When God Uses Pharaoh…
January 28th, 2009 | Michael Q. Pink
“And the LORD said unto Moses, Why do you cry unto Me? Speak unto the children of Israel that they go forward: But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get honor over Pharaoh, and over all his host, over his chariots, and over his horsemen. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten honor over Pharaoh, over his chariots, and over his horsemen.” Exodus 14:15-18
I am willing to bet that if Pharaoh had simply let Israel go and had not pursued them, after camping by the Sea for a few days they would have tried to hike north around the edge of the Red Sea instead of thinking for even a moment they could somehow pass through it. But God wanted to get honor over Pharaoh. He went so far as to set them up. He used them as bait. God told Moses to take the people to a place where Pharaoh would think they were trapped by the land, so He could entice Pharaoh to pursue Him.
It worked. Plus for good measure, God hardened Pharaoh’s heart and the chase was on. Except Israel had no place to run - Pretty frightening. The mightiest (and angriest) army on earth where every soldier had just lost at least one family member, for which they blamed Israel, was out for vengeance. They wanted blood. Evidently, even Moses was crying out to the Lord for help and God responded by asking Moses why he was calling to Him? It’s like God was saying, “Moses… You have what you need. Just stretch out your hand.”
So here’s my point… Some of you right now are in the hardest place you’ve ever been. Pharaoh, or some similar evil, is breathing out threats against you. You are outgunned, out financed and outnumbered. You may feel like you have no good options. Bankruptcy may seem like your only option. Giving in and giving up seems reasonable. You have fought a long battle and it has brought you to this. It has come to a climax and victory is no where in sight. You call out to God and He looks at you and says… Why are you calling out to Me?
He doesn’t respond that way because He thinks you’re a lost cause. He is responding that way because He wants to get honor or glory over the enemy of your soul. He wants honor over your circumstances and honor over your life. He doesn’t want to share that honor, lest people mistakenly credit you and think you can solve their problems. If you are in that position right now, you are poised for the biggest miracle of your life. You may have made some foolish mistakes, but God is in control. He set the stage and He wants you to play your part.
What part is that? I say to you what Moses said to the Israelites… The Lord shall fight for you and you shall hold your peace and remain at rest. That’s your part. Overcome your fear, hold on to peace and remain at rest. If nothing else, it really frustrates the devil. But it is far more than that. It is the environment in which you hear His voice, discern His will and know what to do. You will not receive your miracle out of fear. You must get to peace. Peace in those circumstances requires faith. And faith is the victory that overcomes the world. Nothing shall be impossible to you. To be continued…
January 28th, 2009 at 11:06 am
Thank You so much this was good to hear.
January 28th, 2009 at 11:17 am
This is just the word I needed. I gave up everything in my homeland to come here and it seems as though everything here has now come crashing down on me and I have nowhere to turn but thank God that I know that he is in my corner and I will release, let go and let God take over at this stage. May He richly bless you and your work.
January 28th, 2009 at 11:23 am
Michael,
You post today could not have hit the nail more squarely on the head. My bank has basically closed us down. Without my business in operation, there is no way for me to pay any creditors. The debt is overwhelming. The only option seems to be bankruptcy.
I know God can act, but I’m not sure He will. His plan may be to close this door. If so, He has not only closed it. It has been slammed shut.
I’m waiting and resting. I don’t see to have any choice.
For a businessman, reputation and a good name is so important. The people who I now owe trusted me because of my good name. Now, they are suffering because of my failure. Does He have a miracle for me?
January 28th, 2009 at 11:33 am
I just realized this morning that Michael Pink is a person God has put in our lives for this time. I don’t really even know how I started getting his newsletters(for about a year now), but I have always found them to be full of good content and VERY encouraging. I received his “Rainforest Strategy” book last week and am also finding IT perfect for us at this time. Interestingly enough, we are not particularly going through a difficult time right now-financially or otherwise. In fact, you could say we are finally beginning to prosper in some new ways-financially included. But we have been at our own “Red Sea” experiences many times over and and have ALWAYS seen God come through for us.
