Second Thoughts Exodus 13:20-14:31 3-28-2021

Charles Swindoll told the story of nine-year-old Danny who came bursting out of his Sunday School class one Sunday like a wild stallion. His eyes were darting in every direction as he tried to locate his mom and dad. After a quick search he grabbed his dads’ leg and, in his excitement, yelled, “man, that story of Moses and all those people crossing the Red Sea was great! His father looked at him and smiled and asked his son to tell him about it.

Well, the Israelites got out of Egypt, but Pharaoh and his army chased after them. So the Jews ran as fast as they could until they got to the Red Sea. The Egyptian army was getting closer and closer. So Moses got on his walkie-talkie and told the Israeli air force to bomb the Egyptians. While that was happening, the Israeli navy built pontoon bridges so the people could cross over. They made it!

By this time his father was shocked. Is that what they are teaching you in Sunday School?

Well no, not exactly, Danny admitted. But if I told it to you the same way they told it to us, you’d never believe it dad.

As hard as it may be for some to believe that God works miracles and over the years have sought to explain away what happened, the actual story of Israel’s crossing of the Red Sea goes like this:

“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. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people. Then the LORD said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon. Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.’ And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.” So the Israelites did this. When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, “What have we done? We have let the Israelites go and have lost their services!” So he had his chariot made ready and took his army with him. He took six hundred of the best chariots, along with all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers over all of them. The LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out boldly. The Egyptians—all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots, horsemen and troops—pursued the Israelites and overtook them as they camped by the sea near Pi Hahiroth, opposite Baal Zephon. (Exodus 13:20-14:9)

I. As his heart hardened, Pharaoh began to have Second Thoughts

And it’s no wonder because the decision to let God’s people go was made under duress it might even be argued that he was not of sound mind when he agreed to it just consider what state of mind he would be in after suffering through a year of plagues that touched virtually every level of Egyptian society. It ruined their crops, decimated their flocks and herds, and demoralized its people. The proud nation had been brought to their knees and near ruin

His gods were discredited, unable to do anything about the plagues and the chaos that ensued These were the same gods which Pharaoh relied upon to justify his right to rule and retain power, Which was based on the belief that he was the son of their main god, Ra. It undermined his authority because if they were shown to be impotent before Yahweh, what claim did he have on the throne?

Then adding insult to injury, it says in verse 8 that the people of Israel marched out of Egypt boldly That doesn’t catch the full derision their actions showed towards him The phrase is literally the people of Israel left with a high hand, or as the NLT puts it, with fists raised in defiance They were rubbing pharaoh and all of Egypt’s noses in it

Pharaoh had been embarrassed by Moses and ridiculed by Israel, and those in power do not take kindly to such things

Then on top of everything else, making matters even worse, when he agreed to let them go he was grieving over the loss of his firstborn son

It was an emotional reaction, made in the heat of the moment, not any real acceptance or acknowledgment of God’s authority and power. as he and his officials had time to think, they began to have second thoughts. And not surprisingly, they changed their minds, saying “What have we done?” they realized that in their pain, they had given away all that free labor

So when word came that the people of Israel seemed to be lost, wandering around the desert, not knowing where to go and with their backs up against the sea and nowhere to run, he called out his army and went after them to exact revenge.

When decisions are made primarily based on how we are feeling at the moment, like Pharaoh, when the moment passes we are likely to have second thoughts

It was like the crowd’s response to Jesus on that first Palm Sunday. They cheered him on and welcomed him into Jerusalem with a parade and proclamations of praise for the coming of their savior. Yet only a few days later their feelings changed and they started crying out for his crucifixion instead

How often do we make our decisions about God or faith or giving or involvement and service based more on our emotions at the moment rather than any real leading of Gods spirit or direction from his word?

We might have every intent to become more involved when we volunteer to serve in some capacity but that was before other things come up and we start to have second thoughts We fully intend to support missions, maybe even go on a short-term project, but then come the second thoughts, realizing that would mean rearranging our schedule We are convicted of the need to give more, maybe even start tithing but then come the second thoughts when we start realizing the things we want that may have to wait if we do Many even will pray the sinners prayer to receive Christ when caught up in an emotional appeal or the pressure that comes from seeing others go forward but then that enthusiasm fade and sleeping in becomes much more attractive

Do you realize that Billy Graham, the best known and most effective evangelist of the 20th century saw over 2.2 million people come forward to pray and receive Christ at his crusades but in following up they found that after only 1 year, only about 6% had followed through on that commitment in any meaningful way. people make all types of commitments when their emotions are stirred, but the true test is not good intentions but follow through

As the feelings change, so will our commitment Feelings ebb and flow. They are influenced by so many things: what side of the bed we got up on that morning, what we ate, what someone may have said or not said to us, all kinds of things salvation is about following Jesus and life change, not being conformed to this world but transformed but the renewing or remaking of our mind and thought patterns and habits, not just a decision made on the spur of the moment because we felt like it. It must be built on something permanent and what is more permanent than the word of God.

