How Does the Old Testament Mesh with the New 17
Pharoah has a change of heart.
God speaks to Moses:
“Order the Israelites to turn back and camp by Pi-hahiroth between Migdol and the sea. Camp there along the shore, across from Baal-zephon. Then Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are confused. They are trapped in the wilderness!’ And once again I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will chase after you. I have planned this in order to display my glory through Pharaoh and his whole army. After this the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord!” So the Israelites camped there as they were told. Ex. 14:2 – 4. NLT
God gains glory by rewarding good and punishing evil. Dennis Prager: Exodus: God, Slavery, and Freedom.
Where Jehovah told Moses to have the Israelites camp left them in a place where they were trapped against the Red Sea.
Meanwhile, back at Pharaoh’s palace, he is now regretting (God is hardening his heart once more) his decision to free the Hebrews:
When word reached the king of Egypt that the Israelites had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds. “What have we done, letting all those Israelite slaves get away?” they asked. So Pharaoh harnessed his chariot and called up his troops. He took with him 600 of Egypt’s best chariots, along with the rest of the chariots of Egypt, each with its commander. The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, so he chased after the people of Israel, who had left with fists raised in defiance. Ex. 14:5 – 8. NLT
When Pharaoh’s vast army became visible, the Israelites panicked – crying out to God and rebuking Moses, saying it would be better to be a slave in Egypt than to be killed in the wilderness.
However, this is not the same old Moses. Having been the conduit of God’s judgments upon Egypt, he has learned that Jehovah is a promise-keeper and that He is omnipotent. He addresses the people powerfully:
“Do not be afraid! Take your stand [be firm and confident and undismayed] and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; for those Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you while you [only need to] keep silent and remain calm.” Ex. 14:13, 14. AMP
As per God’s instruction, Moses tells the Hebrews to face the sea. Then, again, at the behest of Jehovah, he raises his staff over the sea. Simultaneously, the angel of the LORD that was leading the people moved between the Hebrews and the Egyptian army, separating the two until the Hebrews could escape:
Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord swept the sea back by a strong east wind all that night and turned the seabed into dry land, and the waters were divided. The Israelites went into the middle of the sea on dry land, and the waters formed a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. Ex. 14:21, 22. AMP
The Israelites crossed the sea. The Egyptian army pursued them, but things didn’t work out so well for them.
So it happened at the early morning watch [before dawn], that the Lord looked down on the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud and put them in a state of confusion. He made their chariot wheels hard to turn, and the chariots difficult to drive; so the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from Israel, for the Lord is fighting for them against the Egyptians.” Ex. 14:24, 25. AMP
Notice that the Egyptians finally recognized the God of the Hebrews and the true God. They tried to escape, but Jehovah had Moses wave his hand over the sea and the walls of water drown every single soldier and Pharaoh as well.
When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the Lord had unleashed against the Egyptians, they were filled with awe before him. They put their faith in the Lord and in his servant Moses. Ex. 14:31 NLT
Moses then composed a song to glorify God and His victory.[1]
The Hebrews have a short memory.
Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea, and they went into the Wilderness of Shur; they went [a distance of] three days (about thirty-three miles) in the wilderness and found no water. Then they came to Marah, but they could not drink its waters because they were bitter; therefore it was named Marah (bitter). The people [grew discontented and] grumbled at Moses, saying, “What are we going to drink?” Ex. 15:22 – 24. AMP
The people have been delivered from bondage by their Creator, Who demonstrated, through His plagues, that He is the Master of all aspects of the Universe and over life itself. And just 3 days prior, He parted the Red Sea and crushed their enemies. O ye of little faith…
Then he cried to the Lord [for help], and the Lord showed him a tree, [a branch of] which he threw into the waters, and the waters became sweet. Ex. 15:25a. AMP
When you think about it, this was a HUGE miracle. Two million plus people and their animals required sweet (potable) water to drink. God used that branch to convert what must have been a huge body of water.
