The Hands of God

SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP SERVICE, 16 July 2023

Sermon Text: Exodus 13:17-22
Sermon Series: “Exodus Chs. 1-19” (#18)

Main Points:
Introduction
I. Leading Israel around by the way of wilderness (vs. 17-18)
II. Taking Joseph’s bones with them (vs. 19-20)
III. Guiding Israel by the pillars of cloud and of fire (vs. 21-22)
Conclusion

In ch. 13, v. 17, the people of Israel have finally crossed the border and become a free people at last. This passage we’ve just read is a brief description of Israel in their first steps into freedom. There must’ve been loud cheers and applause and laughter alongside tears in a mixture of emotions. Freedom is restored; their centuries-long slavery is over and gone. But hardly does this text we read today convey such emotions of people. It narrates plainly what happens to these escapees from their great agony of slavery.

In such a casual tone, this passage tells us three things that happen to Israel. What are they? Firstly, God leads them away from Egypt but not by the shortest or quicker way to their destiny but by a way of bypass. Secondly, Moses is taking Joseph’s bones with him on the way. And thirdly, God leads Israel along the way in a pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night.

Although this is told in a plain, unvarnished or flat style, these things that happen to Israel are unusual, peculiar things. And all of these unexpected occurrences draw us to see and grasp one final conclusion, that is, God’s unfathomable love for Israel, His uncountable grace toward His beloved, that is, the OT Israel which is now in the times of the NT the Church of Christ.

So, I’d like you to hear the Holy Spirit as He opens this passage up for us all.

I. LEADING ISRAEL AROUND BY THE WAY OF WILDERNESS (VS. 17-18)
The first strange and unexpected thing happen to Israel is God’s leading them by a strange way. V. 17 tells us that “God did not lead Israel by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near.” Then, by which way did He lead them? V. 18 says, “by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea.” Israel left Goshen – northeastern part of Egypt – to go to Canaan, their destination. Following one of the shortest highways of the time that was alongside the Mediterranean seashore would’ve been the best option for them. But God led them southeast toward the Red Sea. The highway by the shore would’ve taken them to reach their destiny in just a few months, if not weeks. But the way God led them was far from that route.

We hear from v. 17 why God leads Israel a longer bypass. That is, due to Israel’s unpreparedness for war. If Israel faces a war against the armies of the Philistines or the Canaanites, they will surely turn around and return to Egypt. In a word, Israel is too weak and soft, having been tamed so deeply and too long in Egypt. As no army would send out its untrained recruits into battle, it’s understandable that God takes Israel to a safer way, giving them a time of preparation for future troubles.

But that is not it. The Lord takes Israel to a longer bypass not just to prepare them for battles and fights. There’s a much bigger and more important reason than that. By leading Israel to an unusual way, God demonstrates to the eyes of all His people – both the OT Israel and the NT church – that He knows what the best way for His beloved is. It might seem to be longer, it might seem to be more difficult and unpleasant, it might seem to be even unnecessary, thus, frustrating, but God the Lord knows exactly what the best way is for His dear children. This is the main reason for turning Israel around by the way of the wilderness.

The message is that the best way is God’s way rather than a shorter or quicker way or easier way. God’s way is the best way.

Take Jacob’s life for example. He was born with God’s promise for blessing. God had told Jacob’s parents that Esau the older would serve Jacob the younger. So he was born as the second son to Isaac his father. He was born with the blessing which was usually reserved for the firstborn. In his wait for that blessing, however, Jacob must’ve felt that that promise he had heard about since his youth seemed to be a sham because nothing was happening and it seemed that his father’s favour was getting stronger for his brother Esau. Later, when he purchased from his brother the birthright and received his father’s blessings by deception, he must’ve felt that things were going worse, and God’s promise seemed to have faded away. All the way in his life, nothing seemed to be on the right way; everything was twisted in his way. But that was the best way for Jacob because it was God’s way prepared for him! Leading Jacob’s descendants by the way of wilderness, God tells us that His way is the best and true way for us who are God’s children.

