When Sight Becomes Faith (Exodus 13:17-14:31)

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When Sight Becomes Faith (Exodus 13:17-14:31) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Jan 21, 2022 (message contributor)

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Scripture: Exodus 13:17-22, Exodus 14:1-31

Summary: Here at last, the people truly "see" God's hand, and "trust" and "revere" God. Now, anything is possible.

Today, I want to try to respect our story, by treating it in its entirety. We should hear it all at once. And it's important for the story, to start it, not in chapter 14, but at Exodus 13:17. This marks a transition ("and then"), and there's something here that we need to hear first. I was tempted to make a whole sermon out of just these three verses, and I think it'd be helpful. But I didn't (and the end result is far better, I think). So. Verse 17-20:

(17) and then, when Pharaoh released the people, God didn't lead them on the road toward the land of the Philistines

although near, it [was],

because God said,

"Lest the people repent[/change their minds/actions] when they see war,"

and they return to Egypt,"

(18) and God led the people around on the road of the wilderness of the Sea of Reeds,

and, being armed for battle, the sons of Israel went up from the land of Egypt,

(19) and Moses took the bones of Joseph with him

because he had surely made the sons of Israel swear [to him], saying,

God shall surely help/visit you,

and bring up my bones from here with you,"

(20) and they set out from Sukkot,

and they camped in Etham at the edge of the wilderness.

Yahweh knows, in freeing the Israelites from Egypt, that his people have not yet learned to trust him. God knows, if they find themselves across a valley from an enemy, that they might turn, and go back to Egypt. It's a possibility.

And so what God does instead, is take them by a different route.

What does that say, about us, and God? Three things, maybe:

(1) God doesn't force you to trust him.

(2) God doesn't force you to obey him.

(3) God works within the limitations of your faith. We are imperfect vessels for God's use. There are things He'd like to do with us-- there are roads He'd like to take us on-- and He can't. He knows they are too much for us.

Now, in this particular case, the road passing through the Philistines is almost certainly God's preferred route. The Philistines have a number of nephilim among them (here, I'm assuming people have heard/read the Joshua series). Goliath is the obvious example. And God wants them all dead. So God, in a perfect world, would kill two birds with one stone, and take Israel on the faster, more efficient, more necessary road. But He can't.

This doesn't mean that the Israelites are hopeless. This doesn't mean that they are a finished product. But when I sit down, and really reflect on this, it makes me want to grow spiritually. I don't want God to be limited, by my limitations. And maybe, somehow, the things I teach will help you grow. Maybe, God can become less limited by your limitations.

As a church, we need to stretch our imaginations, and stretch our faith, and come to a place where we actually believe God's hand is strong.

And Israel just isn't there yet.

So maybe when we look at Israel here, and God, we see ourselves. Maybe this is where we are at.

Verse 21-22:

(21) Now, Yahweh [was] walking before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them on the road,

while by night in a pillar of fire to give light to them to walk by day and by night.

(22) The pillar of the cloud didn't depart by day,

and/nor the pillar of the fire by night, before the presence of the people,

Here, we see how easy God is making it for his people. Day and night, everyone could see the pillar of cloud. Every night, you'd watch it turn to fire. And every morning, you'd watch it become "just" a cloud.

Cool. And why does God do that?

Again. God knows his people lack faith. And this cloud is an act of grace on his part. God is making it easy to follow him.

The other thing this does, is make it easy for the people to follow Moses. How do you know that God sent Moses, and that God is with Moses? You can see the cloud. Anytime you find yourself doubting whether Moses is truly Yahweh's servant or not, you can just at the cloud.

As the people grow, ideally, they won't need the cloud. But here, at the beginning of their faith journey, God shows his kindness, and grace, and makes it easy. Following God, at this point, is a little like bumper bowling.

Exodus 14:1-8:

(14:1) and Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

"Speak to the sons of Israel,

that they return,

and that they camp near Pi-Hahiroth-- between Migdol and between the sea-- near Baal Zephon.

