Exodus Ch 13 v17:
When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, “Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt”.
This verse has a lot to consider, taking into account the future narrative with the Philistines and that which God had wrought in supernaturally leading the people of Israel out of Egypt.
It would appear that as soon as God has lead the people out of Egypt, immediately he is concerned with developing true character in them as individuals and corporately.
This can be deduced by the very manner in which God has lead them out of Egypt. Their deliverance had been entirely due to the divine intervention of God. He had shown himself to be without limit and boundaries, Lord over all his creation and higher than all other gods.
Had Gods primary focus not been the development of character in his people, then he could easily have lead them to the borders of Philistia, and sovereignly defeated them without even the need for a stone from a brook.
Egypt had its simplicities, life under the yoke is oppressive, but its weight does mean that the inward challenge of loving God with all your heart is not opposed by temptation! This is the warfare and it is perpetual: the battle between the man of flesh and being lead of the Spirit.
And even in that sentence is a distinction of contrast; man of flesh or being lead of the Spirit. One is carnal as it is solely driven by self while the other is following in obedience to another, conscious of a ‘corporate’ mission and message of deliverance: lead of the Spirit! When God spoke to Ananias, it reveals the liberty of his yoke of light.
It should be noted that the commandment to love God with ones whole heart was not given until the deliverance from Egypt had been total. God could have given this command during or prior to the 400 years in captivity. But God choose to give it when men where free from an oppressive yoke, as God knows that men being made in his image are designed to be filled, so as to flow with a blessing unto all others, both near and those afar off.
Can you live under an oppressive yoke & love God with all your heart. If you love God with all your heart, the yoke of oppression is not your taskmaster.
So we have a dichotomy! An absolute dependence upon Him and freedom of choice & will. Does this not take us back into the original garden of Eden?
Deliverance, is unto a God who brings unto us all, that it should be named. Gods intention for man was harmony with his nature, a fullness from himself shared liberally.
Man names them, and it was so. Original man had an awareness of Sonship, and of the Father heart of God.
Succumbing to the temptation of deception, that God had withheld of himself that which was good and able to make wise, could only bring about disharmony and a corruption from that which God had purposed. Growth brings about an increase in dependence and codependency but also the individuals responsibility to custodianship. The warfare to keep and guard and maintain. Man blamed his downfall upon Gods greatest help to him, he had failed individually to keep the command given to him! And in blaming another, he manifested the man of flesh, the uncircumcised giant of every land.
The yoke of oppression started with a lie concerning that which brought life and that which brought death. Their are ultimately only two kingdoms, Pharaoh’s tomb or a risen and ascended King; who offers an eternal dwelling place. And that is a residence where love is the only light, a poetry without flat rhythms of suns unreturned life.
Growth and multiplication, the seed of harvest, the codependency of an eco system, all sustained by light. The Sun does not need the solar system, to position it relatively. The Sun is life. Gods word frees from the yoke of slavery, the hierarchy from the chief lie and rebel of natures harmony.
Hymn: ‘I thank thee uncreated sun’
Jesus was intentional about sharing his character with his disciples. He immediately, lead them to enclosed situations so that in time to come, their warfare might be underpinned with the knowledge of the love of God; underneath are the everlasting arms! They marveled that the weather obeyed his command, and calmness in the storm is the battles victory won: being lead of the Spirit through the wilderness, harmony with heaven, the bright and morning star.
We must not add to Gods method of deliverance. And we must not take away any part either.
God desires a marriage of harmony, a reciprocated cry unto love, the true grace of God. No yoke of slavery, Amen.
Exodus Ch 14 v16: The cross of Jesus Christ, where individually and corporately the great dividing wall is torn in two! That we should be lead of the Spirit, true children of God, able to share with others, his victory song! Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.
Note:
I have watched the last installment of the film ‘The Ten Commandments’ last night. It is a long film so its taken three to four time slots, which has covered period in book of Exodus.
A great question is asked by a young girl, as the commencement of the journey to the land of covenant promise begins! It’s an imperative question to this girl, her help and friend must come with them, to the land promised Abraham.
As ever with the covenant of liberty, life’s well is a spring from which service can only be a Joy, when we have known the fathers heart and that he has a provision that will never cease to supply. Lead of the Spirit to a well, Come see a man, who showed me the Fathers provision, the sacrifice, indeed, a covering for all.
Clothed in his righteousness, a returned unto a paradise lost and a tree of life, the wisdom of God reveled: the lamb slain before the foundation of the world: the doorway of eternity.
And he loved her, the fruit of yielding into the Fathers hands.
eternalrays 