Dear people, this scripture speaks of God's unfailing love towards His people.
God didn't want His people to be afraid on the way, by facing war from the Philistines, and therefore God led them through a longer route, through a desert, toward the Red Sea.
My dear people, if things are not happening according to how you have presumed them to happen, then do not doubt God's promise.
My dear people, if things are not happening according to how you have presumed them to happen, then do not doubt God's promise.
Because this would be for your own good. Most of us draw a blue print to ourselves the moment we receive a promise from God. This is not a right thing to do.
For He alone knows the plans He has for us.
'' Jeremiah 29 :11 -14 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord. ''
We need to therefore take His counsel at every step.
When God gives us a promise, He has a very high plan and strategy behind, and He alone knows the path to that goal.
So, never presume things to happen in the way you want them.
Our dear Israelites, when they received the signal from Pharaoh to leave, they presumed they would go via the Philistine country to the promised lad as that was the short cut.
Let's look at the second half of verse 18:
'' Exodus 13:18 The Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle.''
They presumed for themselves that they are going to face Philistines, they will fight with them, win over them and go to the promised land. They have sketched out the design by themselves.
They presumed for themselves that they are going to face Philistines, they will fight with them, win over them and go to the promised land. They have sketched out the design by themselves.
But did God lead them via the Philistine country?
'' Exodus 14:1, 2 Then the Lord said to Moses, ''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 Zephron. ''
God actually turned them back.
God actually turned them back.
Most of us might find ourselves back in the state where it all began, when we are on our way to our promise.
And we wonder why things are turning in this pattern that mostly looks like everything is over, and now you are back in your original state..and perhaps God has left your hand, or if you have done some grave sin without knowing that God is abandoning you in between...
And we wonder why things are turning in this pattern that mostly looks like everything is over, and now you are back in your original state..and perhaps God has left your hand, or if you have done some grave sin without knowing that God is abandoning you in between...
This is what the devil will make you think, if you do not keep yourself in the word, during your journey to the promise..
Dear people, He who promised is faithful. Do not doubt His words basing on your circumstances.
The words of God are flawless, once spoken will not come back to Him void. So never doubt His presence or His faithfulness, if things seem like they have come to the beginning...
The words of God are flawless, once spoken will not come back to Him void. So never doubt His presence or His faithfulness, if things seem like they have come to the beginning...
God will, at times turn you back, and put you on a route that could seem like a desert and might appear pretty long.. but do you know why God does this? Not to frighten you or harm you..
'' Exodus 14:3, 4 Pharaoh will think the Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert. 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. ''
God turned the Israelites toward the Red Sea, so that He can glorify Himself through the Pharaoh. And so that the Egyptians will know that the Lord is God.
Dear people, God has a very higher purpose which you may not comprehend when the instruction is given to you.
But you need to just stick to the instruction, even if it seems to your human understanding that it may not help you or it seems hopeless to you, or even if it scares you as you have to encounter your enemies whom you have been trying to keep yourself away from, or if you have to face people who have harmed you ..
Remember Our God is a BIG GOD..bigger than any enemy that might come your way.
And is able to prepare a table in the presence of your enemies.
All you need to do is take HIS counsel at every step and abide by what He tells you to do, with no questions.
He will make highways appear for you along that route, once you humbly choose to follow His instruction.
HE made a way in the midst of those deep, scary waters, which no one expected - not even Moses.
Moses didn't know before hand that God will break the sea. God did not reveal this at the burning bush itself. Did He?
Moses had taken His counsel and direction step by step, and obediently carried out His instructions.
Moses had taken His counsel and direction step by step, and obediently carried out His instructions.
Like He gave Moses for His people to let them know HIS direction, God has given us His word.
Turn to the word of God every moment and take His counsel as how you need to make your next move.
It's only then you can see His plans manifesting in your lives.
If you presume and prepare yourselves according to what you see and feel on the outside, taking for granted that God has promised to give you a specific thing, so you will surely have it anyhow, and then if you go ahead in the way that seems appropriate for you, then you will never be able to receive your promise.
If you presume and prepare yourselves according to what you see and feel on the outside, taking for granted that God has promised to give you a specific thing, so you will surely have it anyhow, and then if you go ahead in the way that seems appropriate for you, then you will never be able to receive your promise.
As we have read in the first part of the message,
''On The Way To The Promise - Rema word'', direction can be known only through HIS word, by knowing the Rema Word -- and not by our human wisdom, feelings or emotions.
Sometimes, it might also happen that if you try to rely on your prophets or pastors, instead of the Word of God, for knowing the direction for the promise that God has given you personally, it will not be a fruitful one.
I am speaking this out of my own experience, where, when I turned to a person who has been praying for me to know the direction, I ended up in a confusion, because what God was telling me and what this person was ''feeling'' always contradicted and this person forced me to act basing on what she felt.
Dear people, if what the Word of God tells you, doesn't match with the feelings and visions and dreams of the prophets you are relying on, then you need to follow just the Word.
If you get confused and act on what these prophets tell you, even if the Word of God is telling you something else - then what these prophets have told you will HAPPEN TO YOU, leaving you hurt and injured.
If you get confused and act on what these prophets tell you, even if the Word of God is telling you something else - then what these prophets have told you will HAPPEN TO YOU, leaving you hurt and injured.
God's word is a double edged sword.
If you let it fall for something else, it will fall on your own feet and hurt you alone and not those prophets.
Lets read these scriptures which tell us about this:
''Isiah 28:7 Priests and prophets stagger from beer and are befuddled with wine; they reel from beer; they stagger when seeing visions, they stumble when rendering decisions.''
Such prophets who try to advise will not have their base from the word, but out of their own instincts they try to give guidance, and they won't be sure of what they say, but stumble when they give their decisions.