Then, Jehovah tells His children how to have a better life:
It was there at Marah that the Lord set before them the following decree as a standard to test their faithfulness to him. He said, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping all his decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the Lord who heals you.” Ex. 15:25b, 26. NLT
Afterwards, the people traveled to an oasis located about 60 miles southeast of Suez, named Elim, which is now called Wadi Garandel in present time. And they set up camp.
The Hebrews complain again:
Then the whole community of Israel set out from Elim and journeyed into the wilderness of Sin, between Elim and Mount Sinai. They arrived there on the fifteenth day of the second month, one month after leaving the land of Egypt. There, too, the whole community of Israel complained about Moses and Aaron. Ex. 16:1, 2. NLT
They are whining about not having meat or bread to eat and that they wished that God had killed them in Egypt instead of starving them to death in the wilderness. (Of course, they could have eaten some of their farm animals, but they needed them as provisions when they arrived in Canaan).
Our most patient Creator comes to their rescue:
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Look, I’m going to rain down food from heaven for you. Each day the people can go out and pick up as much food as they need for that day. I will test them in this to see whether or not they will follow my instructions.” Ex. 16:4 NLT
Aaron and Moses are angry with the Israelites for complaining about God:
“By evening you will realize it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt. In the morning you will see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your complaints, which are against him, not against us. What have we done that you should complain about us?” Then Moses added, “The Lord will give you meat to eat in the evening and bread to satisfy you in the morning, for he has heard all your complaints against him.” Ex.16:6 – 8. NLT
That very evening, huge flocks of quail entered the camp to provide meat, and in the next morning, the ground was covered with white wafers tasting of coriander and honey. The Israelites called it ‘manna’ which means ‘what is it?’
And Moses told them, “It is the food the Lord has given you to eat. These are the Lord’s instructions: Each household should gather as much as it needs. Pick up two quarts for each person in your tent.” Ex. 16:15, 16. NLT
Moses also instructed them not to keep any manna overnight. Of course, there were some who disobeyed, and the manna became putrid and filled with maggots.
On the sixth day of the Jewish week, they were allowed to gather twice as much, so that on the seventh, they would not have to gather manna on the Shabbat (Sabbath). This provision did not spoil. Manna did not come on the seventh day, even though some Israelites disobeyed again and tried to find some.
Indeed, this was the commencement of the first Shabbat, as Moses explains:
“This is what the Lord commanded: Tomorrow will be a day of complete rest, a holy Sabbath day set apart for the Lord…“Eat this food today, for today is a Sabbath day dedicated to the Lord.” Ex. 16:23 & 25. NLT
God is getting a little frustrated with those who disobey and asks Moses:
“How long will these people refuse to obey my commands and instructions? They must realize that the Sabbath is the Lord’s gift to you. Ex. 16:28, 29. NLT
Manna would stop flowing after the people would reach Canaan. So, God commanded that a two-quart container (called an ‘omer’), be filled with it and preserved for future generations to see. Moses eventually would place it in the ‘Ark of the Covenant’, kept in the Tabernacle that would be constructed when they got to Mount Sinai.
That journey now begins again:
At the Lord’s command, the whole community of Israel left the wilderness of Sin and moved from place to place. Eventually they camped at Rephidim, but there was no water there for the people to drink. So once more the people complained against Moses. “Give us water to drink!” they demanded.
“Quiet!” Moses replied. “Why are you complaining against me? And why are you testing the Lord?”
But tormented by thirst, they continued to argue with Moses. “Why did you bring us out of Egypt? Are you trying to kill us, our children, and our livestock with thirst?” Ex. 17:1 – 3. NLT
This is now the third time the Hebrews have complained against God and added Moses as their target as well. Moses entreats Jehovah to help him out, fearful for his very life. God answers:
The Lord said to Moses, “Walk out in front of the people. Take your staff, the one you used when you struck the water of the Nile, and call some of the elders of Israel to join you. I will stand before you on the rock at Mount Sinai. Strike the rock, and water will come gushing out. Then the people will be able to drink.” So Moses struck the rock as he was told, and water gushed out as the elders looked on. Ex. 17:5, 6. NLT
In short order, the Israelites were met with their fourth ‘crises, when attacked by the Amalekites. At this point, all we know is that they were descendants of Esau.[2] Neither do we know what motivated them to strike the Hebrews.
