Sermon - The Hand of God Part 1

22 June 1986, on the faithful day which the world was eagerly watching the clash between Argentina and England in the quarter-final of 1986 FIFA World Cup. 50 minutes had passed and both sides of the match had yet to secure a goal. Just when things were about to get dull and boring, Argentina began their ferocious dribbles and passes across the enemy defend. Team Captain, Maradona made a low pass to his teammate, who chipped an overhead pass back to him. The England defender attempted to clear the ball, only to push it further into the penalty box. England Goalkeeper Peter Shilton ran out to punch the ball clear. Maradona, despite being 8 inches (20 cm) shorter than the 6-foot-1 (1.85 m) Shilton, reached it first with his outside left hand. The ball went into the goal. The referee claimed that he did not see the infringement and allowed the goal. At the post-game press conference, Maradona facetiously commented that the goal was scored "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God", after which it became known as the "Hand of God" goal. Argentina went on to become the Champion of 1986 FIFA World Cup.

Interestingly when I titled this sermon “The Hand of God”, I immediately recalled this remarkable and historical event. By Maradona’s Hand of God Goal, Argentina was able to exact their revenge against England for their defeat in the Falklands War 1982. Not only so, the “Hand of God” eventually led Argentina to be named as a victor of FIFA World Cup. However, Maradona’s Hand of God, despite its greatness, was technically nothing but a cheat. Today, we will look at the real Hand of God that brought total victory to His people. Let’s turn to Exodus 14. 

Exodus 14:1-4 “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon. Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.’ And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.” So the Israelites did this.” 

Background 

The story of Exodus 14 took place after the Ten Plagues that God brought upon Egypt. The LORD had just made a mighty display of His power to both the Egyptians and the Israelites. The victory of the LORD resulted in the then enslaved Israelites to march out of Egypt in boldness and in wealth. 

Their journey was led by the presence of God “a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire”. But instead of taking the direct and shorter path through Philistine, God led the Israelites southward by the longer route, then to the Red Sea eastward. As they arrive by the Red Sea and was moving towards the land that God promised their forefathers, God did the unthinkable: They made a big U-turn and encamp themselves in probably the most vulnerable place ever. 

Verse 2 told us that the Israelites encamped “near Pi-Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea,…directly opposite Baal Zephon.” Pi-Hahiroth is the opening of a narrow passage surrounded by higher ground. Migdol means Watchtower, possibly an Egyptian outpost to watch against invasion. So here they were, trap in between a narrow passage, with the Egyptians on one side and the sea on the other. You can’t be anymore trapped than this. And yet, God deliberately led His people into this danger, and we ask why? 

1. The Hand of God Directs His People to Glorify Himself

Well, you see, the hand of God directs His People to glorify Himself. God was not through with Pharaoh yet. Despite the catastrophe of the 10 plagues, Pharaoh will not accept his defeat in the hands of the LORD. The Pharaoh, who kept an eye on the Israelites’ movement, saw an opportunity to exact revenge and prove himself the ultimate victor. Israelites are now an easy target, lost and trapped in the wilderness. However, it was foolish and naïve for Pharaoh to think so. God had a two-fold intention when He directed His people into dangerous land: First, it was done so that Pharaoh would bring the fight and ultimately be defeated by God’s overwhelming power. The Egyptians would concede in total hopelessness as they find themselves fighting against the LORD. Second, it was done so that the Israelites would know that the LORD can save them even in the impossible and complete despair. And so, in such way, God gains glory over Pharaoh and his army, and ultimately the allegiance of His people. 

When Jesus was captured and delivered for trial, everything seems to turn gloomy for His disciple. He was their hope of deliverance from the Romans, national redemption and Kingdom’s restoration. But the death of Christ on the cross sealed the deal: the enemy grins in apparent victory, his followers scattered in despair, left in hopelessness. They didn’t even put up a fight to defend Him, Peter even denied Him, it was just impossible. Then, the earth shook, the stone rolled over and the tomb was empty. God claimed His ultimate victory over sins, not by the hands of men, but by the hand of God that raised Jesus from the dead. 

2. The Hand of God is Sovereign over All Kings and Authorities 

Exodus 14:5-9 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, “What have we done? We have let the Israelites go and have lost their services!” So he had his chariot made ready and took his army with him. He took six hundred of the best chariots, along with all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers over all of them. The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out boldly. The Egyptians—all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots, horsemen and troops—pursued the Israelites and overtook them as they camped by the sea near Pi Hahiroth, opposite Baal Zephon. 

