New Beginnings

When the children of Israel were released to go with Moses, they were given a new beginning. They did not know what this new beginning entailed, but they were excited to be free. They marched in freedom from the land of their captures straight into the wilderness. In His foresight, God had instructed Moses on the path in which to lead the children of Israel to the promise land. He had a purpose in sending the children of Israel the long way around to the promise land.

Exodus 13:17 – Now it came about when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near; for God said, “Lest the people change their minds when they see war, and they return to Egypt.”

Lesson 1: God will guide you according to His wisdom. He looks at your heart and knows what is best for you. Remember He knows you better than you know yourself.

Neither Moses nor the children of Israel knew what was before them in the wilderness. Moses was leading out of obedience not out of strength. When God told him to go to Egypt and tell Pharaoh to let His people go, all Moses could do was tell God why he was not qualified. He looked at his weaknesses as a reason why he could not do what God asked. For every weakness, God had an answer.

Lesson 2: Your weaknesses are God’s opportunities to show His strength. God is looking for an empty vessel that he can fill and not a vessel that is full of himself. God gets the glory when we overcome in our weaknesses.

As the children of Israel headed into the wilderness, they had many new opportunities in front of them, but they also had many storms ahead of them. Their perspective was the Red Sea in front of them and wilderness on their left and right and Egypt to their back. The Red Sea was a barricade that could stop them in their path. The wilderness was filled with dangers unseen.

Lesson 3: In any new beginning, there will also be new storms to endure.

Without the children of Israel knowing, God was strengthening their character, resolve and their faith. The flaw in their character was, once they realized the gravity of their surroundings, they proved to be a complaining people. They wanted to give up too quick. They forgot all that God had done for them to get them out of captivity.

The perspective that God wanted the children of Israel to see and what He wants us to see is that He is our guide; in good times and bad. He will take our weaknesses and make us strong in Him. Last but not least, He creates opportunities in every new storm for His grace and love to abound in us as He sees us through it.

In this new year, let’s all remember who He is to us and not forget what He has done for us. He is the great I Am.

Happy New Year