Psalm 46, A Synopsis of Revelation, 1 of 9

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“For the Chief Musician. By the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth.” This is the introduction our psalm. The sons of Korah were Levites who were charged with part of temple care and services.

“God is our refuge and strength,

“A very present help in trouble.”
Psa 46:1

If you wanted to pick a key theme of psalms, and Revelation, and indeed all of Scripture, is that God is a very real help when men are in trouble. This is an incredible assertion to many men of all ages, for sure including Bible times. The wicked say of such things,

“They say, “How does God know?
Is there knowledge in the Most High?””
Psa 73:11

The wicked trust none of these things. They trust in their own preparations, their lands, their money, their swords.

Even so, yes! We will have problems.

God disciplines and punishes both men and nations. Elihu talks about climate change for correction or for love.

“11 Yes, he loads the thick cloud with moisture.
He spreads abroad the cloud of his lightning.
12 It is turned round about by his guidance,
That they may do whatever he commands them
On the surface of the habitable world,
13 Whether it is for correction, or for his land,
Or for loving kindness, that he causes it to come.”
Job 37:11-13

We are told,

“It is for discipline that you endure. God deals with you as with children, …” Heb 12:7

Further,

“For our light affliction, which is for the moment, works for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory;”
2Cor 4:17

Clearly though, not all have discipline / chastisement.

“But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.” Heb 12.8 KJV

Even death is not permanent for those God loves

Of the babies that Herod the Great had murdered in an attempt to kill the Christ, the prophet says,

“16 Thus says Yahweh: Refrain your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears; for your work shall be rewarded, says Yahweh; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy. 17 There is hope for your latter end, says Yahweh; and your children shall come again to their own border.” Jer 31:16-17

God promises,

… “I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you.”
Heb 13:5

Or as Jesus promises,

… “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he die, yet will he live.” Jn 11:25

God will speedily answer calls to Him

“7 Won’t God avenge his chosen ones, who are crying out to him day and night, … ? 8 I tell you that he will avenge them quickly. …”
Lk 18:7-8

If we will turn to Him in true repentance, the Lord will turn the hardships away. It is only when we harden our hearts and will never turn, that punishments become relentless. Just as it is in the book of Revelation of those final times of our universe.

Unless otherwise noted, Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

KJV is the King James Version, 1611.

The Jews, Tragedy and Glory to Come, 3 of 3

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Both the Old Testament and the New Testament testify
everywhere to the sins of the Jews

Moses laid it out.

“32 For their vine is of the vine of Sodom,
Of the fields of Gomorrah:
Their grapes are grapes of gall,
Their clusters are bitter:
33 Their wine is the poison of serpents,
The cruel venom of asps.”
Deut 32:32-33

A later Jewish prophet also noted,

“14 … the Jews; 15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:”
1Thes 2:14-15 KJV

All of this will turn around during a time of great stress

One day the Jews will wake up! It all be in a time of severe stress on the Jews worldwide. Also it seems this will be preceded by severe persecution of Christians worldwide. This is discussed at length in Jewish Chronicles, available from your bookseller.

“When you are in oppression, and all these things are come on you, in the latter days you shall return to Yahweh your God, and listen to his voice:”
Deut 4:30

The KJV incorrectly translates this as a conditional promise, but it is an UNFULFILLED statement of what WILL BE! The next one is unambiguous even in the KJV.

“Yahweh your God will circumcise your heart, and the heart of your seed, to love Yahweh your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, that you may live.”
Deut 30:6

There will be a dramatic spiritual turnaround for the Jews, which will result in a dramatic flourishing of Christianity both in Israel and all around the world.

The great time of stress will evidently
begin with severe worldwide
persecution of Christians!

This is too big a topic to condense into a short article, but it does seem to indicate the persecution of Christians precedes the assault on Israel, but is dealt with in “Jewish Chronicles.”

The Jewish survivors of this great time of stress, will build
Israel into a mighty worldwide power

“In that day, Yahweh’s branch will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the beauty and glory of the survivors of Israel.”
Isa 4:2

They will preach the gospel of Jesus Christ among the nations.

“… I will send such as escape of them to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the isles afar off, who have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the nations.”
Isa 66:19

There are many other passages to quote.

Here is the promise, written about 1400 BC

“40 If they confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, in their trespass which they trespassed against me, and also that, because they walked contrary to me, 41 … if then their uncircumcised heart is humbled, and they then accept the punishment of their iniquity; 42 then I will remember my covenant with Jacob; and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham; and I will remember the land.” Lev 26:40-42

Only the truth will make the Jews … or you and me … free!

New and better days are coming for the Jews, all in their Messiah, Rabbi Jesus of Nazareth.

