Exodus 13:17,18 And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt: {18} But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.

I. God saw by foreknowledge that Israel would forsake the right way, therefore, He protected them by sending them another way.

A. It is interesting to understand there are many paths to our lives.

1. Some people believe there is only one way that we can possibly go, but that is not true.

2. There are many decisions we can make that will affect the outcome of out lives.

3. When we make a certain decision, that puts us on a particular path, then there are other decisions that we must make on that path, that we might not have to make if we were not on that path.

4. Exodus chapter 14:10-12 takes place because of Exodus 13:17,18.

B. I Corinthians 10:13 - God provided a way out of temptations, without Israel ever knowing they were in temptations.

C. Exodus 14:10-12 – The time is when Israel came to the Red Sea and Pharaoh and his army came up behind them, and there was no place for Israel to go, but into the Red Sea. Israel complaining to God when God placed them here for their own protection. Israel cried out to God and complained to Moses. People in churches do this today to their pastor because they don't understand the direction God is moving the pastor to move the church.

1. God was going to drown the Egyptians here. Note: Israel was complaining before they knew God's plan.

2. Exodus 13:17,18 is certainly true – Israel is complaining in trouble and they certainly would have returned to Egypt if they had the chance.

3. Exodus 3:11 - God gave this as a sign to Moses (Mt. Horeb is near Mt. Sinai) before Israel ever knew he was their leader.

a. Israel probably did not know God had given this promise to Moses before he presented himself to them as their leader.

b. So often church members don't realize how God has touched their pastor before they knew him.

II. How often we complain about a situation when we don't really understand the severe troubles God has removed us from.

A. It would be good if we would use the past blessings of God to rejoice in our present "evil" situation.

1. If we would think about what God has done for us in the past, we would have little difficulty rejoicing in that past blessing.

2. Romans 8:28 states, And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

3. Read the entire context of verses 29-39 so we can understand we will never be separated from the love of God.

4. Philippians 4:4-7 teaches us to continually rejoice in the Lord, even when we do not understand what is happening.

5. We will never "get anywhere with God" when we are fighting him – so stop fighting, and submit to his leadership.

6. Stop asking "why me?", and change that to "why not me?"

B. A very recent example is when Mike Allison came to join our church.

1. He seemed a very nice respectable young man who wanted to serve the living God.

2. Instead, we have found out he is very immoral, raping some women and trying to break into the homes of others.

3. God protected us because we trusted God.

4. This will always work.

5. This doesn't mean bad things won't ever happen to us, but even in the bad things (which are meant for our good), God will enable us to be overcomers.

C. The word "harnessed" means:

1. Armed with weapons.

2. Girded - meaning prepared in an orderly fashion for a given task. Israel left Egypt not only armed, but left in an orderly fashion, not in a mass of confusion.

3. I Corinthians 14:33 - God is not the author of confusion, but of peace.

III. They probably left by tribe, perhaps as in Numbers 2.