Moses commanded Joshua, “Choose some men to go out and fight the army of Amalek for us. Tomorrow, I will stand at the top of the hill, holding the staff of God in my hand.” Ex. 17:9 NLT.
This is the first time Joshua is introduced. He would become a general for Moses and ultimately his successor. Battle time:
So Joshua did what Moses had commanded and fought the army of Amalek. Meanwhile, Moses, Aaron, and Hur climbed to the top of a nearby hill. As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage. Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset. As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle. Ex. 17:10 – 13. NLT
That was God working through Moses.
While still at Sinai, Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, came to visit, and reunited him with his wife and two sons. Jethro had heard of all the miraculous deliverances the God of the Hebrews provided for the Israelites.
Subsequently, Jethro declared that Jehovah was greater than all other gods, (he, being a Midianite, i.e., ‘pagan’ priest himself). He watched Moses’ methods of governance where he submitted himself alone to be an intercessor between the people and God and representing God’s will for the people. In addition, Moses would play the part of a magistrate, settling disputes between the people. It took all day, and people would have to wait for hours.
Jethro concluded that there was a better way, and offered Moses wise advice:
Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good. You will certainly wear out both yourself and these people who are with you, because the task is too heavy for you [to bear]; you cannot do it alone. Now listen to me; I will advise you, and may God be with you [to confirm my advice]. You shall represent the people before God. You shall bring their disputes and causes to Him. You shall teach them the decrees and laws. You shall show them the way they are to live and the work they are to do. Furthermore, you shall select from all the people competent men who [reverently] fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; you shall place these over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. They shall judge the people at all times; have them bring every major dispute to you, but let them judge every minor dispute themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. If you will do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure [the responsibility], and all these people will also go [back] to their tents in peace.” Ex. 18:17 – 23. AMP
Moses did so with great success. So, what just happened here? A Midianite priest formulated the entire Israelite judicial system. Fancy that…
Next time, the Ten Commandments…
Goodnight and God bless.
[1] Ex. 15:1 – 19.
[2] Gn. 36:12
Where Do You Place Your Christian Feet in the World?
There are three biblical revelations that should determine where you take your stand:
Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Rm. 13:1 – 3. NLT
God put governments on earth to prevent chaos.
But sometimes these governments become satanic when they are filled with evil God-rejecting people:
Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. 2 Cor. 4:4 NLT
So, what are we to do when these types of governments manifest?
“We must obey God rather than any human authority.” Acts 5:29 NLT
We can clearly see the satanic influences in history with the governments of Lenin, Stalin, Hitler, Mao Zedong, and Pol Pot, to name a few.
In the present age, it is glaringly manifested in the radical leftist wing of the Democratic party of the United States.
They began their evil invasion decades ago, in our universities when they taught our children to hate their country, forcing them to believe that it is racist, homophobic, xenophobic, built upon the shoulders of slaves (lies from the 1619 fallacy); and that capitalism (the only economic model that lifts people out of poverty), is evil. They teach the students to embrace socialism / communism – failed experiments wherever it is practiced.
Then they trickled this down into the high schools and elementary schools.
What is the sinister, diabolical outcome of this pernicious and vile indoctrination?
- The massacre of innocent children
“You must not murder.” Ex. 20:13 NLT
Apart from rape, incest, or a threat to the mother’s life, there is no place for abortion. With the advent of birth control, there is no excuse.
When Roe v Wade, (an unconstitutional law), was overturned, a crazy left-wing nut tried to kill a Supreme Court justice. Pro-life centers were vandalized. Why? All the court did was to give the administration (or not) of abortions back under the purvey of the states for each of them to decide how they want to deal with it – just like the Constitution demands.
