This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "God's Way Is The Best Way", Exodus 13:;17-14:9, 11/10/2013

GOD’S WAY IS THE BEST WAY

Exodus 13:17-21, 14:1-9

THE FATHER KNOWS BEST

V: 17-18. When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, "If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt." 18 So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea.a The Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle.

1. God knows our hearts

2. God knows our strengths and weaknesses

3. Even though Israel was free, they had a slave mentality.

4. They were rich in livestock, gold and silver, but they had a poor

    Spirit.

6. They had God on their side, but they had not learned to trust God.

7. They had God leading them, but they had no confidence in His leadership.

8. They had witness the power of God, but they could not own the power

    For themselves

9. The Israelites left Egypt with the physical strength for battle, but not

    the mental strength to sustain them in battle.

10. They knew God as the one true God, but they held on to the Egyptian

      Idol gods.

11. The shortest way to a destination is not always the best way.

      The shortest way would have taken Israel along a route armed with

      Philistines.

 12.  Israel was a free people, but not organized in their minds to

       Take on the responsibility of being free.

REMEMBERING OUR PAST

V:19 .Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear an oath. He had said, "God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place."

1. It is good to remember the promises we made to our parents.

    Joseph was the father of the Nation of Israelites in Egypt.

2. They had their start in him.

3. When we remember the promises we made to our parents

    It keep us mindful of where came from.

4. Remembering keeps us mindful of our heritage and the \     

    values Our forefathers taught us.

5. The bones of Joseph was a reminder of the promise that God

    Made to Abraham of a promise land that He made 430 years

   Earlier.

LEANING ON GOD’S PROTECTION

V. 20-22  After leaving Succoth they camped at Etham on the edge of the desert. 21 By day the Lord  went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. 22 Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.

   1. While we were in sin, we were in a desert surrounded by

       Satan And his demons.

   2. Because we are God’s chosen people, He has always been in

  the middle of our desert situations.

  3. Even though our hearts were darken, He protected us

    While we slept.

4. God was always there to guide and direct us doing the day. 

5. At the right time God called us out of darkness of sin slavery

   Into His marvelous light.

6. As baby free people, the Israelites had God  on their side

   Guiding, protecting and leading them.

TRUSTING GOD’S DIRECTIONS

Cp 14:1-4.  Then the Lord  said to Moses, 2 "Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon. 3 Pharaoh will think, 'The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.' 4 And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord ." So the Israelites did this.

 1. God’s way includes trials and tribulations so we can experience His   

     power And see His glory

2. God hardened the hearts of our enemies, so we can see Him defeat them

   To strengthen our confidence in Him .

3. Without God there is confusion

    We wander around in this dark world without the insight to God’s

    divine guidance.

 4. God may allow us to get into a situations where our backs up against

    A wall.

5. He will design situations, that we cannot get out of without His help.

   God uses the enemies against us to gain His glory before us.

6. It maybe the God we serve that sends us into trouble to take us

    out of it by His might so we will come to know Him

GOD HATES THE PROUD FOR YOUR GOOD

V: 5-9. When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, "What have we done? We have let the Israelites go and have lost their services!" 6 So he had his chariot made ready and took his army with him. 7 He took six hundred of the best chariots, along with all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers over all of them. 8 The Lord  hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out boldly. 9 The Egyptians — all Pharaoh's horses and chariots, horsemena and troops — pursued the Israelites and overtook them as they camped by the sea near Pi Hahiroth, opposite Baal Zephon.

 1. God sets up our enemies for failure.

    The Pharoah had 600 of his best fighting warriors, along

    With other warriors.

 2. but God had 600 thousands Israelite men that He could use in battle.

 3. You and God is the  majority.

    The Egyptians were out numbered

 4. God uses the pride of your enemies as their downfall.

    Your enemies do not know the power of God.

    But you will see God’s power in action in your situation.

 5. God’s way includes trials and tribulations so we can experience His    

     power   and see His glory

 6. God hardened the hearts of our enemies, so we can see Him defeat them

    To strengthen our confidence in Him

 7. The sea was the way of escape for the Israelites.

    The same sea was the way of death for the Egyptians.

 8. When you are in trouble, call on the Lord, He has safe

     way out.

The trouble that God leads you into was prepared for

Your confidence in Him.

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Parkway North

Houston, Texas 77041.

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