One of the things that I love about the Scriptures is how often I am surprised by what I read. Many times when I read the Bible I am left with so many questions, not in a negative way, but questions that lead to an increase in my relationship with Jesus.

Exodus 14 is one of the passages that always causes me to ask questions. This passage comes after the Children of Israel have left Egypt and are now on their way to the Promised Land. They had been through a lot and had watched as Egypt was faced with the 10 plagues. Surely now that they had been rescued it would be easy from here?

Right from verse 2 we see that what God has planned sounds a little different than what they had thought it would be.

Then the LORD said to Moses, Tell the Israelites to turn back…. Exodus 14:1-2a

What?!

This is the opposite of what seems to make sense to me. They’ve just escaped from Egypt, they are on the way to the place God wants them to go to, why on earth would God want them to turn back? It seems to make no sense – at least not to me.

But I’m not God!

We find out that the reason God is asking them to do this is because He wants Pharaoh to pursue the Israelites into the desert so that He could show them His glory and reveal himself as God to the Egyptians.

This of course happens and Pharaohs army comes out and begins to pursue the Israelites.

This terrifies them and they begin to panic and complain to Moses – “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die” they asked him. I always feel a little sorry for Moses in these moments. Moses of course knew by now what the Lord was doing and then gives what would have seemed like an incredible faith filled leadership answer;

Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:13-14

Incredible. I love his faith in the midst of the panic and disappointment. Moses is sure about what God has said to him and surely this will be an incredible moment.

But, here’s what happens next.

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. Exodus 14:15

WHAT!?

This surely is exactly what God would want him to say, right? Is this not the kind of faith that God would want from the leader of His people. Again, God had something else in mind. He tells Moses to get them moving toward the sea. He instructs Moses to raise his staff and tells him that the waters will divide before them so God can show His power to the Egyptians. God is trying to show Moses that the staff He used in the desert will be the staff He can use moving forward – God placed authority in Moses’ hands and now He wants Moses to exercise that authority.

Ok, we’re back on track…….. but then comes verse 19

Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them….. Exodus 14:19

WHAT??!!

The angel of God who has led them this far, the Angel that would have given them confidence about where they should go, has decided to retreat and go behind. I can imagine the Israelites losing hope. Their guide, the visible presence of God, was now withdrawing from them – surely they were doomed.

Actually what we realise is that the angel drew behind them to protect them from the oncoming Egyptians and shield them as they moved towards the Red Sea.

“God moves in mysterious ways” is a phrase you often here when we are grasping to understand why something has happened in the way that we didn’t want it to. It can sound trite and unhelpful in the wrong moments but His ways really are a mystery to us. We have a logic, an understanding and an expectation of what God should do including when and why He should do it.

But our ways are not His.

I just love that we get to adventure and learn more about who He is and how He moves. God, we trust you – have your way!