Some things happened to us might not seem to be ideal to our own eyes. The family into which one is born, or the school we have gone through, or friendship in one’s youth, marriage, career, health, or many other things we face in our life might seem undesirable to our eyes. So, people lose heart.

God speaks to such a heart that He did not lead Israel by the quicker highway but by the way of the wilderness. He tells us all that the way He prepares for and leads us to is the best way because He knows what is best for His own!

This means that none should lose heart because of ill health as God knows what the best way for each of His beloved is! None of us should doubt God’s faithfulness due to various dislikes we face. That’s because all things are surely a part of the way God has prepared for each of us, God’s beloved purchased with the blood of His own Son!

I’m not advocating fatalism – not at all! I’m not saying that you can’t do anything about your troubles, so just take it unless you escape it. That’s not what I mean. I’m telling you what Prov. 5:21 teaches, that is, “A man’s ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and He ponders all his paths.” It is what Rom. 8 also teaches, saying this in v. 30, “those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified.” All things we believers face in our life are based on from God’s predestination to His calling and justifying and glorifying us. Each trouble, every path that seems to be a longer bypass or twist is necessary for each believer’s way toward God and His Son’s eternal kingdom. God our Heavenly Father knows the best way for each of us! I’m sure that you’ll find greater proofs of this truth as you follow the chapters of Exodus and see Israel’s path to Canaan by the way of wilderness.

II. TAKING JOSEPH’S BONES WITH THEM (VS. 19-20)
The next thing our text passage tells us is carrying Joseph’s bones in Israel’s way to Canaan. More specifically, Moses is carrying Joseph’s mummy rather than bones as he was embalmed in Egypt several centuries earlier.

Hearing this is strange because, firstly, why would Joseph leave a will in the first place for his descendants to carry his bones to Canaan? Why would Moses carry it instead of the tribes of Joseph’s sons? That’s not all that makes me puzzled, and the second question is this: ‘Why is Jacob’s body embalmed also not mentioned nor carried along with Israel?’ If you read Gen. 50:2-3, you’ll find that Jacob’s body was embalmed first in Egypt, years before Joseph. So, the ultimate question is, ‘What is the point of mentioning carrying Joseph’s bones to Canaan?’

The answer reveals a heart-warming truth about God, especially about His greatness and faithfulness. I mean, taking Israel out of Egypt and leading them by the way of wilderness is God’s old plan, and carrying Joseph’s bones testifies to it. Since the beginning of Israel’s history, this rescue plan has been firmly communicated to the people of Israel. In Gen. 15, God foretold Abraham about his descendants’ slavery in Egypt. Before his death, Joseph repeated this and reminded his brothers of God’s future rescue plan. So Joseph willed, asking that his bones should be carried into Canaan, into the land of promise. In a word, his will was inseparably coupled with God’s covenant or promise.

So, carrying his bones means carrying God’s covenant with them. It means that Israel’s restoration to her freedom was not an accident nor a luck, but God’s old promise accomplished by His zeal. Jacob’s embalmed body is, to the eyes of Israel, a clear and vivid evidence of God’s faithfulness to His centuries-old promise.

This is true for all believers of Jesus Christ. When we’re baptised with water and the Spirit, it’s the fulfilment of God’s promise. From then, we live on by God’s mercy, God’s covenant of grace. The obvious evidence we have is this book that contains the promise of the living God. To the unbelievers, the Holy Bible might seem to be a dead book, meaning nothing to them. But this book is the book of life; this provides Jesus’ living water to every thirsty heart and soul; this feeds every hungry soul with heavenly food – it is more than living; this book is the source of our all in all.

Joseph’s bones carried the same weight in the sight of all Israelites. When they look at it, they remember God’s covenant made with their forefathers which has been fulfilled and their own eyes are seeing it.

