Parsha Ponderings: He Leadeth Me
By Elizabeth Darby Bass, Sabbath Streams Ministries
Parsha Beshalach: Exodus 13:17 - 17:16
This last week, the Torah reading was all about how G-d leads his people. It began with G-d leading the Israelites out of the land of Egypt.
Exodus 13:17&18 After Pharaoh had let the people go, G-d did not guide them to the highway that goes through the land of the P'lishtim, because it was close by - G-d thought that the people, upon seeing war, might change their minds and return to Egypt. Rather, G-d led the people by a roundabout route, through the desert by the Sea of Suf. The people of Isra'el went up from the land of Egypt fully armed.1
In the previous parsha reading, we were told that there were “some six hundred thousand men” in the group preparing to leave Egypt. This week we learn that they left Egypt fully armed. Sounds to me like an army. And yet G-d knew they were not ready for war. So He led them in a path that was not direct. He led them into the wilderness, and right into what looked like a trap. With the pillar of cloud by day, and the fire by night He led them to a dead end. As the people looked back they saw the Egyptian Army.
Wait, I thought G-d led them this direction to avoid war? And yet here they are – not only is war approaching, but they have no way to escape.
As they cried out in fear, Moses addressed the people
Stop being so fearful! Remain steady, and you will see how ADONAI is going to save you. He will do it today - today you have seen the Egyptians, but you will never see them again! ADONAI will do battle for you. Just calm yourselves down (Exodus 14:13 & 14).
I can hear the people now,
Calm down? There is a sea in front of me and an army behind me and you want me to calm down? I am in a dead end situation and am about to die, and you want me to calm down? There is nowhere to go! The enemy is way too powerful; I’m either going to be cut down or drowned. Anyway I look, it’s over for me. - But what did you say? G-d is going to save me? G-d is going to do the battle for me . . . Well, guess I don’t have much of a choice.”
And the Angel of the L-rd who had been in front, moved to the back and positioned himself between the Egyptians and the Israelites. And the cloud that was leading them became a wall of darkness protecting them as Moses stretched out his hand, and G-d parted the waters.
Sometimes it seems as if the way the L-rd has led has become a dead end. Sometimes it seems as if the path He has placed us in has become impossible. Sometimes we look back and see that which we left behind catching up to us. Sometimes it is time to look for a parted sea and let G-d fight the battle for us. But even after all of that there is no promise of a trouble free path.
The reading continues as G-d continues to lead his people. And the Israelites followed the direction of the L-rd. There was no second guessing the path, the cloud by day and the fire by night was visible to all. It was a miraculous sign that made it easy to know the leading of G-d. There was no second guessing, were we supposed to turn left at that last oasis? I mean, we haven’t found water for three days, did we mess up? No, they knew it was the way G-d had led them. Maybe that is part of why they were so quick to complain when things didn’t go as they hoped they would. The dead-end at the sea was only the beginning of the troubling path that G-d led them on. From there it was to a place of bitter water, then a wilderness with no provision for food, then the desert where there was no water at all and finally into a battle they had to fight for themselves.
Each time they cried out, “Why did you lead us out of Egypt? Were you planning on killing us in this wilderness?” And each time G-d made provision for them. Each time they questioned G-d’s leading and each time He came through.
Today, when we find ourselves in a difficult situation, it is easy to second guess ourselves. We look around for what we may have done or what we may have missed. We assume someone is at fault, just as the Israelites did. They blamed G-d. We blame ourselves. But maybe the truth is that no one is to be blamed. We are where we are, whether by our choices or by G-d’s design, it makes little difference. Either way G-d has a plan.
Paul wrote “God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called in accordance with his purpose.”2 All things include those dead ends and bitter places, it includes times of famine and drought, it even includes times of direct conflict.
And when G-d says “My sheep hear my voice . . . and they follow me,”3 He means what He says.
He leads me - or as the hymn writer4 put it:
He leadeth me, O bless'd thought!
O words with heavenly comfort fraught!
Whate'er I do, where'er I be
Still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me.
Sometimes mid scenes of deepest gloom,
Sometimes where Eden's bowers bloom,
By waters still, over troubled sea,
Still 'tis His hand that leadeth me.
Lord, I would place my hand in Thine,
Nor ever murmur nor repine;
Content, whatever lot I see,
Since 'tis my God that leadeth me.
He leads me, I can trust Him and I can follow even to the end.
And when my task on earth is done,
When by Thy grace the victory's won,
E'en death's cold wave I will not flee,
Since God through Jordan leadeth me
He leadeth me, He leadeth me
By His own hand He leadeth me
His faithful foll’wer I would be
For by His hand He leadeth me.
L-rd, help me to remember You are leading me. Help me to quit looking for blame and look instead for your protection and your provision. Help me trust you in whatever circumstances I find myself in. Help me to not complain as I look to you, but to come in faith knowing that You are working things out for good because I am Yours.
1. Scripture quotations are taken from the Complete Jewish Bible, copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. www.messianicjewish.net/jntp. Distributed by Messianic Jewish Resources. www.messianicjewish.net. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
3. See John 10: 1 – 4, & 14-16
4. He Leadeth Me: Words by Joseph H. Gilmore, 1862 Music: William B. Bradbury, 1864
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