Beshalach בְּשַׁלַּח - When He Sent Out
Exodus:13:17-17:16
Reading #1 - Exodus 13:17–14:8
My Thoughts:
In verse 14:2 we see a little change in plans. They actually change directions. Some sages say that they went south instead of southeast. Hashem’s goal was to get them safely to the Red Sea where He could perform His most outstanding miracle of it all. It makes me think that sometimes in our lives we see where Hashem is “tweaking” His plans for us. That happened to me last year. Hashem changed my places of work, and when it first happened I didn’t understand. Now that I have been working in my new position I can see exactly what He was doing. It was all meant for good. The important thing is that you are in His will daily. Seek His face, read His word, pray, repent and follow Him. Ultimately, His plans will become yours.
Challenge:
Today I challenge you to be flexible. If things are happening the way you think they should -- give Hashem a chance to show you why. As mentioned before, stay close to Him. Trust that whatever is happening, as long as you are obedient and prayerful, will soon make sense to you. Whatever change you are going through, ask Hashem to turn it all to good! And then praise Him for making it that way.
Reading #1 - Exodus 13:17–14:8
13:17 When Pharaoh had let the people go, Elohim didn’t lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for Elohim said, “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and they return to Egypt”; 18 but Elohim led the people around by the way of the wilderness by the Red Sea; and the children of Israel went up armed out of the land of Egypt. 19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had made the children of Israel swear, saying, “Elohim will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones away from here with you.” 20 They took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness. 21 Elohim went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them on their way, and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light, that they might go by day and by night: 22 the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night, didn’t depart from before the people.
14 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, that they turn back and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, before Baal Zephon. You shall encamp opposite it by the sea. 3 Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, ‘They are entangled in the land. The wilderness has shut them in.’ 4 I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will follow after them; and I will get honor over Pharaoh, and over all his armies; and the Egyptians shall know that I am Hashem.” They did so.
5 The king of Egypt was told that the people had fled; and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was changed toward the people, and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” 6 He prepared his chariot, and took his army with him; 7 and he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, with captains over all of them. 8 Hashem hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the children of Israel; for the children of Israel went out with a high hand.
