Guest Post by Brianna Brown
God works in seasons. All of creation works by seasons. The sun, moon, and stars are for signs and seasons. God created “appointed times” that recur each year according to their season. God declared the end from the beginning. He spoke the word and set all things into cyclical motion. That is why history repeats itself.
We all run in patterns put in place by our creator. The enemy has also set some patterns into play, because God gave man free will… But the patterns of the enemy will never override the patterns set in motion by the creator. We have the free will to follow the patterns of the enemy in opposition to God’s creation or to walk in the understanding of and in obedience to the one true creator’s patterns.
Either way, we will face friction as the patterns of good and evil are in opposition to each other, but only God’s patterns remain in the end. In order to discover the patterns and seasons of the creator, we have to look to His word: a living word.
Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread are almost upon us. It’s the season of the Exodus.
If you look around, you can recognize the Exodus story happening all around you. Maybe or maybe not physically, but spiritually, I see it.
How many have been crying out to God for deliverance from cruel oppression of some kind, many kinds, all kinds? Mentally, physically, relationally, politically? How many have been given some kind of hope, and then had it taken away or their situation made worse than before?
That happened to Israel in the land of Egypt. God heard their cries and sent Moses to promise deliverance. But Pharaohs heart was hard, and he made Israel’s load harder.
How many have been battling and battling and still have not been delivered? That happened to Israel.
Ten plagues later, deliverance was close, and they were led out in haste with staffs in hand and sandals on their feet. They didn’t even have time for their bread to rise. Finally! Deliverance!
Wrong again.
Next they were led out by a way that didn’t make any sense to them. In fact, they were led to what seemed to be a dead end! And when the Egyptian army realized what they had done by letting Israel go, they took off after them.
Israel looked forward and saw the Red Sea before them and the Egyptian army behind them. Closed in and fearful, they grumbled to Moses,
“Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us in this way, bringing us out of Egypt? Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness!”
~Exodus 14:11-12
Have you felt that way; Or have you seen others battling and battling toward promised deliverance, but losing hope because of the continued delays? Have you been so close to blessing you could almost touch it, but then felt the enemy closing in on you again? Or perhaps felt you’ve made a huge mistake and followed the wrong leading because of where you are now?
So here we are as Israel, SO close to deliverance… AGAIN…but closed in between the sea and the (spiritual) enemy army, fearful, confused, questioning, and regretting.
Moses replied, “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will perform for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again, ever.
The LORD will fight for you, while you keep silent.”
~(Exodus 14:13-14)
Then Yehovah said to Moses, “Why are you crying to me? Tell the sons of Israel to move forward. As for you, lift up your staff and reach out with your hand over the sea and divide it, and the sons of Israel shall go through the midst of the sea on dry land.”
~ (Exodus 14:15-16)
They went forward, Moses stretched out his hand and lifted his staff, God parted the sea and made Israel to walk across on DRY land with the water as a wall on either side of them. The Egyptian army chased after them even into the midst of the sea! But as soon as God’s people made it through, he brought the water crashing down on the evil army, and Israel never saw them again.
Through all of the Exodus story, the Israelites had no idea what God intended to do or why. They only knew they were promised deliverance, victory, and blessing. They were frightened. They were confused. They even grumbled and regretted. BUT, they were given one of the greatest miracles of the Bible when Yehovah divided the sea and led them on dry land. Why did God do it the way He did?
Yehovah (the Lord) told Moses, “And as for Me, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen.
“Then the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD, when I am honored through Pharaoh, through his chariots, and through his horsemen.”
~(Exodus 14:17-18)
God works in mysterious ways… to us. His ways are for HIS purpose.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts.”
~(Isaiah 55:9)
For many of us Israelites, we have been walking in this Exodus season. We find ourselves, after many calamities, almost seeing victory and losing hope and led a much different way than makes sense with what He seems to have promised in our lives, closed in between the opposition and a dead end, frightened and confused…even grumbling and questioning at times. But be encouraged. That promise that seems too far out of reach with too much opposition is right across the sea. And that deep, powerful sea that is a major road block for you is NOTHING to the God of Israel!
He IS a God of miracles! This season you’re in is not a new thing for God. He set the seasons in motion long ago, and His patterns ring true. Believe in His promises. Your Exodus is promised, and God’s word will not return to Him void.
Brianna Brown has been a great inspiration and friend to me over the years, and I know she will inspire you too! Go follow her Instagram here and her and her sister’s music channel here! You won’t be disappointed!
