14 Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 “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 Zephon. 3 Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.’ (Exodus 14:1-3)
Have you ever said, “How did I end up here?” God’s way is always an unlikely way, and an unlikely choice. The path he chooses is always surprising. When Israel was waiting for a Messiah they expected a King, Jesus came as an infant. Sarah was 90 when Isaac was born. When God was leading the Israelites, he chose the most unlikely path. There were two ways from Egypt to Canaan, and God chose the long way through the wilderness.
“Therefore, even the seemingly erratic route described by 13:20 in combination with 14:1-3 could be trusted because Yawheh was directing them on it. Yawheh chose the odd route not they” (Douglas Stewart-The New American Commentary: Exodus)
When God was leading the Israelites out of Egypt, he could have chosen the journey that took a few days. Instead, he brought them through the wilderness. In Exodus 14:1-3, God actually tells the Israelites to go South instead of East, he directs them the long way. Moses himself questioned God, but he obeyed. Then God asked Moses to bring the Israelites through the Red Sea. They walked through parted waters. How incredible and scary would that be? Yet, it would be magnificent to witness such a thing. Then God took Pharaoh and all his chariots by crashing the waters of the red sea around them.
What an unlikely route, what an unlikely story. God chose a magnificent display of his splendor. It was a testament of Faith to follow God on his, “erratic route” through the red sea and the wilderness. Are you willing to follow God no matter where he leads? Are you willing to let him work his magnificent displays of splendor on the way? Or, will you settle for less?
![We were gifted a Savior which is Christ the Lord, our sin-bearer who died a death so that we may live and have eternal life. Humanity needed a Savior of their sins and his name was Jesus. Jesus name means, “Yahweh saves.” In the Old Testament, Joshua saves his people from the Canaanites, he foreshadows the real Jeshua/Jesus who saves the world from their sins.
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In the Christmas story, we are familiar with this passage, “Give him the name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21) As we continue to reflect on the names of Jesus, let us grasp the fullness of what he came to do. He came in humility a small babe, a common man with a common name, and yet the significance/meaning of the name could only be fulfilled through him. Only he has the power to save. Many were named Jeshua, but there is only ONE who lives up to the meaning of this name: Savior.
Luke 2:11 says, “for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Christ the Lord, an anointed prophet, king, and priest came as a baby to save us from our sins.
Jesus name was common, he lived a common life, yet despite other people having this name, salvation is exclusive to him and he is anything but common, “Yahweh saves.” #chasingsacred](https://www.chasingsacred.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)
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