Opposite of it, you shall camp by the sea,

(3) that Pharaoh will say of the sons of Israel,

"Confused/wandering, they are in the land.

It has enclosed itself upon them-- the wilderness,

(4) and I will strengthen the heart of Pharaoh,

that he will pursue after them,

and I shall be glorified against Pharaoh and against his strength,

and/that the Egyptians will know that I [am] Yahweh,"

and they did thus,

(5) and it was reported to the king of Egypt that the people fled,

and the heart/resolve of Pharaoh was turned/reversed, with his servants, to the people,

and they said,

"What is this we have done,

that we released Israel from our service?,"

(6) and he made ready his chariots,

while his people to take with him,

(7) and he took 600 hundred hand-picked chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and officers over all of them,

(8) and Yahweh strengthened the resolve of Pharaoh king of Egypt,

and he pursued after the sons of Israel,

while the sons of Israel [were] going out with a lofty/exalted/triumphant hand,

Let's pause here. I think this is hilarious. Try to put yourself in this picture, as an Israelite. You know God has freed you from Egypt. You're leaving Egypt, wealthy, free. You're following Moses, and the cloud. Life is good. You're feeling about as good as anyone has ever felt in life. Your hand is lofty. Exalted. Triumphant.

At the same time, something else is happening. Pharaoh is back. He's chasing you. You don't know it yet. But if this was a movie, you'd have some hair-raising, ominous background music. It's about to get real. And Pharaoh may have been humiliated by God. But Pharaoh is not without power. Chariots are like tanks, and helicopters, and jets. In open country, they are death to you. You have no choice, but to surrender. Right?

Verse 9:

(9) and the Egyptians pursued after them,

and they overtook them camping upon the sea-- all the horses of the chariots of Pharaoh, with his charioteers and his strength/army-- at Pi-Hahiroth near Baal Zephon.

(10) Now, Pharaoh came near,

and the sons of Israel lifted their eyes,

and LOOK! Egyptians [were] traveling/moving after them,

and they feared greatly,

and the sons of Israel cried out to Yahweh,

Let's pause here again, just for a second. The Israelites here, "see" the Egyptians, and they "fear." Remember these two verbs.

Verse 11:

(11) and they said to Moses,

"Is it because there are no graves in Egypt [that] you took us to die in the wilderness?

What is this you have done to us, by bringing us out from Egypt?

(12) Is this not the word that we said to you in Egypt, saying,

"Leave us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians,

because [it is] better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness,"

(13) and Moses said to the people,

"May you not fear.

Stand firm,

and see the salvation of Yahweh,

that He will do for you today,

because what you see-- the Egyptians-- today, you will never see them again forever.

Yahweh is fighting for you,

while you, be silent (see Gen. 24:21; Job 13:5),"

Moses here shows great faith in Yahweh. He gently encourages them (using a jussive) to not be afraid, and he encourages them to see something else. Today will the day that they see God's salvation. And today will be the last day, they ever see the Egyptians.

In the last line, you'll see I translated it "be silent." This is often translated as an encouragement that they need only passively watch this happen. But I think it's better understood as a call to stop crying out to God. They can be quiet.

This doesn't mean they did something wrong in crying out to God. That was (probably) the right thing to do. When life gets hard, you cry out to God. But once you have confidence God has heard you, and that God is fighting for you, you can move to place of peace, and trust. And Moses is telling them, they can move to that place.

Now, the other thing we should remember here, is how our story began. God couldn't take them on the road toward the Philistines, because the people might "repent," and turn back to Egypt. The problem with that road, was that there was an escape route.

Here, God has taken that option away. There is no way out. God has set this up, sort of, to make it as easy as possible for Israel to trust Him. Because at this point, God is the only solution. God is the only way out. And when you find yourself in that situation, life gets simple. It's either God, or death.

This brings us to verse 15. This is the one verse I came in to the study most wanting you to hear, in the whole book. And somehow, we just reached it.

