A New Place in God’s Plan

The Lord said to Moses, “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. For Pharaoh will say of the people of Israel, ‘They are wandering in the land; the wilderness has shut them in’” (Exodus 14:1-3, ESV).

In Egypt, God told the children of Israel, “I am taking you to a new land.” God led them through an area with huge boulders on one side and mountains on the other. As the Israelites neared the Red Sea, they came to a beach area where they were jammed into a small space. There were rocks on one side and water on the other, a place God had directed them to.  

Pharoah looked at this and declared, “The Israelites are hemmed in with their backs to the wall.” 

Up to this point, Moses lacked experience as a military leader, but he was well-schooled enough to know that their location was not the best place for a military defense. They were trapped on both sides.  

Moses and the children of Israel were in a difficult place, but God wanted them there because he would gain the glory from it. Have you ever been called by God to a place you did not want to go? Sometimes, God allows us to be in difficult places and situations, but he has a great plan for us. What we think of as being trapped with our backs to the wall is God’s way of saying, “This situation is going to bring me glory.” 

Are you feeling hemmed in? Are your circumstances so overwhelming that you wonder if any hope is left for you? In that difficult place, you must take a step of faith and say, “God, I will obey you no matter the cost.” You will find yourself on the edge of seeing God move mightily. 

If you know the rest of this story from Exodus, you know that God caused the Red Sea to part, and the children of Israel marched through on dry land. They arrived at a new place; to God be the glory!