The Second Sunday in Lent

Exodus 13:17-14:9

That Even the Egyptians May Know Through the Glory of His Name

As we have said before, God has a plan, a good and perfect plan.  We may not understand it, but we may rest assured that He is working all things after the purpose of His own will.  Why?  That people may know Him and glorify His holy name, even unbelievers, on the day of His visitation (1 Peter 2:12).

Our passage tells us that the Lord did not take the Israelites along the coast to the Promised Land because there they would encounter the Philistines and might lose heart after having just departed from Egypt.  So He took them south by way of the desert where they would meet mountains and seas along their way to Mount Sinai.  But as one reads the passage of Scripture, one senses that more is afoot.  God was not yet finished with Pharaoh and the Egyptians: Just one more mighty work, just one more sign to leave no question in anyone’s mind as to who the true God is.  Pharaoh had said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice and let Israel go?  I do not know the LORD, and moreover, I will not let Israel go” (Exodus 5:2).  Well, Pharaoh let Israel go, but did he yet know the Lord?  Did the Egyptians yet know the Lord?  Apparently not, for Pharaoh and his chariots pursued the Israelites one last time to the Red Sea.  We read again that his hot pursuit is from the Lord, that the Lord had hardened the cruel man’s heart further.  Why?  Hear the Lord’s answer: “I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD.”

And here we have the answer to why God does what He does: For the sake of His glory and the salvation of His people.  There is nothing more in all the world than to know Him, glorify Him, and enjoy Him forever.  God’s very public display of glorifying His own name by the works He does is no selfish exercise as it would be for us.  He is God, the Lord, the greatest and best of beings.  He cannot help but glorify His name as that is the most wonderful activity anyone, including God Himself, can do.  But notice how the glorifying of Himself lends itself to the knowledge of Himself and salvation for people.  He said: “And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD.”  Not Israel.  They were already supposed to know.  But the Egyptians.  Perhaps there was an Egyptian ready to turn away from their primary idol and false god, Amon-Ra.  Perhaps there was an Egyptian who was paying attention.  Perhaps after all was said and done, an Egyptian was saved through God’s glorifying of His holy name.

Author: The Reformed Baptist

My name is Stephen Taylor, ordained Baptist minister of eighteen years pastoral experience with a Ph.D. in Historical Theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Better than that, I am married to a godly woman, Karla, who has been very patient with me since 1989. I have two daughters, both of whom I homeschooled for extended periods of time, who became godly young women, and who ran off and married godly young men, all of which is very proper. The oldest daughter has even seen fit to bless me with a grandson and a granddaughter, and my youngest daughter with a grandson, all three of whom are bundles of exceeding joy. As you can see, I am quite blessed. This website is dedicated to helping people grow in the wisdom and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ through the gift of writing that the Lord has given to me. It is specifically about helping His people grow in godliness, the theme you see repeated above. I write devotions with this aim and hope that they might be of some help to God’s people. Full disclosure: I am of a Reformed bent, meaning that my understanding of Scripture is primarily informed by the Reformers and their successors of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. However, as a student of church history and theology, I strive to remain true to that teaching handed down once for all unto the saints through every age of the Church. I like to think of myself as a “catholic” Christian, as the Reformers thought of themselves. At any rate, feel free to read, pray, and contact me if you wish, or correct me if need be. As you can see, I tend to follow the church year. Of course, I make no special claims about these devotions. I know very well that others have written better and plumbed the depths of God’s word with greater insight. But if my musings help someone draw closer to the Lord, well then, I have my reward. Blessings to you and may the God and Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ speak to you that word which He knows you especially need to hear. Grace & peace, Stephen Taylor View all posts by The Reformed Baptist