Now the catch, in reading this verse, is that (I think) there is a gap in our story here. When Moses talked to the people, he showed faith in God. He tells them, "be silent." And then I think what happens, is Moses himself cries out to Yahweh. Moses "knows" that God is with him. He "knows" that God is fighting for him. He "knows" that Yahweh will be, what He will be, for him, and for the people.

But despite "knowing" all of this, Moses cries out. I think.

So. Verse 15. "The moment." And I'll read through 18:

(15) and Yahweh said to Moses,

Why are you crying out to me?

Speak to the sons of Israel, that they may set out,

(16) while you, lift up your staff,

and stretch out your hand upon the sea,

and divide it,

that the sons of Israel may go in the midst of the sea on dry ground,

(17) while I, LOOK! I [am] strengthening the resolve of the Egyptians,

and/that they will come after them,

and/that I will be glorified against Pharaoh and against his strength-- against his chariots and against his horsemen,

(18) that the Egyptians shall know that I [am] Yahweh,

when I glorify myself against Pharaoh-- against his chariots and against his horsemen,"

So. These verses teach, in a nutshell, everything you need to know about how to live a life of power-- specifically, I think, for healings, and signs, and wonders.

Moses looks at the situation, and he understands that Yahweh is more powerful. He knows that Yahweh can fix this. And so he cries out to God, to act.

But when Moses does this, how does God view it? God asks, "Why are you crying out to me?"

When Moses cries out to God here, what he is actually doing, is trying to create a wall between him and God. He's acting like this is God's responsibility, and not his. He's acting like there's nothing that he can do, about Pharaoh, and about Egypt. What he's doing, in praying, is trying to dump this off on God.

And God has no time for this. God knows that He's given Moses authority, and responsibility. He's given him power. He has the staff. And God has made a commitment to fight with Moses.

Imagine Moses as a firefighter. He's suited up. He's connected to a source of power. He's holding the water hose. And there's a house on fire. What should Moses do? Should he cry out to God, and ask God to put out the fire?

Or should he look at everything God has given him, and take care of it?

This is exactly our situation, as NT Christians. This is the Christian walk, in two verses. Jesus has authority over every power in the heavenly realm, and the earthly realm. His throne is higher-- it's at God's right hand. And Jesus, when he sends us out in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), promises us that he will be with us. His authority, is our authority (Matthew 10:1). We are seated with Christ in the heavenlies (Ephesians 1:19-23; 2:6). In Christ, we reign. We received power, when the Holy Spirit came upon us.

So when find ourselves in front of someone who is sick, or weak, and we cry out to God about it, what do you suppose God says?

I imagine that when God looks at us, He sees fully equipped firefighters, connected to Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit, empowered to do greater works (John 14:12). I imagine that God would ask us, "Why are you crying out to me, and acting like you are helpless? Rebuke the sickness/weakness in Jesus' name; command healing in Jesus' name, and they will be healed. Be the firefighter, I made you to be."

This doesn't mean we never ask. And it doesn't mean that we do any of this independently of Jesus. Our power comes, from abiding in Christ. But prayer cannot be a excuse to dump problems off on God, and wash our hands of them. God has made you for more than this. And He would really like, to use you for more than this. Probably, He didn't make you a firefighter, so that He could put out fires.

So. That's my verse. I finally got to teach it.

Now, let's try to get back to Exodus. God says, stop crying out to me. Take care of it. You do your part. You, stretch out your hand. You, divide the waters. And I will work with you. I'll do my job. I'll strengthen the resolve of the Egyptians. I'll make sure they don't panic, or come to their senses, when they see the walls of water. I'll make sure they chase you into the most obvious trap of all time. I will (also) divide the waters-- you and I will tag-team this. And I will bring glory to myself against the Egyptians.

Moses has a role. And God as a role. And they work together. Just as we work together, with God.

