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My Declaration of Dependence
I Will Follow God’s Leading

Exodus 13:17-22 (Monday)
“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 armed for battle. Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear an oath. He had said, "God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place." After leaving Succoth 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.” (NIV)
1) Who lead the Israelites out of Egypt?
2) How did the Israelites go out of Egypt?
3) How was God protecting the Israelites in leading them by a longer route? Have you ever been given a holy detour by God? What was it and how did you respond?
4) I pray you see the tender heart of God for His children. Like a hen over her peeps, God protectively hovers—always doing what is best for us—even if it beyond our understanding! He desire is always for us to press on—move forward, not to return to Egypt—to sin! He’ll even lead us into situations that seem to run contrary to His promises, just to keep us as His own peculiar treasure! We, like the Israelites are always looking for an the immediate solution! We need to learn to trust in God’s plan for us, even if we don’t understand its unfolding!
5) Even as babes in Christ, we have the full armor of God readily available to us (Ephesians 6:10-18)—this is a great truth, but can you think of some specific skills or tactics—strategic battle plans and/or information that we might need to know or learn before we are truly ready for battle? Share.
6) Have you ever known someone whom God mightily saved, only to watch them fall away from the faith when hardship came upon them? Share.
7) We are privileged witnesses to the result Joseph’s faith which was unfulfilled until this present time! We learned in an earlier lesson that the “new king” did not know or remember Joseph and that was why the Israelites were enslaved. Yet, as Joseph was dying (Genesis 50:24-25) he made his brothers swear an oath to take his bones with them when God delivered them from Egypt. What promise of God was Joseph holding onto (Genesis 15)?
8) When we were studying that particular lesson, someone asked me if I really believed that the promise given to Abraham was believed and held onto by the Israelites throughout the 400+ year period that they were in Egypt! The answer is yes, a thousands times yes! The Israelites were looking for a deliverer! Maybe they didn’t need Him in their plenty, but in their bondage—they remembered and cried out to the One who could save them! We see Moses fulfilling the very oath that Joseph clung to at the time of his death! Hold on to your promises! The Lord is not slack in His promises, but God is all about timing!
9) The Israelites were on a pilgrimage and they did not know the way! Who went ahead of them?
10) Isn’t it wonderful to know that in everything we face, every incident in our daily lives—Christ goes ahead of us, preparing the way—making straight our path? When we are blinded by the noonday sun—all the glitter of this world—He is a shading cloud. When darkness surrounds us—Jesus is the light and a burning, consuming fire that guides our way!
Exodus 14:1-9 (Tuesday)
“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.” (NIV)
1) Is it me, but have you ever had to “go back”? Do that one more time until you get the lesson right! Oh, yeah!
2) Sometimes being “hemmed in”, or “…hard pressed on every side, perplexed, persecuted, and/or struck down” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9) like the Israelites were here, is not for the exact purpose of refining God’s people, but to confuse and frustrate the enemy! I wonder if we have ever really stopped to consider that! Sometimes, God wants to prove something to someone else, not to us! Still, can we learn something along the way? What do you think the Israelites learned?
3) I have to say a word about God’s hardening someone heart. It is a fearful thing to consider. This speaks to two main truths: God holds the hearts of men (Psalms 33:13-15) and it is not God’s desire than any be lost, but that all come to a saving knowledge (2 Peter 3:9)! So, how is God Just in that He hardened Pharaoh’s heart? I think the answer lays in God’s omniscience and the bent of one’s heart! We are all given a choice—God or sin. Pharaoh’s bent was sin. Would he turn and obey the Living God—no! So, God simply gave him over to his own sin and made his heart even harder (Psalms 81:11-12)—so hard that it led to his final destruction. Like I said, fearful to consider!
4) What was Pharaoh (remember, Egypt, to us, is sin—or this world system) to think about Israel’s supposed “wanderings”?
5) Does it sometimes seem as if you are wandering? Do you see this as being a “spiritual” positive or negative?
6) In the end, how was Pharaoh’s misconception of the “facts” to reflect upon God? Did Pharaoh ever see that coming? Why not?
