God raised up his servant, Moses, and sent him to Pharaoh to boldly speak a command on His behalf. And God's command to Pharaoh was this: "Let my people go so they can worship me."
They were freed for purpose. Yes, God was honoring the covenant He made with Abraham, but, God purposed that His people, the nation of Israel, would be free so that they could worship and serve Him.
When God sets you free, you are freed for a purpose. The purpose in which you were created for; to worship Him with your life. You were created by God and for God.
"For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen." (Romans 11:36, NLT)
Everything about your life is intended to bring God glory. Your marriage. Your children. Even in your secular job, you are intended to bring Him glory.
Everything about you exists by His power and for His glory.
The children of Israel suffered extreme bondage in Egypt. And God miraculously delivered them.
After they were set free, God hardened Pharaoh's heart and Pharaoh began to question his decision. "Why did we let the children of Israel go from serving us?" He then gathered his army and pursued them.
Let's look at what happened in the fourteenth chapter of Exodus.
"And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord. Then they said to Moses, 'Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt? Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness,'” (Exodus 14:10-12 NKJV).
The Egyptians that held the Israelites in bondage and made their lives harsh were now coming to enslave them again. They were coming to capture and cause bitterness, again. In their new place of freedom, the very ones that they thought wouldn't trouble them again were now pursuing them as they headed towards new land.
Let me ask you a question:
What is in your life today, that is seeking to continuously trouble you?
What "Egyptians" from your past are pursuing you? (Egyptians, in this teaching, represent things that once had us in bondage.)
God has commanded that you be free to worship him and serve Him. However, the Egyptians from your past don't want to let you go. They seek to make life harsh and bitter again, keeping you in a place of constant struggle and bondage.
You still see them, pursuing you in the natural.
You look up and the insecurity is still here.
The pain is still here.
What do you do in that moment when you know God has purposed and ordained new, but when you lift your eyes you see old enemies?
The Israelites cried out to God. This is the proper response.
Then they complained.
Wrong response.
Complaining is the language of Egypt.
In this season, your lips cannot release the language that is aligned with Egypt, or the past- complaining, grumbling, murmuring.
When the Israelites saw the Egyptians, they reverted to a language that was birthed in them in Egypt because of their experience there. Their experience in Egypt caused them pain. It was shameful and humiliating. And their horrible experience effected everything about them, including their language.
Our experiences can affect our attitude, our speech- so many things about us.
A woman who has been repeatedly abused by men may begin to say, "Men are no good," or, "All men are dogs."
Ladies, do not address your personal Egyptians with the language of Egypt. Address them with the language and the response of faith.
The children of Israel's response, when they saw the Egyptians was not a proper response. But Moses, responded in faith:
"And Moses said to the people, 'Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace,'" (Exodus 14:13, 14 NKJV).
Moses spoke in faith in that moment. This, too, must be your response.
Don't focus on the enemy that pursues you. Nothing your enemies do take God by surprise.
God already has a plan for your enemy. He had already spoken to Moses before Pharaoh's army even pursued.
God told Moses that He was the one hardening Pharaoh's heart and that He would cause Pharaoh to pursue.
But, he also said, "And I will gain honor over Pharaoh and his army, that the Egyptians may know that I Am the Lord," (Exodus 14:4, NKJV).
The things you seemingly struggle with don't take God by surprise. He will gain honor over them. Just move forward.
Keep your eyes on God and what He's purposed for your life. His plans always prevail.
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