Of course, the Left hates the Constitution because it hampers their lust for power.
Planned Parenthood (the devil in disguise), who takes billions of tax dollars to kill infants, has their fists implanted so far up the rear ends of leftist politicians and our brain-dead president, that they can have people arrested just for trying to show their victims a different way of dealing with their pregnancy.
Hospitals are fined and physician’s licenses are threatened if they don’t want to perform them.
Josef Mengele would be proud, and he would fit right in with the Leftists.
- The left embraces false multiple genders, transgenders, and child mutilation.
So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Gn. 1:27 NLT
This is a flagrant denial of the true sciences of biology, anatomy, and genetics. This is only happening because the left is coddling deviancy. Also, it is happening due to peer pressure, and due to idiot ‘woke’ parents who want to be noticed for their wokeness, by pushing their children into making a decision that they never would have on their own.
And many doctors are joining in, as the see a new income stream from permanently mutilating children who now possess a much higher tendency for suicide.
Why are the leftist radicals behind this? Because they want to breed chaos and division. They hate everyone. Their only desire is for power. They hate America, and they sow discord to strengthen their efforts to destroy the country, to join the globalist cabal.
- Deliberate falsification of history
Those who are wise will take all this to heart; they will see in our history the faithful love of the Lord. Ps. 107:43 NLT
They do this by destroying statues, twisting truth (e.g., 1619 project, CRT), and judging historical figures by today’s standards. Why does the left do this? Destroy history, and you can dissolve the country’s identity.
- Open borders
One of our vacuous Biden’s worst crimes. He really can’t be blamed because I doubt that
he even knows who that is who stares back at him in the mirror. Yet we can blame the party who supports him.
Again, what is their end game? One is to flood the country with what they hope are potential Democrats, so that they my rule in perpetuity. The second is to create more chaos. The third is to destroy the country. A country without borders is not a country.
They are flagrantly breaking the law, while people who are trying to immigrate legally are thrust aside. Even so, that fool Myorkis looks the American citizens in the eyes and denies that it is happening. Criminals, cartels, rapists, and drugs are flooding our home.
- Perpetual war
…he betrayed his friends; he broke his promises. His words are as smooth as butter,
but in his heart is war. His words are as soothing as lotion, but underneath are daggers! Ps. 55:20, 21. NLT
(Okay, I must admit, there are also war-mongering neocon RINOs in the right camp as well).
Why perpetual war? It enriches the pockets of the Pentagon and the armaments manufacturers, culls the population, destroys countries, and promotes globalism.
Take this present debacle in Ukraine. The U.S. and NATO were complicit in starting it. And our jingoist president perpetuates it. He is draining our armaments, putting our soldiers in harm’s way, and wasting billions of dollars that could be used to help those that live here, rather than prop up one of the most corrupt countries in the world, and in doing, provoke a possible nuclear war.
- Censorship of free speech
Free speech is a Constitutional right, guaranteed in the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights.
Yet the Biden / Obama cabal does their best to destroy it through censorship. In fact, they are colluding with Big Tech to censor free speech on social media, television, movies, radio, schools, and more. No speech is allowed unless it is in alignment with the cabal’s ideology. It is the fodder of cancel culture, using it to promote leftist lies.
They use terms like hate speech, disinformation, and misinformation. The present government wants to shut you up. That way, they can promote their socialistic agenda. The leftist love to practice this to break many laws:
A self-serving ignorant woman indicted President Trump for believing that the 2020 election was rigged. (Even if it wasn’t, he still had the First Amendment right to challenge it, to redress a grievance with the government.) They are persecuting him with a RICO violation! What bull puckery. In essence, they are prosecuting him because of his thoughts. That’s Orwellian madness.
That same ignorant person indicted his lawyers for defending him, thereby criminalizing the practice of law.