Everything went exactly as the LORD said it would be. He knows the hearts of men and is sovereign over the choices of men. V8 told us that “The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh”. The meaning and theology behind this verse is often debated among the scholars. There are two explanations to verse: First, God, by His sovereign power and authority, made Pharaoh stubborn. Second, God, all-knowing in nature, knows the stubbornness and pride of Pharaoh, laid out the event that He knew that would eventually lead Pharaoh to make decisions according to His plans. Either way, the verse presented the sovereignty of God even over the King of Egypt. God is in complete control over the history of man, happenings of the present and the events of the future. 

Isaiah 46:10 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’ 

Daniel 4:35 All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have you done?” 

The hand of God is sovereign, and so, just as God foretold Moses, the Egyptians changed their minds against the Israelites’ departure. How quickly they forgot the damage they suffered in the wake of the LORD! They forgot the terror of the hand of God that brought the Ten Plagues upon them. And they completely forgot that the LORD fights for Israel. So therefore, Pharaoh, upon his own stubbornness, decided to make a pursuit. 

Make no mistake, the Pharaoh is strong. Egypt’s military strength was unprecedented at the time. When Pharaoh made ready for the pursuit, he took six hundred of best chariots. ESV translated “best chariots” as “chosen chariots”. Unlike the other chariots of Egypt, which were recruited from volunteers or citizens, these chosen chariots were special elite units that were well-trained and seasoned in battles. Each chariot, chosen and ordinary, carried at least two persons: a driver and a fighter. Each chariot is 2 horse-power. Besides that, they deployed ALL their horses, horsemen and troops. It is estimated that at least 100,000 soldiers were deployed. They moved really fast and soon overtook the Israelites. Pharaoh did not hold back in the display of his strength. The strength of his forces were almost intimidating. ALMOST, but never good enough before the strength and power of God. Pharaoh forgot who he was about to go up against. He forgot the God who in 10 separate event proved the Pharaoh nothing but a subject of God’s power and mercy. Nevertheless, Pharaoh coming in full force surely intimidated the Israelites, who in their human nature, also forgot that the hand of God that led them marching out of Egypt boldly. 

But even so, God remains in control. Everything went exactly as the LORD told Moses. 

Sub-Point 1: Fear is the opposite of Faith 

Exodus 14:10-14 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!” Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” 

As soon as the army of Pharaoh approached, the Israelites soon realized that they were vulnerable and powerless against the Egyptians. Even though they were armed and outnumbered the Egyptian army, they were in a grave disadvantage. Compared to the well-trained soldiers of Egyptian, the Israelites had no training at all. On top of that, they were gravely trapped, along with their defenseless women and children. They cried out to God in complete despair and fear. Their desperate prayers soon turned into fearful complain and they turned around to blame Moses. 

This was a drastic change in emotion, from the boldness of a victor to the fear of a faithless. In the face of their overwhelming fear for their lives, they would rather go back to Egypt to serve their former slavers. In their fear, they quickly forgot the dreadful bondage of the Egyptians and the powerful rescue of God. In the face of death, even dreadful slavery appeals to them. The Israelites complete lost hold of their fear and panicked. 

But one man remained firm in his faith, the very man the Israelites resented. As the leader of the people, Moses was under tremendous pressure: not only that his own life was at stake being part of the Israelites, he had to deal with dreadful complaints of his people. But his experience with the LORD had made it clear to him: there is no need for panic. As the people press against him, he told them: “Do not be afraid. Stand firm!” Both actions require a firm faith and trust in God. 

Fear, is the opposite of faith. To not be afraid in the face of great danger takes great faith in God. Moses took God’s Word as a firm promise that He will gain glory through Pharaoh and his army. He trusted God’s hand to defeat His enemies because he saw the hand of God in Egypt and experienced Him first-hand. Moses asked the people to “stand firm”. In NKJV the word is translated “Stand still”. To stand still is to do nothing and to remain calm. When we are agitated by pressing needs, it is very difficult to do nothing. To take no action in urgency takes great faith to trust God to act on our behalf. That is why some of us find it hard to sleep at night, many of us feel agitated in prayer. But as Pharaoh’s army approached, Moses told the people to remain still and watch. The Israelites will not want to miss this miraculous moment as the LORD gains His final, complete and permanent victory over Pharaoh. This is the moment when Israelites will learn and get to know their Savior and Deliverer. There’s nothing to be done against the Egyptians, but the LORD will fight for them. 

To be continued in Part 2