Lets read these scriptures which tell us about this:
''Isiah 28:7 Priests and prophets stagger from beer and are befuddled with wine; they reel from beer; they stagger when seeing visions, they stumble when rendering decisions.''
Such prophets who try to advise will not have their base from the word, but out of their own instincts they try to give guidance, and they won't be sure of what they say, but stumble when they give their decisions.
Do not act on such advices.
Lets read '' Isaiah 28:10 - 13
'' Do and do , do and do,
rule on rule, rule on rule;
A little here, a little there.
Very well then with foreign lips and strange tongues God will speak to this people to whom HE said 'This is the resting place, let the weary rest' ; this is the place of repose, but they would not listen.
rule on rule, rule on rule;
A little here, a little there.
Very well then with foreign lips and strange tongues God will speak to this people to whom HE said 'This is the resting place, let the weary rest' ; this is the place of repose, but they would not listen.
So then the word of the Lord to them will become :
Do and do, do and do,
rule on rule, rule on rule,
a little here a little there'' -- so that they will go and fall backward, be injured and snared and captured. '' ''
Do and do, do and do,
rule on rule, rule on rule,
a little here a little there'' -- so that they will go and fall backward, be injured and snared and captured. '' ''
( In Hebrew '' Do and do, do and do, rule on rule, rule on rule '' means, ''sav lasav sav lasav kav lakav kav lakav '' = Possibly meaningless sounds, perhaps a mimicking of the prophet's words - this means, the words they speak are not real, but just mimick as if its a prophesy.)
This scripture tells us that if we listen to such prophets and priests and act on such words, keeping aside what God has told us, then God will make those words of the prophets come true in our lives.
It is very sensitive dear people, because what ever good work the Lord has been doing and has planned, we will be messing it up when we act on such meaningless words of such prophets.
If you blame those prophets, or if you justify yourself stating you have done in confusion, it doesn't help. Word is a Sword. We will bear the consequences that only leave us falling backwards, injured and snared and captured.
So, be careful not to act on directions given by prophets, which are not based on the Word. Do not entertain such people in your lives. Stay away from them - because of them God's wrath will come upon you for listening to them.
So, be careful not to act on directions given by prophets, which are not based on the Word. Do not entertain such people in your lives. Stay away from them - because of them God's wrath will come upon you for listening to them.
If you have done anything like this, the moment the Holy Spirit convicts you of this, kneel down and cry out to God to forgive you. God is able to undo the mess you have done.
Train yourself in the word thoroughly to be able to hear the voice of God.
Train yourself in the word thoroughly to be able to hear the voice of God.
Since it is you who recieved the promise, you alone will be able to to understand the direction, when you meditate on the word of God. Get the rema word to understand what actions you need to take, in order to allow Gods plans to manifest and to know the path God wants you to take.
When God was taking them to the promised land, and led the Israelites via the Red Sea, He had actually destroyed all the enemies who enslaved His people, and He brought glory to Himself.
The path that God wants us to take, will always aim towards accomplishing not just what is promised to us, but also to GAIN GLORY TO HIS NAME.
The path that God wants us to take, will always aim towards accomplishing not just what is promised to us, but also to GAIN GLORY TO HIS NAME.
Our destiny and God's purposes need to match.
Our destiny cannot be outside of God's purpose.
And we cannot have anything just for ourselves without glorifying God's Name.
When the Israelites got the signal to leave Egypt, they wanted to, at once jump into action according to their presumptions and got themselves ready for facing a war.
When the Israelites got the signal to leave Egypt, they wanted to, at once jump into action according to their presumptions and got themselves ready for facing a war.
'' Exodus 13:18 They went out of Egypt armed for battle.''
But did they face any war ? Instead, they faced a dead end - the sea.
Dear people, its not by our might or power, by His Spirit, sayeth the Lord.
Dear people, its not by our might or power, by His Spirit, sayeth the Lord.
So understand the mysteries involved in the plans of God...and don't presume according to your situations. The one who is leading you is the MOST HIGH!
His plans and thoughts are MUCH HIGHER than ours.
On the way, in your journey, if you need to starve, or end up in zero finances, or end up losing your own people whom you expected might help you..or any situation that might create a negative impression on your mind towards God's Presence with you, please do not lose your confidence.
These are only tests. Trust Him totally and praise Him that His grace is sufficent for you, and the one who promised is faithful and He will never leave you nor forsake you.
If the Israelites were not thirsty and faced that rock in the desert, they couldn't have seen His glory that made rivers flow out of that rock.
When you see such rocky situations, turn to HIM in faith, but do not grumble.
If the Israelites were not thirsty and faced that rock in the desert, they couldn't have seen His glory that made rivers flow out of that rock.
When you see such rocky situations, turn to HIM in faith, but do not grumble.
For the direction and the path you are on, is what God has chosen for you and His Name is Jehovah-Jireh.
He provides.
Remember what Jesus said when the devil tempted Him ? - '' Man does not live by bread ALONE.''
So apply the word in your situations, and live according to the word.
So apply the word in your situations, and live according to the word.
God knows our needs, and HE cares !!
But we must endure hardships and tests if we need to see His glory in our lives. If you grumble all we will end up is in His wrath and we will never be able to make it to the goal.
Therefore dear people, press toward the goal, praising Him, and taking His counsel at every step, knowing your Saviour closely..
And the more close you get to Him, the more humble you need to walk before Him..and as you successfully progress, you will realize that it is not you, but it's Christ (Word) who lives in you, that is taking you ahead..
We can do all things, only by Him!
To Him be Glory and Honor and Power, from everlasting to everlasting!
God Bless You.