Another evil leftist lacky is prosecuting Trump for hanging onto classified documents – something that every other president in history had done. And it is his right to have them. Furthermore, this office squeezed one of his witnesses by threatening him with jail time, so that he would recant his testimony.
The problem is further advanced because presently we have a two-tier justice system. A set of laws the Republicans must adhere to, but the Democrats can break them at their leisure, without reproach.
At the root of all of this is the biggest law breaking of all, that of election interference. The left doesn’t care what Trump did. Every charge is a lie, beginning with ‘Russian Collusion’. The only collusion with the Russians was with the FBI. They just want to crush him. The left is scared to death of him.
- Imprisoning innocent people
I’m talking about January 6, 2020. Coined by the leftists as ‘the insurrection’. The greater
majority of the people were peaceful. Of course, one unarmed woman was lethally shot, and the perpetrator was never prosecuted. Others were beaten to death with batons. The capital police moved the fences and allowed the people in, who would later be prosecuted. The FBI sent undercover people to instigate a riot, one of them quite famous for screaming at people, ‘We have to get inside the capital!’
Evil Nancy Pelosi, who was responsible for the safety of the capitol, intentionally refused an offer from President Trump for gathering the National Guard. Sound like prior planning? Just saying.
The public has yet to see the thousands of hours of footage of the incident. The only drippings we got was from that sham of a committee ran by that Trump-hater, Cheny. Total fake program.
Worst of all, was the arrest of largely innocent people. No trial, no bail. Imprisoned now for almost 4 years without redress, in some hidden God-forsaken Gulag. And the leftists call the right Nazis!
So, my final question to you is, ‘Where do you place your Christian feet in the world? Yes, I’m aware of the Scripture:
And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you]. Rm. 12:2 AMP
That is all well and good, but we must also consider this:
Fight the good fight of the faith [in the conflict with evil]… 1 Tim. 6:12 AMP
If we don’t confront the evil, there will be no world. So, get out and educate people on the issues, tell them of the right ways (God’s ways), expose the lies, vote, get others to vote, and a little Gospel wouldn’t hurt either.
Goodnight and God bless.
How Does the Old Testament Mesh with the New 16
Preparing for the first Passover
God takes a little segue here, in chapter 12, as He relays some of the laws that He’s going to implement among the Hebrews for their benefit.
The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, “This month is to be the beginning of months for you; it is the first month of your year. Ex. 12:1 – 3. CSB
This refers to the Hebrew calendar month of ‘Nisan’ when Passover is to be celebrated. And God rearranges their calendar to lead off the first month of the year (March / April) with Passover.
Announce to the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each family must choose a lamb or a young goat for a sacrifice, one animal for each household. If a family is too small to eat a whole animal, let them share with another family in the neighborhood. Divide the animal according to the size of each family and how much they can eat. The animal you select must be a one-year-old male, either a sheep or a goat, with no defects. Ex. 12:3 – 5. NLT
Why an animal with no defects? Because this animal is being sacrificed to Jehovah. Offering a defective animal would not constitute a sacrifice.
“Take special care of this chosen animal until the evening of the fourteenth day of this first month. Then the whole assembly of the community of Israel must slaughter their lamb or young goat at twilight. They are to take some of the blood and smear it on the sides and top of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the animal.” Ex. 12:6, 7. NLT
Heretofore, the people of Israel were referred to as ‘Hebrews’ or ‘sons of Israel.’ Now they are referred to as a ‘whole community’ or ‘whole assembly’ that is being created through the common experience of the Passover.
The sacrificial lamb is slaughtered by everyone on the same day and at the same time. Then the blood is drained and spread on the door frames. The entire animal was then ‘fire roasted’ to remove any remaining blood most effectively.