Thank you, Michael, for your prophetic and encouraging words.
Kathy and Joel Lewis
January 28th, 2009 at 11:49 am
Michael,
Great word, right on!
In the midst of every trial and test, one can only receive God’s best from his or her seated position in Christ with Him at rest!
Here, in this place of inner rest, like Jesus we too, expecting all our enemies to be made our footstool!
This is the place of real faith, in Him at rest, where joy, peace, and expectancy abounds even though seemingly the enemy surrounds!
Thank God that He ALWAYS causes us to triumph, in this our faith stands strong!
Mitch
January 28th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
Mr. Pink,
My friends and I are very thankful for this blog. It has been wisdom just when we needed it. Thank you.
January 28th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
i am always thrilled by the simple but pround and understandable way in which you unfold the scriptures, making it today relevant.
I am really glad the i found your site and will continue to by a part of your ministry.
This week’s edition really and truely speaks to me.
God richly bless you and your ministry as you touch and encourage and help so many lives around the world in place you may not even be aware of.
January 28th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Thanks for this encouraging words. It is like you know what I am going through right now. May God continue to pour His blessings upon you in Jesus mighty Name
January 28th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
Mike- your story really hit home today. Last month, after trying everything I could, I finally decided it was time to call it quits- too much debt, no business coming in. I called my lawyer and began discussing my options- mainly bankruptcy. I knew God was in control, but was still a very hard and scary decision. Once I came to peace with it, God began working His magic. A previous competitor in my business came in and we have begun working on him merging with my business.
Rob- yes, God will help you, and it might not be what you want, but remember He has a plan for you. I think of this difficult time as my time in the desert, where is is molding me to what He wants
January 28th, 2009 at 6:25 pm
Michael, You could not be more prophetically accurate than this. As so many are being challenged to the hilt right now it is not uncommon to 2nd guess some of the original decisions and stands that were made which apparently brought all these attacks on us. Personally I have never been through anything even close to this past 3 year season. As I speak with and listen to many in the Body of Christ I hear of similar situations. What a marvelous time of victory our Commander in Chief must have in store for those that hold on. Your word is a great encouragement.
Pro 25:11 Like apples of gold in settings of silver Is a word spoken in right circumstances.
January 28th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
Wow! What insight! I absolutely loved this blog. Particularly the following comment……… You will not receive your miracle out of fear. You must get to peace………… That really spoke to me and the place where I am right now. If I don’t get to that place of peace, I will NOT receive my miracle, and I know I have one waiting for me. Thank you!!
January 28th, 2009 at 8:43 pm
This is where I am right now; between the deep blue sea (lack of finances ) and the Pharoh (life committments). I am trying to be at peace and “hear’ God’s word to know His direction for me. pray for me to know God’s will in my life.
January 29th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
Hello all… The problem with sharing the word in this blog is that it is far easier to say than do. Take Rob Burnham for instance, (the 3rd person to comment on this blog). He is in a very difficult straight and he asked… “Does God have a miracle for me?”
I believe the answer is an unequivocal and resounding YES! It may not be another bank coming along with a line of credit. It may not be the largest customer order of the year. It may be the birth of something new that comes out of the pain and travail and loss he is experiencing now.
What will help is extended, open-ended times of walking and talking with the Father, mixed with seasons in the Word, possibly for hours at a time or however long He chooses to fellowship with you in His Word. Our Father does love us and He does want you to hear Him. He is speaking and He does have a solution. What is blocking your hearing?
God is transmitting his rescue plan to you. Your job is to tune in. Shut out the other signals, the ones from your flesh, from the familiar circumstances, and from the tormentor and the one who condemns. What does Romans 8:32 say? “For God who spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also, freely give us all things?”
He is not holding back His wisdom, His voice, His plan. We tend to get some corrosion on our receptors like an old battery cable. When the connection gets bad enough and the car won’t start and we find ourselves in a bad situation, we stop everything, clean the posts, clean the connection and jump start it from someone else who has a strong and powerful connection.
