God has a Plan, He isn't just in reactionary mode - Part 3
Part 3: At Dawn
In this final part of this trilogy, we will look at the amazing implementation of God’s Master Plan, in completely and thoroughly delivering the Isrealites from their enemies.
In Part 2, we left the Israelites on the shore of the Red Sea where God positioned them in front of the Red Sea with Pharaoh and his army in hot pursuit of them. Moses told them to not be afraid and to remain calm because God was going to fight for them and destroy their enemies.
The author of Exodus doesn’t tell us whether the people actually stayed calm or not, but he tells us that God gave the next instruction to tell the people “to get moving.” And for Moses to part the sea with his staff. Moses obeyed God, and God sent the East wind to blow all night. THE MIRACLE HAPPENED IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT! The water opened up before them and they all crossed over to the other side.
Is it dark all around? Are we at an impasse?
Rejoice! We are positioned to see a MIRACLE!
Beloved, God has good things in store for us, no matter what the current circumstances are.
The psalmist tells us “Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.” Psalms 30:5 NLT
So what happened to those Egyptian pursuers? “… just before dawn the Lord looked down on the Egyptian army from the pillar of fire and cloud, and he threw their forces into total confusion. He twisted their chariot wheels, making their chariots difficult to drive. “Let’s get out of here—away from these Israelites!” the Egyptians shouted. “The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt!” Exodus 14:24-25 NLT
Just like Moses had told the people He would, God fought for them. And the Egyptians knew it! And they couldn’t get away from Him, no matter how hard they tried.
“When all the Israelites had reached the other side, the Lord said to Moses, “Raise your hand over the sea again. Then the waters will rush back and cover the Egyptians and their chariots and charioteers.” So as the sun began to rise, Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the water rushed back into its usual place. The Egyptians tried to escape, but the Lord swept them into the sea. Then the waters returned and covered all the chariots and charioteers—the entire army of Pharaoh. Of all the Egyptians who had chased the Israelites into the sea, not a single one survived. But the people of Israel had walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, as the water stood up like a wall on both sides.” Exodus 14:26-29 NLT
God has a plan, a Master Plan. It was the Egyptians’ plan that was actually the reactionary one, and it miserably failed. But God executed His plan and put His glory on display for all to see, bringing an incredible, miraculous, awesome, supernatural deliverance! He delivered His people in such a dramatic way so they would never forget Him and His loving kindnesses towards them.
The psalmist, hundreds of years later, is still talking about it in Psalm 136:
“With his mighty power he brought them out! His tender love for us continues on forever! He split open the Red Sea for them! His tender love for us continues on forever! And led his people right through the middle! His tender love for us continues on forever! He vanquished Pharaoh’s armies, drowning them all! His tender love for us continues on forever!” Psalms 136:12-15 TPT
As I was writing this blog, the Lord dropped this Psalm on my heart. Then twice more this week, I have heard this same Psalm mentioned. In the midst of the dark night, when we can not see what the path of victory will be, the Lord is calling us to constantly proclaim: “His tender love for us continues on forever!” No matter what we can, or cannot, see with our eyes, or what we hear with our ears, shout out your confidence in our Great Faithful God: YOUR STEADFAST LOVE ENDURES FOVEVER!
Beloved, God hasn’t changed. He still has the Master Plan. He didn’t lose it, or forget what needs to be done next. He isn’t reacting to the enemy’s plans. The enemy is actually reacting to God’s plans. Satan does not want God’s “Kingdom of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17), to come “to earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10) He doesn’t want God’s sons and daughters to be made manifest in the earth; those who fully understand who they are as children of the King and who walk in glorious freedom and victory (Romans 8:19). He doesn’t want “the knowledge of God’s glory to fill the earth,” which will result in countless people everywhere being gloriously saved, delivered and healed. (Joel 2:28-32, Revelation 7:9) He doesn’t want the dreams of God’s heart to come true. They scare him stiff, and he is madly trying to keep them from happening, pulling every trick out of his hat. But just like the Egyptians failed, Satan too, will fail.
God wins! He won at the cross. He is in control and knows exactly what to do. He IS WORKING IN THE DARK. His loving kindness is still towards all His lovers. What He did for his people at the Red Sea He will do for us, just like He has promised. We do not know how, and we do not know when, but as my husband wrote in a song:
“Do not be anxious, but trust in the Lord,
Don’t you know He is faithful to honour His Word?
But seek first the Kingdom and His righteousness
And your Heavenly Father will take care of the rest.”
c. 2022 Jim Rudenberg
So dear friend, if you find yourself filled with anxious thoughts, doubting the goodness of God, believing lies from the enemy that tell you he wins and we lose, that the world is going to hell in a handbasket, that the promises of God are not true for us…. the enemy has you right where he wants you. Fear, doubt and unbelief will cripple you and render you useless. Best to repent now and agree with God’s Master Plan. Read the verses in this article. Declare God’s truth, and wait expectantly and joyfully for what God is about to do in the earth that will be beyond our wildest imagination! These are perhaps the worst days of history, but also the greatest**! We get to be alive and participate in God’s awesome plan to fill the earth with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord. Rejoice!**
“For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.” Jeremiah 29:11 AMPC
“And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.” Romans 8:28 AMP
“So I kneel humbly in awe before the Father of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, And I pray that he would unveil within you the unlimited riches of his glory and favor until supernatural strength floods your innermost being with his divine might and explosive power. Then, by constantly using your faith, the life of Christ will be released deep inside you, and the resting place of his love will become the very source and root of your life. Then you will be empowered to discover what every holy one experiences—the great magnitude of the astonishing love of Christ in all its dimensions. How deeply intimate and far-reaching is his love! How enduring and inclusive it is! Endless love beyond measurement that transcends our understanding—this extravagant love pours into you until you are filled to overflowing with the fullness of God! Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you. Now we offer up to God all the glorious praise that rises from every church in every generation through Jesus Christ—and all that will yet be manifest through time and eternity. Amen!” Ephesians 3:14, 16-21 TPT“