Unless otherwise noted, Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

KJV is the King James Version, 1611.

The Jews, Tragedy and Glory to Come, 2 of 3

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When the Messiah came, He fulfilled all the Old Testament prophecies of His first coming. That included betrayal by a friend (Psalms 55 and 69), a judicial murder (Isaiah 53), and death by crucifixion (Psalm 22), and many other things which the reader search out and see for himself.

At first the common people among the Jews enthusiastically accepted the Messiah, but their leadership opposed Him, and arranged His murder, exactly as predicted in the Old Testament. They then worked ruthlessly to suppress Christianity, and anyone involved. Some believed in their Messiah, but the majority were intimidated into submission … even to this day.

Then other paths to worldly power were pursued

Still wanting that worldly preeminence that was promised them, but unwilling walk in righteousness and truth, many Jews turned to dark deeds for preeminence and power. That included the occult, revolutions, and oppressing and exploiting those gullible goyim the people of the nations whenever they felt they could get by with it.

Then the Jews met with a series of cataclysmic
judgments from God

As with most nations in history, many judgements for the sins of peoples come in smaller setbacks and desolations. Beyond such things, three huge disasters are spoken of for the Jews. Two have already happened, and one is yet to come.

The first was the destruction of Judah
and Jerusalem in 586 BC

After centuries of patient warning being sent to them through God’s servants the prophets, God finally brought the hammer down. First the northern kingdom of Israel was conquered and deported in 722 BC, never to return to their land.

“Yahweh rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight.”
2Kgs 17:20

All of which had been predicted by God’s prophets, whom the people and ruler had rejected. Then came total desolation and deportation of Judah and Jerusalem in 586 BC, after multiple rejected opportunities to turn around.

The second great desolation was the
fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD

Jewish Chronicles tells the story of how the Jews transitioned from Moses’ Law to religions of their own making, and the disastrous results this has had. Available from your bookseller.

Zechariah forecast these things, Zech 10:9-10. Also Rabbi Jesus warned,

“20 But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is at hand. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let those who are in the midst of her depart. Let those who are in the country not enter therein. 22 For these are days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.”
Lk 21:20-22

Jesus further predicted in 30 AD,

“They will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”
Lke 21:24

Which is exactly what has happened over the last two thousand years. Still unwilling to accept these answers, the disastrous second century AD Bar-Cochba revolts only dug their hole deeper.

Why did this happen?

“… because you didn’t know the time of your visitation.”
Lk 19:44

They had plenty of evidence. But they just didn’t want to believe and follow.

The third tragedy is yet to come.

Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

The Jews, Tragedy and Glory to Come, 1 of 3

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They were to be the preeminent nation of the earth

“Yahweh will make you the head, and not the tail; and you shall be above only, and you shall not be beneath; if you shall listen to the commandments of Yahweh your God, which I command you this day, to observe and to do them,”
Deut 28:13

It is a great tragedy. The Jews have been unwilling as a group, to listen to their own Lord and God, the One whose name in the Old Testament was Yahweh. When the Lord built them up in Egypt, and delivered them from slavery by many mighty acts, as is recorded in the book of Exodus, even then they were unwilling to give up their own will for God’s will.

Moses spoke of the Jews of his generation

This is from the Song of Moses which he spoke to the entire assembly.

Jewish Chronicles details and analyses Israel’s slide into other spirits, witchcraft, and magic. Indeed, the fountainhead of most modern witchcraft and magic is from Jewish books: the notorious “Kabbalah” which is discussed at length about how these teachings compare with Scripture, both Old Testament and New Testament. Available from your bookseller.

“5 They have dealt corruptly with him, they are not his children, it is their blemish;
They are a perverse and crooked generation.
6 Do you thus requite Yahweh,
Foolish people and unwise?
Isn’t he your father who has bought you?
He has made you, and established you.”
Deut 32:5-6

Again Moses spoke of these things.

“He said, I will hide my face from them,
I will see what their end shall be:
For they are a very perverse generation,
Children in whom is no faithfulness.”
Deut 32:20

Moses had already made it clear that the worse was yet to come for the Jews.

“For I know your rebellion, and your stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, you have been rebellious against Yahweh; and how much more after my death?”
Deut 31:27

Then began a descent into seeking other gods and other spirits. This is a side of Judaism which has never entirely gone away, and influences much of their behavior, even to this day.

God says He has tried to change them

Seven centuries later, Isaiah comments on their sidetracks into the occult.

