"TURN BACK??"

Exodus 14:1-4               (ESV)
"1 Then the LORD said to Moses,
2 "Tell the people of Israel to "TURN BACK" and encamp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, in front of Baal-zephon; you shall encamp facing it, by the sea.
3 For Pharaoh will say of the people of Israel, 'They are wandering in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.'
4 And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them, AND I WILL GET GLORY OVER PHARAOH AND ALL HIS HOST, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD." And they did so."


How many times have you heard a leader give orders to "TURN BACK"?  I'm not sure why, but I seem to be programmed to move forward, to continue moving ahead.  It seems if I "TURN BACK", I am losing ground.  What we perceive is not always reality though, as indicated in Proverbs 14:12 when it says "There is a way that SEEMS right to a man, but its end is the way to death"!

This text begins with a statement we tend to minimize.  "Then the LORD said to Moses" should let us know that the Creator of the Universe was actively engaged with a human.  GOD's desire is to still speak to humans.  Are we TOO BUSY to listen to HIM or HIS directions?  If GOD told us to "TURN BACK" would we be trying so hard to "get ahead in life" that we would even hear HIM?  The fact that GOD told Moses to tell the people of Israel to "TURN BACK" was an act of faith in itself.  The children of Israel could have made a good point that the only thing behind them was captivity and oppression.  But GOD had other plans for the retreat!

The Egyptians, led by Pharaoh, pursued the children of Israel all the way into the Red Sea. GOD hardened Pharaoh's heart to make sure they pursued.  GOD gained glory over Pharaoh and all his hosts when HE caused the waters to return to the banks of the Red Sea.  GOD used a miracle to provide salvation for HIS followers, then GOD used a return to normalcy to gain glory over the ones who didn't believe in HIM.

Moses had to be listening to GOD to hear HIS instructions.  When GOD said "TURN BACK", it was not a suggestion.  GOD knew that Pharaoh would think the Hebrew nation was wandering in the wilderness with no direction.  But Moses was listening to GOD, and trusting GOD would deliver the children of Israel to the Promised Land.  The "TURN BACK" order may not have made good strategic sense, but GOD has HIS own strategy!  We need to be focused on hearing, and trusting, in HIM!