7) The Israelites were on foot. Pharaoh had horses and 600 chariots! What do you think horses and chariots are comparable to in today’s society? Where does Psalms 20:7-8 tell us to place our trust and confidence? What will happen to those who trust in “horses and chariots”?
8) Knowing God’s plan and following His direction always leads to faith and confidence. Pharaoh was in pursuit, but how did the Israelites march out?
9) How are we to know God’s plan and direction today? How should we respond?
Exodus 14:10-18 (Wednesday)
“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!" 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." Then the LORD said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. 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.” (NIV)
1) Okay, we can know the plan, but when we see an army coming at us with horses, chariots, swords, javelins, etc.,—what is our “natural” or “human” response? What should be our next response? Oh, that crying out to God would be our first response!
2) 2) 2) Wanting to go back into sin’s bondage is hard to imagine for me—because I have been there! For me, when I am suffering, I’d rather have God just zap me! Of course, that’s my human side talking. But, truly to go back to where and what I was—never! Take a moment to remember where God brought you from and thank Him for not leaving you there or letting you return! Praise His Name!
3) Maybe you’re not like me. Do you ever think that maybe, just maybe you were actually better off without Christ? Be honest! Why? If you feel free, please share.
4) Now, these Israelites had already witnessed the plagues of Egypt! They knew how mighty God was! Still, they were backed up to the Red Sea with no escape possible. How did Moses tell them to respond to their fears? Have you ever had your back up against a wall—no options in sight? How did God “part the sea” for you?
5) Why is it important to replace our fears with trust and confidence in God? Oh, read Revelation 21:8 (See this in the KJV, also!)
6) Who was going to fight for the Israelites? Who fights for you?
7) I don’t know about you—but, I long for the day when I never see the face of my tormentor (satan and my earthy flesh nature) ever again! Oh, soon, Lord!
8) Several times we read God telling Moses He will receive or gain glory from what is happening. Does that seem egocentric to you? For man, it would be. Why is that not the case for God? (Hint: I AM!)
Exodus 14:19-25 (Thursday)
“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 made the wheels of their chariots come off 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.” (NIV)
1) The Israelites are hemmed in all right, but by Whom? Oh, Jesus not only goes before us—He’s our rear guard!
2) Who was walking in light at all times? Who was moving in darkness? (John 1:1-5)
3) Splitting a sea is huge! That in and of itself is miracle enough, but God is so God that He caused the very ground the Israelites placed their feet to be bone dry! My husband actually had a Jewish friend recently tell him that this event took place in relatively small portion of the Red Sea, that it wasn’t this big miracle that the writer of Exodus said it was (Moses). This was all just a “lesson” story! Hard to believe that even some of God’s chosen people don’t believe the full consul of God. I’m speaking foolishly here, but even if it was only the wind that pushed back a part of a sea, you would still expect to see the ground moist, damp, soaking! No, I have no doubt this was some a spectacular, awe-inspiring, God-breathed miracle!
4) Have you ever experienced someone’s unreasonable, unexplainable confusion? This must have been a sight to behold! Even the Egyptians knew who was leading this battle!
5) Do you think that even at this point the Egyptians could have repented?
Exodus 14:26-31 (Friday)
“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 great power the LORD displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.” (NIV)
1) Pharaoh and his men must have thought to themselves, “Well, the Israelites could go through the parted waters—why not us? We’re stronger! We’re mightier! We have the finest chariots, pulled by the fastest horses! Why, we’ll be on the other side before they reach the waters edge. Then, they are ours—all ours!” Indeed! This is so satan! In his great fury against God and His beloved children, he is falling headlong into God’s own hand! He’s so blinded by his hatred, and so full of pride, he actually thinks he can confront Almighty God! Pharaoh was only allowed to do God’s bidding—he was a puppet! Beloved, so is satan! Don’t ever forget Who is in control and Who fights for you!
2) How did God receive glory? Do you still think this was egocentric? Why or why not?
3) I hope you noticed that Pharaoh did not “go ahead” of his vast army. No, he let his men go to their death! Wonder why he didn’t lead this charge?
4) Wonder what Pharaoh told his people when he returned utterly defeated by Almighty God? Hmm!

MyDeclarationofDependence_IWillFollowGodsLeading_Exodus 13,14_071606