Tuesday, 01 December 2009 01:00  |  Written by Steve Hall and posted in Big Exit

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.” Exodus 14:26

Faced with a God powerful enough to hold back the sea would you have chased after the Israelites? Surely, a God who can do that isn’t going to let his people’s enemies get through to the other side and enslave his people once more. Der! And yet the lust for power consumes the Egyptians and they are consumed themselves by the sea. God is on the side of the oppressed. Don’t ever forget that!

Tuesday, 01 December 2009 00:00  |  Written by Steve Hall and posted in Big Exit

Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. Exodus 14:21-22

Can you imagine walking through the Red Sea on dry ground and not noticing the wall of water to your right or left? An old Hebrew parable tells this story, saying that some of the Israelites were (already!) grumbling so much about the state of the ground and walking through the night that they missed the miracle.

Did you know 80% of our thoughts are negative?!! What do we miss out on seeing because of this?

Friday, 27 November 2009 06:52  |  Written by Steve Hall and posted in Big Exit

As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord…. They said to Moses, “...It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!” Exodus 14:10,12

The Israelites looked up and despaired; for instead of seeing the Lord in the pillar of cloud they focused their eyes upon the approaching Egyptian army. When things don’t go according to plan what do you focus on? Do your negative emotions or God’s faithfulness get your main attention?

Choose to look at impending issues as an opportunity for God to come through for you again.

Thursday, 26 November 2009 06:50  |  Written by Steve Hall and posted in Big Exit

After leaving Sukkoth they camped at Etham on the edge of the desert. By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Exodus 13:20-21

Wow!!! What an incredible sight to be able to look up 24 hours a day and see such a visual reminder of God’s presence. But this was far more than just miraculous assurance of God’s presence. The cloud provided shade from the heat of the desert sun, while the fire provided light and heat in the dark, cold desert nights!

What does this communicate about God’s heart for you?

Wednesday, 25 November 2009 12:01  |  Written by Steve Hall and posted in Big Exit

When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” Exodus 13:17-18

Our Western mindset often causes us to desire an instant fix to our problems and pain. However, God often takes us on the long way round and these verses tell us one of the reasons why – we might change our minds and slip back into slavery!

Can you recognise any areas in your own life where you might be on one of God’s “long routes”? Is this way proving beneficial?

Thursday, 19 November 2009 18:15  |  Written by Steve Hall and posted in Big Exit

During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, "Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the Lord as you have requested." Exodus 12:31

Pharaoh's eldest son and heir to his throne (a Son of God the Egyptians believed) died in the tenth plague causing him to summon Moses and Aaron in the middle of the night. Instead of killing them as he had promised (see Exodus 10:28), Pharaoh humbly surrendered to all of Moses' demands.

As he does this, Pharaoh uses the term 'Israelites' for the first time. At last he had recognised the sovereign identity of his slaves.