Exodus 13:18 – “But God led the people by the Red Sea; and the children of Israel went up armed out of the land of Egypt.”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, I saw a progression that encouraged and enlightened me.   In Exodus 12, as Israel was preparing for their deliverance and exodus from bondage, the ceremony of the Blood was revelatory.

The blood of atonement and protection (grace) was applied, marking the house as a safe zone, a place of safety.  The blood saved them from destruction.   To enjoy that safety and security, they had to stay in the house.  Outside, the blood was death; inside, it was life.  This is a picture of salvation and the Christian life.

Salvation is the beginning, the first step, not the whole picture.   They had to go out of Egypt and be trained in the wilderness.  A very interesting statement is found in Exodus 13:18, “They went up ARMED!”    They had been in bondage with no opportunity or training for war.  However, they left Egypt ARMED!    

As they left bondage, they had the equipment but not the training to use it.   That would be part of their development in the wilderness.   At salvation, all the weapons are available, but we do not know how to use them.   We need to be trained!

They had been set free by God’s supernatural power.    They were armed but still did not know who they were by knowing the God to whom they belonged!

Exodus 14:10 – “And when Pharaoh drew near (in the wilderness), the children of Israel lifted up their eyes and saw the Egyptians marching after them; and they were terribly afraid, and the children of Israel prayed before the LORD.”

They saw (their focus was on) the enemy.  They feared, and they prayed before the LORD.   Maybe I’m reading too much into this, but their focus produced fear and controlled them.   They saw the Egyptians as a threat, failing to remember God’s deliverance. 

They prayed before the LORD.    They did not simply pray to, but before the LORD.    Ritualistic praying does not produce faith but is a seedbed for doubt.   We need to fill out hearts and minds with Who God is.  We then pray to Him!

God said something to Israel through Moses that He is saying to us.  Exodus 14:15 – And the LORD said to Moses, “Why do you pray before Me?  Tell the children of Israel to go forward…”

Sometimes, we pray for God to do something when He is telling us to do it.  He won’t do for us what He has commanded us to do.  He gives us the grace, which includes the equipment and ability, and sends His presence before us to enable us.  Yet, we cry, “LORD, do it for us!”  He says, “You do it!”

We have been redeemed by the Blood of Jesus, armed by the Grace of God, empowered by the Spirit of God, and commissioned to do it, so let’s do it!

Hebrews 13:8 – “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever!”  

Nothing is impossible for God, and we are in Him, so nothing is impossible for us.  He is saying – JUST DO IT!

Lord, train our hands for war, teach us to use the weapons of warfare You have given!