I’ve read Exodus 13 & 14 time and time again, but today I noticed a detail that I have never seen before.

The story is about Israel after Pharaoh let them go–just before they were about to cross the Red Sea. Pharaoh changed his mind deciding to chase God’s chosen nation, “What have we done? We have let the Israelites go and have lost their services!” (14:5). Soon thereafter, he followed Israel into the Red Sea only to drown while God’s chosen nation narrowly escaped his clutches. Israel had the beautiful victory of freedom after being in slavery for 430 years to the Egyptians. [If you wrestle with the number of 430 years, there have been many discussions about it. The number comes from the time when Isaac, Abraham’s son, was mocked by Ishmael, his half-brother, when he was 5 years old.]

The interesting fact I discovered comes from Exodus 13:17-18. 

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." So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.

Notice the last sentence of verse 18: “The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.” The beginning of verse 17 tells us a little more about them, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” The interesting twist: even though they were ready for battle, if they faced it, they might change their mind…and do what? Return to slavery in Egypt.

There are many times we are prepared for battle. God has equipped us to show up and face a situation. And He is leading us. There are also times when things seem uncertain and yet we have been groomed for that very situation. And there are times when the future is cloudy and we feel we need clarity. But God has prepared us. He has equipped us. He has our future written ahead of us.

How often do we not evangelize because someone might ask us a question that we might not know the answer to? Or, are there times where we do not press GO in a situation due to apprehension because we “feel” we are not ready for what the future might hold? What if we are asked to help in some way and feel inadequate?

Israel suffered from this mindset. God tackled their enemies head-on. He delivered them from Pharaoh’s clenches, set them off to greener pastures, and they still could have changed their minds. The thoughts of abandonment were not gone…they still believed they could turn back if they had to. Pharaoh would accept them. He would provide for them in their slavery and they forgot what freedom was or what it could be.

Take the leap of faith into freedom. You are equipped. You are enough. You are beyond the reach of the Pharaohs in your life. God’s got you. Don’t let them stop you–don’t even let them stymie you. Don’t allow your mind to go back to the old ways of thinking. Approach God and His plan with fervor and excitement. He will meet you there and you’ll find that He has never left.

I write this piece just as much to myself as much as I write it for others. Thank God for Exodus 13.

Notice where Israel is starting: Goshen (in the top left).