“That same night they must roast the meat over a fire and eat it along with bitter salad greens and bread made without yeast. Do not eat any of the meat raw or boiled in water. The whole animal—including the head, legs, and internal organs—must be roasted over a fire. Do not leave any of it until the next morning. Burn whatever is not eaten before morning.” Ex. 12:8 –10. NLT
‘Bitter herbs’ were indigenous to Egypt and served as a reminder of the bitterness of the Hebrew enslavement experience. Bread without yeast (unleavened) is a bread speedily prepared with no time to rise, because the people had to eat hastily to begin their exodus before the Egyptians would seek retribution when God’s tenth judgment struck them.
Be fully dressed, wear your sandals, and carry your walking stick in your hand. Eat the meal with urgency, for this is the Lord’s Passover. On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn son and firstborn male animal in the land of Egypt. I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt, for I am the Lord! But the blood on your doorposts will serve as a sign, marking the houses where you are staying. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt. Ex. 12:11 – 13. NLT
(Even though the Passover is all about the deliverance of the Hebrews, it is highly analogous to the New Testament sacrifice of the Lamb of God[1] on the cross, where His innocent blood was shed for everyone for their redemption.)
“This is a day to remember. Each year, from generation to generation, you must celebrate it as a special festival to the Lord. This is a law for all time. For seven days the bread you eat must be made without yeast…Celebrate this Festival of Unleavened Bread, for it will remind you that I brought your forces out of the land of Egypt on this very day.” Ex. 12:14, 15 & 17. NLT
For the Lord will pass through the land to strike down the Egyptians. But when he sees the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe, the Lord will pass over your home. He will not permit his death angel to enter your house and strike you down. Ex. 12:23 NLT
The people prepared themselves accordingly to what Moses instructed:
So the people of Israel did just as the Lord had commanded through Moses and Aaron. And that night at midnight, the Lord struck down all the firstborn sons in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sat on his throne, to the firstborn son of the prisoner in the dungeon. Even the firstborn of their livestock were killed. Pharaoh and all his officials and all the people of Egypt woke up during the night, and loud wailing was heard throughout the land of Egypt. There was not a single house where someone had not died. Ex. 12:28 – 30. NLT
Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron and acquiesced to all God’s terms; and then he angrily told Moses to get his people out of Egypt immediately. The Egyptians were anxious to see the Hebrews leave. To facilitate this, the Egyptians gave up a vast amount of their wealth to the Hebrews – just as Jehovah had prophesied.[2]
The Bible tells us that 600,000 men left during the exodus. Many scholars estimate that if you add the women and children, that figure could be as high as 2.5 million.
The people of Israel had lived in Egypt for 430 years. In fact, it was on the last day of the 430th year that all the Lord’s forces left the land. Ex. 12:40, 41. NLT
On this night the Lord kept his promise to bring his people out of the land of Egypt. So this night belongs to him, and it must be commemorated every year by all the Israelites, from generation to generation…On that very day the Lord brought the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt like an army. Ex. 12:42 & 51. NLT
Moses speaks to the people:
On this day in the month Abib, (spring), you are about to go onward. And it shall be when the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, which He swore to your fathers to give you, a land [of abundance] flowing with milk and honey, that you shall keep and observe this rite (service) in this month. Ex. 13:4, 5. AMP
Thus, the exodus was purposeful, so that the nation could occupy the Promised Land.
God begins to lead His children:
So it happened, when Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was nearer; for God said, “The people might change their minds when they see war [that is, that there will be war], and return to Egypt.” Ex. 13:17 AMP
That would have been the shortest route, but the Philistines were warlike. The Hebrews, at this juncture in time, were only a mass of ragtag ex-slaves:
But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea; the sons of Israel went up in battle array (orderly ranks, marching formation) out of the land of Egypt…and camped at Etham on the edge of the wilderness. Ex. 13:18 & 20 AMP
And how did Jehovah lead them?
The [presence of the] Lord was going before them by day in a pillar (column) of cloud to lead them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, so that they could travel by day and by night. He did not withdraw the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from going before the people. Ex. 13:21, 22. AMP
Stay tuned for Pharaoh has a change of heart…
Goodnight and God Bless.
[1] Jn. 1:29
[2] Ex. 3:19 – 22.