THE ROUTE OUT

EXODUS 13:17-14:4

EXODUS 13:17-18When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead

them along the road to the land of the Philistines, even though it was nearby; for God said, “The people will change their minds and return to Egypt if they face

war.” So He led the people around toward the Red Sea along the road of the wilderness. And the Israelites left

the land of Egypt in battle formation.

EXODUS 13:19Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, because

Joseph had made the Israelites swear a solemn oath, saying, “God will certainly come to your aid; then you

must take my bones with you from this place.”

EXODUS 13:20-22They set out from Succoth and camped at Etham on the edge of the wilderness. The Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to lead them on their way

during the day and in a pillar of fire to give them light at night, so that they could travel day or night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night never left

its place in front of the people.

EXODUS 14:1-3Then the Lord spoke to Moses: “Tell the Israelites to turn back and camp in front of Pi- hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea; you must camp in front of Baal-zephon, facing it by the sea. Pharaoh will say of the Israelites: ‘They are wandering around the land in

confusion; the wilderness has boxed them in.’”

EXODUS 14:4I will harden Pharaoh’s heart so that he will pursue

them. Then I will receive glory by means of Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am

Yahweh. So the Israelites did this.

MAIN IDEA:God's plans are for our good

and for His glory

1. GOD'S ROUTE

EXODUS 13:17-18When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead

them along the road to the land of the Philistines, even though it was nearby; for God said, “The people will change their minds and return to Egypt if they face

war.” So He led the people around toward the Red Sea along the road of the wilderness. And the Israelites left

the land of Egypt in battle formation.

2. GOD'S FAITHFULNESS

a. By the Fulfillment of His Promise

EXODUS 13:19Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, because

Joseph had made the Israelites swear a solemn oath, saying, “God will certainly come to your aid; then you

must take my bones with you from this place.”

GENESIS 50:19-20But Joseph said to them, “Don't be afraid. Am I in the

place of God? You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result — the

survival of many people.”

GENESIS 50:24-25Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God

will certainly come to your aid and bring you up from this land to the land He promised Abraham, Isaac, and

Jacob.” So Joseph made the sons of Israel take an oath: ‘When God comes to your aid, you are to carry my

bones up from here.’

GENESIS 50:26Joseph died at the age of 110. They embalmed him and

placed him in a coffin in Egypt.

HEBREWS 11:22By faith Joseph, as he was nearing the end of his life,

mentioned the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions concerning his bones.

DEUTERONOMY 7:9Know that Yahweh your God is God, the faithful God

who keeps His gracious covenant loyalty for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His

commands.

HEBREWS 11:11By faith even Sarah herself, when she was unable to have children, received power to conceive offspring,

even though she was past the age, since she considered that the One who had promised was faithful.

b. By His Continual Presence

EXODUS 13:20They set out from Succoth and camped at Etham on

the edge of the wilderness.

NUMBERS 33:3-4They departed from Rameses in the first month, on the

fifteenth day of the month. On the day after the Passover the Israelites went out triumphantly in the sight of all the Egyptians. Meanwhile, the Egyptians

were burying every firstborn male the Lord had struck down among them, for the Lord had executed

judgment against their gods.

NUMBERS 33:5-6The Israelites departed from Rameses and camped at Succoth. They departed from Succoth and camped at

Etham, which is on the edge of the wilderness.

EXODUS 13:21-22The Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to lead them on their way during the day and in a pillar of fire

to give them light at night, so that they could travel day or night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire

by night never left its place in front of the people.

NUMBERS 9:15-16On the day the tabernacle was set up, the cloud

covered the tabernacle, the tent of the testimony, and it appeared like fire above the tabernacle from evening until morning. It remained that way continuously: the

cloud would cover it, appearing like fire at night.

NUMBERS 9:17-18Whenever the cloud was lifted up above the tent, the Israelites would set out; at the place where the cloud stopped, there the Israelites camped. At the Lord’s command the Israelites set out, and at the Lord’s

command they camped. As long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they camped.

LAMENTATIONS 3:22-23Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for

His mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!

HEBREWS 13:5For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you or

forsake you.”

1 CORINTHIANS 6:19Don't you know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God?

ROMANS 8:14-16All those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry

out, “Abba, Father”! The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children,

ROMANS 8:17and if children, also heirs — heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ — seeing that we suffer with Him so that

we may also be glorified with Him.

3. GOD'S PURPOSE

a. Protection for Yourself

EXODUS 13:17-18When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead

them along the road to the land of the Philistines, even though it was nearby; for God said, “The people will change their minds and return to Egypt if they face

war.” So He led the people around toward the Red Sea along the road of the wilderness. And the Israelites left

the land of Egypt in battle formation.

b. To Refine Your Faith

PSALM 66:10-12For You, God, tested us; You refined us as silver is

refined. You lured us into a trap; You placed burdens on our backs. You let men ride over our heads; we went

through fire and water, but You brought us out to abundance.

ROMANS 8:28-29We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to

His purpose. For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son,

so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.

c. To Glorify His Name

EXODUS 14:1-3Then the Lord spoke to Moses: “Tell the Israelites to turn back and camp in front of Pi- hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea; you must camp in front of Baal-zephon, facing it by the sea. Pharaoh will say of the Israelites: ‘They are wandering around the land in

confusion; the wilderness has boxed them in.’”

EXODUS 14:4“I will harden Pharaoh’s heart so that he will pursue them. Then I will receive glory by means of Pharaoh

and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am Yahweh.” So the Israelites did this.

APPLICATION1. Faithfully follow God into the unexpected and

even dark roads of life

APPLICATION1. Faithfully follow God into the unexpected and

even dark roads of life2. Know and trust in God's promises

APPLICATION1. Faithfully follow God into the unexpected and

even dark roads of life2. Know and trust in God's promises3. Understand His purposes