Free, but Still …

Day 22 – A Year in the Bible – Exodus 14-16

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EXODUS 14 – FREE BUT STILL A BATTLE AND WORK

Free, but still a battle to be fought
And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness. And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. – Exodus 14:11-14

Free, but still a work to be seen
Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore. And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses. – Exodus 14:30-31

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EXODUS 15 – FREE BUT STILL A SONG

Free, but still a song to be sung
Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him. The Lord is a man of war: the Lord is his name. – Exodus 15:1-3

The children of Israel were free, and they went from slavery to the desert toward the Promised Land. They were free, but God didn’t take them the easiest and quickest route. There was a work to do in the desert, and the desert season for them would last over 40 years. Like the Israelites, I should embrace my desert seasons because there are so many lessons to be learned there.

One lesson is that even when I do everything right, many times, things get worse. In those times, the only thing I need to do is shut my mouth (stop complaining) and watch God fight and win these (His) battles.

He Shall Heal Me
And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee. – Exodus 15:26

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EXODUS 16 – HOW LONG REFUSE YE TO KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS

And the Lord said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws? – Exodus 16:28