And it came to pass, on that very same day, that the LORD brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt according to their armies.
–Exodus 12:51

That very same day, that day, or that night when the blood of the lamb was shed… Even the picture of our Lord’s sacrifice saved God’s people from death and brought them out of the kingdom of sin, so that they could serve the living God! They came out in joy, health and wealth. That is exactly what God wanted, and what He wants now. He wants His children to be free, healthy, joyful and provided for. He is a good Father! (Isa.49:15-16)

We often cry out when we are in difficulty, but we do not even know what to ask for – just sighs and more sighs. The Israelites were slaves who had long settled in the land of Egypt. They could not even imagine what might help them. Doctors have to be paid, children have to be clothed and fed, problems all around. The men are away from home from morning till night. And in the morning, seeing them off to work, the wives stayed behind, hoping to see their husbands alive in the evening. They lived under terrible pressure. And one day the Hebrew parents lost their babies. Out of fear of this people, Pharaoh simply ordered all the firstborn sons to be killed. We have read these lines, but if you stop to think and imagine it, it is a very terrifying situation. Hopelessness! These people knew first-hand what pressure is, there is no arguing with that.

Of course God did not abandon His people! Sending His prophet Moses, the Lord told him to deal with the problem. The problem was not very willing to retreat. But what can stand against the Blood of the Lord? Later, this same problem tried to catch up with them: behind them the old problems – the Egyptian army, in front of them new ones – the Red Sea. An attempt at encirclement. But God had other plans: “For you shall not go out with haste, Nor go by flight; For the LORD will go before you, And the God of Israel will be your rear guard.” (Isa.52:12) So the Lord delivered them from both the old problems and the new ones with one wave of the rod in Moses’ hand! Hallelujah!

That is how it usually is in life: difficulties come, and they grow like a snowball, and it seems everything will crush you. But if the Hebrews came out of their problems surrounded by His protection and care: “the LORD will go before you, And the God of Israel will be your rear guard”, then we are in a better position, we are in Christ (Eph.2:6). We are already overcomers in every problem! If the Hebrews came out of their problems with joy, how much more will we. Even nature will be on our side. Moses had a rod; we have more – we have the Name of the glorious Lord Jesus Christ! We will be led out with peace, because Jesus has given us His shalom! So should we be afraid of problems? Of course not! The Lord has opened to us the way in which we should go, and we are walking in it; it is a sure and reliable way. Jesus leads us, a caring and attentive Shepherd! He has proven to us that He loves us and will never leave us. What a great comfort this is! If we are in a difficult situation for a long time, it may break us. But as it is written in the second letter to the Thessalonians, the Lord is faithful, He will establish us and guard us from the evil one. And then Paul prays that the Lord would direct our hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ! (2 Ths.3:3,5) God’s love for us is great, His patience is boundless! How important it is to fill our hearts with this understanding.

The Effects of Righteousness

He is near who justifies Me; Who will contend with Me?
–Isaiah 50:8

I remember once, having been in a difficult situation for some time, I could not, so to speak, withstand the pressure and began to accuse myself, losing my peace more and more. Talking with the Lord, I very much wanted everything to be sorted out quickly, but at the same time I complained and whined. The Lord was very patient; He always listens. And finally He reminded me: “The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way aright” (Pro.11:5) I thought: the righteousness of the blameless… but I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Cor.5:21)! That means I am blameless! And righteousness and truth – that is our Lord! And the veil fell from my eyes.

God’s power is manifested when we believe that we are righteous and loved! He makes our way straight (Ps.32:8). He could not act while I was accepting Satan’s lies, desperately wanting to get rid of them while at the same time accusing myself. This could have gone on even longer if the Lord had not reminded me that I am not at all what I thought about myself then. We can cry out to God and give place to Satan in our lives simply by accepting lies about ourselves – that is fighting alone. These are works of self-righteousness, when we, forgetting the truth, try to defeat the one who has already been defeated. And we give place to God’s power when we firmly believe in His love and His gift of righteousness to us. Why? Because we believe that He has already prepared everything for us, because He has already won, and His exodus was successful! And since that is so, we can be strong, calm and kind in any situation! And after the Lord reminded me of all this, it became as it says in Isaiah 32:17: the work of righteousness became peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance. I calmed down, there was peace in my heart, and that is good, because “in quietness and confidence shall be your strength” (Isa.30:15)

He Has Said

Every area of life can become a thorn bush, pricking and wounding painfully. Or a brier that stings. But the Lord’s promise is this: not only will He lead us out of our problems with joy, but instead of the thorn the cypress tree will come up, and instead of the brier the myrtle tree (Isa.55:12-13). For it is God who has given us His Word, and a little earlier, in the same chapter, He says that His Word will not return void until it accomplishes all that pleases God! And His Word, full of grace and truth, is Jesus (Jhn.1:14). And His Word works in us who believe, because His words are Spirit and life! Thank God for the Holy Spirit!

The Lord Jesus completed His way successfully and victoriously! After the resurrection He went to the Father, the Holy Spirit was given to us, and this says that His exodus was successful, the work is finished! By the mercy and grace of God, we believers are in Christ! So our exodus is already decided; this work was completed long ago. And throughout our whole earthly life we also have a successful exodus, because Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever, and out of any situation we will come out in joy, health and wealth! There was a time when Paul had no rest in his spirit, but what did he say about it: “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ” (2 Cor.2:14) So — a joyful exodus to us in everything!