was symbolic of the cross. Jesus was crucified at Passover time, and the Last Supper was a Passover meal. Jesus is our ultimate Deliverer and Redeemer, and Jesus was THE fulfillment of the Passover Lamb.