“2 I have spread out my hands all the day to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, after their own thoughts; 3 a people who provoke me to my face continually, sacrificing in gardens, and burning incense on bricks; 4 who sit among the graves, and lodge in the secret places; who eat pig’s flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels; 5 who say, Stand by yourself, don’t come near to me, for I am holier than you. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burns all the day.”
Isa 65:2-5

Then they tried to turn their obedience into
human tradition rule keeping

And they put their human rules above God’s rules.

Then when their Lord and Messiah came,
they murdered Him.

He wept for them.

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, like a hen gathers her own brood under her wings, and you refused!”
Lk 13:34

This situation will last indefinitely. However,

Only the truth will make the Jews free, Jn 8:32

Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

Prophecy Practice: Out of Egypt, 15 of 15

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And the grand Exodus occurs … from this world itself!

The beast is able force the entire world to worship him as god, except for a few Christians. Evidently many Christians also worship the beast. Many also are killed or imprisoned. But also there is

Once more in the wilderness, just like ancient Israel!

Many Christians also seek refuge from the beast by fleeing into the wilderness!

“The woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that there they may nourish her one thousand two hundred sixty days.”
Rev 12:6

So many are protected in the wilderness during the entire reign of the beast, in “a place prepared by God,” Rev 12:6; and away “from the face of the serpent,” Rev 12:14.

It is true that they try to pursue them in the wilderness, and it is daunting to think of such pursuit thinking of modern imaging techniques. But it says,

“15 The serpent spewed water out of his mouth after the woman like a river, that he might cause her to be carried away by the stream. 16 The earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the river which the dragon spewed out of his mouth.”
Rev 12:15-16

So even the earth will help the righteous in those terrible last days.

It will be terrible times on ALL men, not just Christians. Even Jesus, though, asks,

“… Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
Lk 18:8

Then will come the greatest Exodus of all time.

There will all sort of signs on the earth and in the heavens. Notice carefully, we will NOT know the day or the hour, but we will know when it is near.

“But you, brothers, aren’t in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief.”
1Thes 5:4

Jesus says,

“25 There WILL be SIGNS in the sun, moon, and stars; and on the earth anxiety of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the waves; 26 men fainting for fear, and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world: for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”
Lk 21:25-26

Again Jesus says,

“But when these things begin to happen, look up, and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near.”
Lk 21:28

That is clearly not written of the 70 AD destruction of Jerusalem. That did NOT bring redemption near for either Jews, or gentiles, or Christians. It only fits the end of this universe.

And finally to heaven itself … the true promised land.

This will be when God’s faithful of all ages are raised from the dead, in sight of all of their enemies. The angels will gather God’s

“… chosen ones from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Mtt 24:31 KJV

“17 then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever.”
1Thes 4:17

Unless otherwise noted, Scriptures are from the World English Bible WEB, a copyright free revision of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901.

KJV is the King James Version of 1611

Prophecy Practice: Out of Egypt, 14 of 15

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By Mighty acts of Judgment God delivers His people

When God’s people in the Old Testament were totally under the power of Pharaoh, and needed deliverance from the power of the Egypt of this world, so that they might have their own land in the promised land of Canaan, God led them to freedom by mighty acts of judgment on an evil ruler, the Pharaoh of Egypt and his people.

When in the New Testament God’s people will be totally under the power of the beast, and need deliverance so that they might have their own land in the promised land of Heaven, God will lead them to freedom by mighty acts of judgment on an evil ruler, the beast of this world and those who worship him.

This is for a relatively short period of time.

Satan is allowed to reign only for the short time a of time of 3-1/2 years, which called 1260 days (Rev 11:3), 42 months (Rev 11:2, 13:5), and “time, times, and half a time,” (Dan 7:25, 12:7, Rev 12:14). It does say that the beast “overcomes” the church, the saints. Daniel is told that this will last,

“… for a time, times, and a half; and when they have made an end of breaking in pieces the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.
Dan 12:7

Further it should be noted that Daniel deals with both the final events, and also with ancient kings who are symbolic of the final events. So how is the release of God’s people to be accomplished?

God will respond with might acts of judgment on
the kingdom of the beast and his followers

Always remember that the book of Revelation is a series of parallel, overlapping, cumulative visions. Putting them end to end, makes no more sense than putting the parables of the kingdom in the Gospels end to end.

These mighty acts of judgement are mentioned Revelation 11 with the testimony of the two witnesses. More is in chapters 15 and 16 when it talks about the seven last bowls of wrath, the last plagues which will be poured out on the earth. It mentions specifically,

“The fifth poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was darkened. They gnawed their tongues because of the pain,”
Rev 16:10

The plagues that fall toward the end, are remarkably similar to the plagues
that fell on Egypt in the book of Exodus!