Yes, it was more than necessary for Moses, the human author of this book of Exodus, to include and emphasise the fact that Joseph’s bones were carried along. By this, he boldly presents to you and to me that God is good and faithful, and He keeps His promise! So, what we hear from Rom. 8:39 is true indeed – “[nothing] in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord”! God is faithful to His promise, and He will carry you and me to the glory He has prepared for us!

III. GUIDING ISRAEL BY THE PILLARS OF CLOUD AND OF FIRE (VS. 21-22)
The third and last thing this passage mentions is the pillar of cloud and of fire that Israel have seen in their way. Before considering its spiritual meaning, let me say to you that I’m stunned by what I read from vs. 21-22. Not only does the content of these verses blow me away, but also its literary style puzzles me – I mean, how plainly or impassively these pillars of cloud and of fire are described in this text. In a word, this is a phenomenon so exceedingly great that I could hardly picture in my finite human mind. Moreover, the author of this book narrates it simply, showing hardly any emotions.

Let me elaborate what I mean. By the way, I’ll deal with statistics on Israelites’ population at the exodus probably in three weeks’ time, but let me briefly mention it today. The total population of Israel at the time of exodus is regarded as at least two million. The basis of this calculation is Ex. 12:37. We read from that verse that about 600,000 men on foot, besides women and children set their way toward Canaan. If we apply to that number the general population proportions of male, female and age group, the minimum estimation is about 2.2 million. That is, about the same as the population of Perth or, if we give slight freedom to our calculation, the same as that of Brisbane, QLD. The whole city of Perth or Brisbane left Egypt – and you try to picture that in your mind. If you’re in the middle of that crowd, your eyes would probably see people after people from one end to the other, and nothing else.

The point I’m making is the configuration or formation of the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night in order to protect the entire population in the open field by day from the scorching sunlight and to embrace that great gathering of people with warmth of the pillar of fire at night. I ask you to simply try to picture that in your mind.

As the Israelites walk and travel by day and by night (as v. 21 tells us), the pillars of cloud and of fire must’ve lined up on both sides of Israel’s path. I cannot guess how long these pillars might’ve stretched out – I simply cannot because it’s a miracle of God too great for me to picture in my mind.

In addition, as I mentioned earlier, I’m stunned by the literary style that is so impassive in describing this amazing miracle. I get an impression that the author is saying something like this: ‘Oh, it’s nothing special because things like this happens when God cares for His people.’ The author of this Book – that is, ultimately, the Holy Spirit – seems to shrug His shoulders and says, ‘You know, such things as this happens every time God is with His people.’

This is, in fact, what He the Spirit of God speaks to us. This is the spiritual meaning of the pillars of cloud by day and of fire by night. The OT Israel walked in between these pillars by day and by night, and we of the NT do the same. Only difference is that Israel saw these pillars and we don’t. That’s because they were in the wilderness and we’re now in God’s house built on the foundations of the apostles and prophets, and Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone! We’re now in God’s holy temple, surrounded by pillars of apostles and prophets and Jesus Himself is the foundation stone. We no longer need visible signs of God’s protection and providence because we’re living in the Almighty’s arms and His provision is sufficient for us.

Most of all, the Holy Spirit is in us and with us – He indwells us now. And He unites us always to God and to one another in Christ. Spiritually speaking, the One greater than pillars of cloud or fire is with us always! And this is the message that the pillars Israel saw and benefited from convey to you and to me. We’re guided and protected by God’s mighty hands!

CONCLUSION
So, the message and encouragement for us is that we should never lose heart. God is with us and surrounds us with His mighty arms, guiding us on the best way for us.

We should always find His hands in our life and rejoice in Him, thanking and praising Him with all our hearts and minds and strengths. This might sound difficult, but beholding God’s hands in your life is not difficult at all when you trust your Father in heaven through Jesus God’s Son, your Saviour! ***