“THE WILDERNESS HAS SHUT THEM IN!”

 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 (THE LORD) WILL GET GLORY over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD." AND THEY DID SO.”

Being in a position that we can’t understand, a situation that just doesn’t make sense to us, can leave us perplexed and unsure of what our next actions should be. The Israelites were in such a position leaving Egypt after 430 years (Exodus 12:40) of living there. Now GOD was telling Moses TO TURN BACK AND ENCAMP on the banks of the Red Sea! They had finally been delivered from their oppressors, and now GOD was leading them to WAIT!

Pi-hahiroth is a peculiar name. According to one commentary “The name, however, sufficiently explains the situation of the children of Israel; who were hemmed in at this place, between the sea in front, and a narrow mountain pass behind; which no doubt encouraged Pharaoh to make his attack upon them in so disadvantageous a position; thinking that they must inevitably fall an easy prey into his hands, or be cut to pieces: when their deliverance, and his own destruction, were unexpectedly wrought by the parting of the waters of the sea”! Everything SEEMED to be lining up for the Egyptians to keep the Israelites in the bondage they were accustomed to, BUT for the intervention of YAHWEH!!!

Keep in mind that the Israelites were in Egypt to begin with because of GOD blessing HIS servant Joseph, who was sold into slavery by his brothers and rose to the Pharaoh’s palace because of GOD’s Favor on his life. The Egyptians didn’t worship the GOD of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, so why would GOD bestow HIS BLESSINGS on them? Since GOD was favoring Joseph, why was now HE leading his posterity APPARENTLY to be overtaken and carried back to Egypt? Just like GOD blessed Egypt FOR A TIME, HE has the ability (and sometimes propensity) to turn what “this world” would refer to as “circumstances” dramatically....and immediately!!!

GOD WILL BE GLORIFIED! We can give HIM praise, honor and glory even when things are bleak, or HE can change our “circumstances”.....and immediately! If ALMIGHTY GOD can conquer the mightiest army on earth at the time (Exodus 14:28), HE can get GLORY from us whenever HE chooses! When “THE WILDERNESS HAS SHUT THEM IN”, miraculous occurrences need to be expected!!!