In Rev 16:2 it mentions “a harmful and evil sore on the people who had the mark of the beast, and who worshiped his image.” In Rev 16:3-4 “the sea become blood,” and the rivers and springs of water became blood. All of which seems to be described from a different point of view in Rev 8:8-9. These things are specifically mentioned as punishment for spilling the blood of Christians, Rev 16:5. The world is also scorched with heat from the sun. And Rev 9:3-11 seems to speaks a plague of locusts, which seem to spiritual locusts, to afflict only those who do not have the seal of God.

Scriptures are from the World English Bible WEB, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901.

Prophecy Practice: Out of Egypt, 13 of 15

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And the “god of this world” 2Cor 4:4, overcomes the church.

This is actually a subject of several prophesies, but the one that catches the eye of many is in Revelation 13. The passage in Revelation 13 is obviously parallel to 2Thessalonians 2, that is the say that the “beast” is the “man of sin,” (or “of lawlessness,” depending on your translation). Both are worshipped by the entire world, all of the lost. Both are destroyed by Jesus Second Coming (2Thes 2:8, Rev 19:20). The man of lawlessness / sin is produced by the “mystery of lawlessness, which is already at work in the first century of our era, 2Thes 2:7. In Rev 13:1-2 the organization which produces the beast is called “a beast,” and it has seven heads (men who direct the organization), and ten horns / crowns, rulers who are part of the beast organization. So ten national rulers are part o the “beast” organization, which evidently is existing from at least the first century of our age.

Then one of the seven heads of the organization has a fatal wound and that fatal wound is healed, Rev 13:3. The whole world is fascinated by this one who is killed, yet has some sort of recovery. This head, one of the seven heads of the beast organization, then becomes “the beast,” Rev 13:3.

“The beast” is allowed to make war for forty-two months, or 3-1/2 years, Rev 13:5. This period of time is also referred to by the prophet Daniel. This beast blasphemes God and claims he is the one and only God, Rev 13:6 and 2Thes 2:4. This beast is given great temporary authority.

“It was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them. Authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation was given to him.”
Rev 13:7

No man has had authority over “every … nation” up till now. And no one has overcome the church world wide up to now. So this has NOT happened yet!

Everyone, whose name has not been written in the book of life since the foundation of the world, will worship this beast , Rev 13:8, Rev 17:8. This means that everyone will worship this beast who is not a faithful Christian.

Notice carefully, the beast has AUTHORITY to BOTH make WAR with the saints (all true Christians), AND to CONQUER them!

We are talking about a situation where the saints (those sanctified, cleansed by the blood of Jesus) are completely overwhelmed, and that is plainly stated by the text. The word used in Rev 13:7 for the church being “overcome” is the Greek word nikao and it means to overcome, overpower, conquer, prevail, have the victory over. Nike the Greek “goddess” of victory derives her name from this word, and it a regular word for conquering a foe in battle.

So here is a situation very similar to when God’s people were
under the power of Pharaoh in Egypt.

They will be totally under the power of “the god of this world,” 2Cor 4:4. They will need rescue from power of this evil one.

Scriptures are from the World English Bible WEB, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901.

Prophecy Practice: Out of Egypt, Part 12

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And the Christian is called out of Egypt

“1 Now I would not have you ignorant, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 and were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 and all ate the same spiritual food; 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.”
1Cor 10:1-4

In such symbolism then Pharaoh represents the god of this world, this age, 2Cor 4:4. He has indeed held in us bondage. Christ came and took part of flesh and blood,

“14 … that through death he might bring to nothing him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and might deliver all of them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”
Heb 2:14-15

The fear of death has kept us in line with “those who by nature are not gods.” Gal 4:8. Egypt represents the world system which is so corrupt.

“We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.”
1Jn 5:19

“… If anyone loves the world, the Father’s love isn’t in him.”
1Jn 2:15

Baptism is our separation from this world.

“3 Or don’t you know that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him through baptism to death, that just like Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.”
Rom 6:3-4

“7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8 But if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him;”
Rom 6:7-8

We do our own wandering in a wilderness in the Christian life.

Just as ancient Israel did, we often lose our bearing when things do not go as expected. As they often fell apart and blamed God, and reject their faithful leaders in the Lord, so do we very often when things seem to go wrong, when it seems things are beyond even God’s control. Of course things never are beyond God’s control.

It would be a blessing to enter the promised land early.

It would have been a blessing if Israel had been willing to enter Canaan when they were first instructed. But ancient Israel was intimidated by their worldly adversaries, as we also often are, and then fell into sin, as we frequently do.

Sometimes, like ancient Israel, we may just wander around
in our desolate places until we perish.