Verse 19-31:

(19) and the messenger/angel of the God/Elohim set out-- the one walking before the camp of Israel--,

and he walked behind them,

and the pillar of the cloud set out from before them,

and it stood behind them,

(20) and it went between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel,

and it was a dark cloud,

and it gave light to the night,

and no one drew near all night,

(21) and Moses stretched out his hand upon the sea,

and Yahweh caused the sea to walk with a strong east wind all night,

and He made the sea into dry land,

and the waters cleaved/split,

(22) and the sons of Israel went in the midst of the sea on dry land,

while the waters [were] for them a wall on their right hand and on their left hand,

(23) and the Egyptians pursued,

and they came after them-- all the horses of Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen-- to the midst of the sea,

(24) and then, during the last night watch before morning, Yahweh looked down to the camp of the Egyptians in the pillar of pillar and cloud,

and He confused the camp of the Egyptians,

(25) and He removed/took off the wheels of his chariots,

and he caused them to move with difficulty,

and the Egyptians said,

"Let us flee from before Israel,

because Yahweh [is] fighting for them against the Egyptians,"

(26) and Yahweh said to Moses,

"Stretch out your hand upon the sea,

that the waters may return upon the Egyptians-- upon his chariots and upon his horsemen,"

(27) and Moses stretched out his hand upon the sea,

and the waters returned at the daybreak of morning to its normal depth,

while the Egyptians [were] fleeing to meet it, [the Egyptians are running "to meet" it. Some translations find this impossible, and "fix" it, but this is what it says.]

and Yahweh shook off/swept away the Egyptians in the midst of the sea,

(28) and the waters returned,

and they covered the chariots and the horsemen-- all the strength of Pharaoh coming after them-- in the sea.

There wasn't left over among them even one,

(29) while the sons of Israel walked on dry ground in the midst of the sea,

while the waters [were] for them a wall on the right hand and on the left hand,

(30) and Yahweh saved on that day Israel from the hand of the Egyptians,

and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the edge of the sea,

(31) and Israel saw the great hand

that Yahweh had done against the Egyptians,

and the people feared/revered Yahweh,

and they trusted/"believed" in Yahweh and in Moses his servant.

How does our story end? The Israelites do the same two verbs they did earlier. They "see," and they "fear." The first time, they saw the Egyptians, and feared the Egyptians. Here, what do they see?

Two things. First, they see the Egyptians washing up dead on shore. Second, they see God's great hand. It sounds awkward to translate "hand" woodenly, so English Bibles often translate it "power" here. But the word is hand. And this is the same thing God has been wanting them to see-- his strong hand.

Maybe, you'd think the Israelites have already seen God's strong hand in the plagues. And they should've. But this is the first time, I think, that Exodus actually says "they see." When God wipes out the superpower, and the symbol of its strength-- its chariots-- here, the people truly see what God can do (the modern equivalent would be aircraft carriers). This is the first time they have eyes of faith.

So the people see. And they also "fear." Only here, instead of fearing the Egyptians, they fear-- or "revere"-- Yahweh.

This is the moment, when the people finally, truly, place their trust in Yahweh, and in his servant Moses. This is the moment when sight becomes faith.

And now that the Israelites have seen, and revered, they are ready for service. Their limitations are gone; they can do fully do the job God gave them. They are going to kill some nephilim kings (Og and Sihon). They are going to go, wherever God wants. There are no limits.

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What we see in this passage, is what God wants for us. God wants to use us to do great things. God has works, that He's prepared ahead of time for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). But these works, are a possibility, not an inevitability. There's nothing fatalistic, or deterministic, about any of this. The day will probably come when we are lying there in a casket, and we maybe checked off half of the list God had for us.

And if that happens, I assume it's because one of two things is true. Either, we got entangled with sin, and that kept us from serving God effectively. Or, we never grew into the works God has for us. We never "saw" God's hand for what it actually is. We never saw these stories, and claimed them for ourselves. We never learned from what we saw God doing miraculously all around us. Sight never became faith.

Let me encourage you this morning, to change how you look at yourself in the mirror. You are not a finished product. You can grow. You can overcome your limitations. You can become someone, that God can take on a higher road. Ask God to give you faith (Mark 9:23-24). Ask God to help you believe you are, what God says you are in Christ. Claim the promises. Accept the responsibility. Ask God to partner with you, as you go into the world (Acts 4:28-30). And then, go.

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