And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an high hand. Exodus 14:8
What was Pharaoh thinking? Why was he chasing down the children of Israel after all he and Egypt had been through. Because of his stubbornness and defiance of God, he had experienced a series of devastating plagues that had destroyed his country’s economy and agriculture, and demoralized his people. He, and every other family in Egypt, had experienced the personal tragedy of losing a firstborn child to the death angel. With all of that, here he was chasing the Israelites through the desert to bring them back to slavery. He had to know he was chasing tragedy, which he found. Such is the folly of the enemies of our God.
Pharaoh’s final venture ended in the depths of the Red Sea, along with his armies and his chariots. Explorers recently found some of those chariot wheels on the floor of the Red Sea, proof that God is not mocked. Pharaoh was not the first to oppose God and His people, nor was he the last. That opposition will continue through this dispensation and through the great tribulation. And it will all end the same way every time: destruction for the opponents and vindication for the righteous. This should serve as a warning for all who will oppose God and His people. But it should serve as an encouragement for God’s people.
The apparent victories of our enemies sometimes discourage us, and sometimes harm us. We wonder sometimes if we are being unfairly served. We need to keep in mind that God will surely punish those who oppose us, just as surely as He will bless those who are His. Because, like the children of Israel in our text, we are holding the high hand. -Jim MacIntosh
Here is the link to the video of this message: https://youtu.be/wUVUDUoljL0