As Jesus said, Heaven and earth may disappear by my word will never pass away.

Pharaoh wasn’t the only one having second thoughts

II. The people of Israel had them also

When things got tough, they began to question why they left Egypt in the first place

“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, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”” (Exodus 14:10–12)

They were happy to follow Moses when things were in their favor, when there was no apparent cost or commitment needed from them But as soon as things started to get a little tough, when something might be demanded of them, they immediately started blaming Moses

They conveniently ignored the fact that no one forced them to go with Moses or to leave Egypt It was their choice. They could have remained slaves and stayed in Egypt But when the chance came for their freedom they took it

Yet now, as things became a little difficult and uncertain, they started having second thoughts about whether it was worth it

How easy it can be to serve out of self interest rather than true conviction To follow when it’s convenient and easy and doesn’t cost anything

To follow the example of the rich in Mark 12 who gave their leftovers out of their abundance, what wouldn’t be missed instead of the pattern of the widow who gave all she had even though it was only a few pennies to follow and get involved and volunteer when its easy because we have time on our hands rather then when it may cost us something? All done more with the attitude of what we can get out of it rather than what would Jesus have me do?

Becoming like the shallow soil in Jesus’ parable. The seed may have sprouted up quickly but soon died because there was no root. Jesus said that is like those who respond quickly but then wander off when other things come along

Don’t become like the rich young ruler in Matthew 19 who was happy to follow when Jesus told him what he wanted to hear. But when Jesus told him if he was really serious about God it would cost something he had second thoughts. The wealth he was trusting to give his life meaning was getting in the way so he needed to break free but giving it away. He walked away sad because the price was too high.

III. The only one who doesn’t seem to have any second thoughts is Moses

Rather than looking back at what he gave up, what it might cost him, questioning how he felt about it, as he stood by the Red Sea, he faced forward in the direction God was leading. Even when that meant there was a Sea in the way

His confidence and his faith were in the Lord not the waters of the Red Sea nor the armies of Pharaoh

“Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still (stay calm and don’t lose your heads).”” (Exodus 14:13–14)

What I am about to say may sound strange, but there can come a time when talking and even praying about something can become sin. This does not mean we stop praying or stop seeking God. But it does mean there can come a point where these become an excuse for us not to act and do something we already know God wants us to do At such times we are not really seeking God but wasting time

James 4:17 even says, “It is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.”

When God has made his will and direction clear, if instead of acting on it, we form committees and task forces to study an issue, we hold prayer meetings and talk about it over and over so we can feel like we are doing something without actually doing it, it can be sin

It can become a pretext to get out of something we may not want to do

Continuing to wait and talk when God has made his will clear only gives our doubts and fears chance to grow and second thoughts to take hold

In verse 15 the Lord even says with a note of correction in his voice, “Why are you crying out to me? (what are you waiting for) Tell the Israelites to move on.”

Your deliverance has come!

When the great preacher Charles Spurgeon spoke on this verse he said, “Far be it from me to ever say a word in disparagement of the holy, happy, heavenly exercise of prayer. But beloved, there are times when prayer is not enough—when prayer itself is out of season…when we have prayed over a matter to a certain degree, it then becomes sinful to tarry any longer; our plain duty is to carry our desires into action, and having Gods guidance, and having received divine power from on high, to go at once to our duty without any longer deliberations or delay.”

When you know what God desires and where he is leading, it is not the time for second thoughts but to get up and go. God told Moses,

Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. The Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.” Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long. 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. The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea. During the last watch of the night the LORD looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. He jammed the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites! The LORD is fighting for them against Egypt.” 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.” Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward it, and the LORD swept them into the sea. The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived. But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. That day the LORD saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the LORD displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.” (Exodus 14:15–31)

As I mentioned last week, now, in verse 31, for the very first time it says the people began to have faith in God

In 1 Corinthians 10 Paul even uses the crossing of the Red Sea as an illustration of salvation when he wrote:

“For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.” (1 Corinthians 10:1–2)

Is it time to forget about your second thoughts for accepting Jesus and instead act upon what you know is right. That it is time to stop resisting the Spirit and accept him instead? Is it time for your salvation? 2 Cor 6:2 says now is the time of Gods favor, today is the day of salvation

If this applies to you or you want to find out more, let’s take a few minutes to talk after the service