God Is Speaking - Are We Listening?

Then the angel of God, who had been leading the people of Israel, moved to the rear of the camp.  The pillar of cloud also moved from the front and stood behind them.  The cloud settled between the Egyptian and Israelite camps.  As darkness fell, the cloud turned to fire, lighting up the night.  But the Egyptians and Israelites did not approach each other all night.  Then Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the Lord opened up a path through the water with a strong east wind.  The wind blew all that night, turning the seabed into dry land.  So the people of Israel walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on each side!  Then the Egyptians—all of Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and charioteers—chased them into the middle of the sea.  But just before dawn the Lord looked down on the Egyptian army from the pillar of fire and cloud, and he threw their forces into total confusion.  He twisted their chariot wheels, making their chariots difficult to drive.  “Let’s get out of here—away from these Israelites!” the Egyptians shouted.  “The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt!” [Exodus 14.19-25]

There is a lesson here for me today.

As if the miraculous signs performed by Moses in Egypt were not enough to prove that God was doing something with the Israelites, then, when Pharoah caught up to them, his army witnessed also this pillar that hung around (cloud by day - fire by night).

And if the pillar of fire or cloud was not enough, then the Red Sea parted leaving a dry path as an escape route from Egypt's pursuit.

It was only after the Egyptian army was in the middle of the Red Sea, after they began experiencing difficulties passing through, that they decided their idea to pursue the Israelites was not a good one.

How ironic.  No doubt every soldier in Pharoah's army had witnessed the plagues upon Egypt.  Each one of them had, no doubt, lost a loved one during the Passover.  But still they pursued.  They had come upon Israel beside the Red Sea and witnessed the pillar of cloud or fire.  But still they pursued.  They could see the Red Sea part.  They continued to pursue.  But then, the going got tough and they concluded that they were in trouble.

How many signs along the road do we have to speed by before we realize that each sign's "bridge out" message had meaning?

God is speaking.  Are we listening?

Father, help me to evaluate the "signs" around me today and accurately follow Your Spirit to do Your will!