“Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”
— Exodus 14:12
Just as he promised, God turned Pharaoh’s heart, and he let the Israelites go. And then he complicated things. He told Moses to lead them around in circles so Pharaoh would think he could come after them and take them back. That’s exactly what happened.
What in the world was God thinking? That he really wanted a big finish to this thing, so the Israelites would see how powerful he was, how much he loved them, and how much he wanted to do for them.
This time Moses knew what God expected of him, and he said to the frightened people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today” (Exodus 14:13). Then God gave Moses the power to part the Red Sea so they could walk across on dry land, and then drowned the Egyptians when they tried it. Now that was dramatic.
God expects you to keep following him, no matter how bad things look. If you don’t, you might miss the big finish!
More To Explore: 1 Chronicles 29:11
Girl Talk: Have you ever persevered through something tough and then seen a spectacular ending that made all the troubles worth it?
God Talk: “Jesus, help me to stand firm through trials. I know in the end there will be a grand finale, even if I don’t get to see it this side of heaven. Amen.”
From That Is So Me by Nancy Rue