You are in process right now my friend. Keep pursuing Him!
January 30th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Michael,
I’ll change your battery cable to a radio antenna; we’re listening to one station but the antenna is picking up other stations in the same frequency. What we’re hearing becomes garbled, and distorted.
We have to adjust the antenna to take out the other station and re-tune to the station we want to hear which is God’s voice.
God is a God of order not chaos. But the devil is feeding of the chaos and he’s milking it for all it’s worth!
We, and I include myself in the we, have to remember on a daily basis, to step back, take a deep breath, and adjust the antenna to the correct frequency.
Please keep reminding us to keep pressing on…because we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.
January 30th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
Micheal you have been reading our mail! Great words always make you stop to consider them more fully so thanks again.
January 30th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Sometimes I wonder if you’re reading our thoughts. I understand the connection however. To this publication (most of them as well) I say ‘Wow’- A lot to chew on and a lot to share. The Lord bless you and yours.
January 31st, 2009 at 3:23 am
Micheal,
Your thought about the bait in the trap is so true!
The LORD is not only a Warrior but also a Fisherman as Jesus said.
The following verses show us that Jesus Himself was the bait in the trap to not only destroy the “works of the devil” but also to open the door for all mankind to the “Kingdom of God”!
1Co 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
Lu 22:41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Jesus was under pressure Himself but as we know HE held fast and came through.
Thanks for your diligence and faithfulness to help show the way!!!
Melvin Tisdale
January 31st, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Perfect timing. It brought tears to my eyes reading it. I beleive every encouraging word of it. I only wish I could go through this with out my wife needing to go through the fire too. I believe seeing her in pain hurts me the worst, because she is so faithful in all things.
It is all his and for his purpose and pleasure. I trust he will secure a good name for us for his glory. I am at the top looking down and it looks like a long fall with much discrace. Lord knows I do not deserve his mercy but I thank him for his mercy, grace. and this gift of life.
February 3rd, 2009 at 1:15 pm
This word came the day before my home went into foreclosure on 1-29-09.
I have until 2-9-09 for it to be redeemed back. I only have a part time job
and no place to move nor the means to move. I don’t even have the heart
to pack. I have been here 9 years and always believed that this home
was part of my promise land from the Lord. I would welcome your prayers
and any insight from the Lord. Iam believing the Lord to part this Red Sea
for me. Thanks for the word, it did help.
February 3rd, 2009 at 10:57 pm
To Janet,
I received a foreclosure notice on my house last July. I immediately filed chapter seven bankruptcy on my own without using an attorney. I went to the U.S bankruptcy court website and followed the instructions for pro se filing. It cost me $299 to file. And I had to pay $50 for the credit counselling that is now required with chapter 7 banckruptcy. The bankruptcy stayed the foreclosure for the next five months.
Five months would give you time to possibly get a full time job so you could renegotiate your mortgage to reduce the principal and interest rate so your payments would be lower. Even if you don’ t want to do bankruptcy you may still be able to renegotiate your loan. The federal government has recently asked lenders to stop taking people’ s homes through foreclosure and to renegotiate the loans. In my case, the foreclosing lendor does not have an assignment of the mortgage note and because of this I have asked the judge to dismiss the foreclosure suit. And I expect him to do it. I have read on the Internet that there are many cases like mine where the motgage note has been lost or never assigned and all of these foreclosure suits have been dismissed.
I believe God’ s hand is in all of this. I believe chapter 7 is based upon God’ s 7 year jubilee debt release laws. In this mortgage meltdown crisis, I believe God’ s righteous kingdom economic system that includes financial debt release is replacing the world’ s economic system that is based upon greed, selfishness and enslavement to debt.
If you have any questions, please let me know.
sincerely,
David Thompson
May 18th, 2009 at 11:18 am
These are interesting articles. Thank you for taking the time to write them.
May 18th, 2009 at 11:24 am
God Bless you Alfred!