We were delivered from Egypt, but loved our bondage to sin so much we perished in it, after being delivered to where we could live. Israel’s sins are warnings to us.

It doesn’t have to be that way!

“Now all these things happened to them by way of example, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come.”
1Cor 10:11

Scriptures are from the World English Bible WEB, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901.

Prophecy Practice: Out of Egypt, Part 11

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And Jesus is called out of Egypt

There were attempts from the first by Satan to have Jesus killed. Herod heard about this King of Israel who was born from the wise men, evidently from Persia. He feared the overthrow of his kingdom by another pretender to the throne of God’s people. Revelation says that when the child was born, of the dragon (Satan, Rev 12:9),

“The dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child.”
Rev 12:4

This took the form of Herod the Great sending the wise men to find the child. An angel of God appeared then,

“… to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.””
Mtt 2:13

And so Joseph and Mary did.

Herod had learned where the Christ
was to be born.

When the wise men failed to return, he took counsel with his men concerning the times they had learned from the wise men,

“… and sent out, and killed all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding countryside, from two years old and under, …”
Mtt 2:16

Herod the Great died a terrible death of cancer
on April 1, 4 BC

Which means our calendar is off by four or more years. Then Joseph was told they could now return to Israel, Mtt 2:19.

“… that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called my son.””
Mtt 2:15

God’s son Israel, was symbolic of His true Son, Jesus of Nazareth.

When physical Israel was called out of Egypt,
they were never to go back

“… You shall henceforth return no more that way.”
Deut 17:16

Jesus for sure never returned that way. He never accepted or overlooked the worldliness of the Jewish leaders to make himself acceptable to them. In Revelation it describes in one place the great city where the bodies of the two witnesses lay dead for three days.

“Their dead bodies will be in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.”
Rev 11:8

Paul said,

“… For if I were still pleasing men, I wouldn’t be a servant of Christ.”
Gal 1:10

Jesus definitely never tried to please men. “… the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children,” Gal 4:25, He never flattered nor tried to please. He was indeed a servant of God. The Christ, having come out of the Egypt of this world as a child, never endorsed it. He gladly would have helped Jerusalem below. As He said toward the end,

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her! How often would I have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and you would not!”
Mtt 23:37

Scriptures are from the World English Bible WEB, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901.

Prophecy Practice: Out of Egypt, Part 10

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And Israel is separated from the Egypt of this world.

Already God had performed many mighty works which demonstrated His power and supremacy over everyone and everything. Now though, as Israel is leaving Egypt, the Pharaoh and his servants changed their minds one last time. Then they they decided to pursue Israel with their armies, and they overtook them, Ex 14:5-9.

When they saw the armies marching after them, “… they were very afraid. The children of Israel cried out to Yahweh.” They already began to fault Moses. Was it because their were not enough graves in Egypt that you brought us into the wilderness to die? Ex 14:10. Moses told them,

“Yahweh will fight for you, and you shall be still.”
Ex 14:15

“Yahweh is a man of war.
Yahweh is his name.”
Ex 15:3

Then came that great scene in Exodus 14 when God parted the waters of the Red Sea, and Israel crossed the Red Sea on dry land, and when the armies of Egypt attempted to follow they were drowned. The text says that God caused “a strong east wind all night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided,” Ex 14:21. This may in fact have occurred in a section of the Red Sea that has become silted up today.

Now Israel was firmly separated from Egypt,
by the Red Sea.

Then began the trials of living in a desert place, without the comforts and pleasures of this world. At every turn the people of Israel failed to go on trusting God.

First they traveled three days journey into the desert, perhaps as little as five miles per day with all of their little ones and livestock, but they found no water. Israel complained. At God’s direction they found water.

They were enslaved but had plenty to eat in Egypt, and now they were about to die of hunger. Then God provided food from heaven, literally. First there was dew, and when it evaporated there was left what the New American Standard “a flake like thing,” Ex 16:14. It was “mana,” which was substantial enough they could and did live on it for forty years!

Again and again Israel failed to trust God, NO MATTER
what powerful acts He performed.

Again they ran out of water, but did not pray, but rather complained and berated their leaders, and wished to go back to Egypt. God finally provided water out of a rock for them in the desert.

At Sinai they received the Law, but could not wait for Moses to get back, but created idols to worship in the mean time.

Then in Numbers 11 they got tired of the mana, and God gave them quail to eat until it came out their ears and made many sick. Then there were arguments about leadership, then they refused to enter Palestine because they were afraid of the giants in the land.

And on and on and on, always in bitterness and ungratefulness and perversity, and almost never in faith.

That was Israel in the wilderness.

Scriptures are from the World English Bible WEB, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901.