Camp In Abba’s Goodness
(7 minutes)
When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. Thus the Israelites left Egypt like an army ready for battle. (Exodus 13:17-18)
Then the LORD gave these instructions to Moses: "Order the Israelites to turn back and camp by Pi-hahiroth between Migdol and the sea. Camp there along the shore, across from Baal-zephon. Then Pharaoh will think, 'The Israelites are confused. They are trapped in the wilderness!' And once again I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will chase after you. I have planned this in order to display my glory through Pharaoh and his whole army. After this the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD!" So the Israelites camped there as they were told. (Exodus 14:1-4)
"Religion will tell you that freedom looks like this: freedom is you putting distance between you and what you struggle with. That's not freedom." (Pastor Tim)
A cage is the best solution that religion has for setting us free. We were all taught to get as far away from our problems as we possibly could and call that freedom. But that is not what Yahweh has for us! Yahweh's idea of freedom is to have us camp at the Red Sea while He lures our enemy out in the open, using us as bait. Why does He do this? Because He wants us to see our enemy drowned in the Red Sea so we'll never look over our shoulders again in fear. Freedom is not distancing yourself from your problems. Freedom is your problem being eradicated by the goodness of God.
"A lot of times you think you should be putting distance between yourself and whatever has kept you captive, but God has got you camped in a situation where you can't run. You need to understand that God putting you in a situation where you can't run is the goodness of God." (Pastor Tim)
As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the LORD, 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? Didn't we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, 'Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It's better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!" (Exodus 14:10-12)
"There comes a point you're so trapped that you feel like there's no way out. You throw your hands up and say, 'I can't do this. I'm just going to have to survive.' You know a lot of us are just surviving. You know what that looks like? You wake up, you go to work, you come home, you eat dinner, you go to bed, and you do the same thing tomorrow." (Pastor Tim)
Are you just surviving? Sometimes we can get so hopeless that we can only see two options left for us: a slave in Egypt or a corpse in the wilderness. The cage or death. But Abba has a third option: real freedom, complete wholeness, you living fully alive. But in order for this to happen we have to stop running and camp long enough to see Abba's goodness destroy our enemy.
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. The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” (Exodus 14:13-14)
Don't be afraid.
Just stand still and watch Yahweh rescue you today.
The enemy, the problem, you see today will never be seen again.
Yahweh Himself will fight for you.
Just stay calm.
Beloved One, the running has to stop. Yahweh has grace for you to face your enemy. Grace is not permission to keep running away. Grace is the power you need to stand toe-to-toe with the issue and watch Abba's goodness drown it in the Red Sea. Receive the grace from Yahweh today to camp!
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Worship: "Palm of Your Hand" by TRIBL
Honor: Give Online to The Wilderness Place
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