The Mind of Christ

Exodus 13:18
But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle.

We now enter the book of Exodus! God has chosen Moses to be the leader of his people. Moses and his brother Aaron would be instrumental in leading the people out of slavery and into the promise land. After Moses, empowered by God, deals Pharaoh 10 plaques he relents and “let’s God’s people go” This is where we pick up this verse. While leaving Pharaoh and slavery behind the people of God could be led in a straight path to the promise land, but God knew this would not be good for them. The reason is because along the way they would encounter war and bloodshed. This would make the people think twice if they should just return to slavery or continue to fight their way to the promise land. There is one big idea in this verse.

God fights our battles. Many times we want to “help” God along or defend God and he doesn’t need that… he’s God!!! What we often fail to understand is it is much better if God fights our battles. The verse says the people were “armed” They had no weapons but they had something even better…God! Exodus 14:14 states, “The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” This is upside down theology in our human frailty! How can we possibly defeat our enemies if we hold our peace?  God knows all, sees all, and guides all, so we can have faith that God will protect us. This is why Paul could write in 2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. Our strength, power, and provision all comes from God and it is perfect! Rest in the strength of the Lord!!!