Exodus 14 … Consider Him Who Will Be Honored

Originally posted: 03/04/2019

“Then the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord, when I am honored through Pharaoh, through his chariots and his horsemen,” (14:18).

Three times the LORD repeats that He Will Be Honored. And we know that when He repeats Himself, we can be more than certain that all will be just as He has said. Whether or not people believe it to be so, it is so; and He Will Be Honored.

• “Thus I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will chase after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord,” (14:4 emphasis added).
• “As for Me, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen,” (14:17 emphasis added).
• “Then the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord, when I am honored through Pharaoh, through his chariots and his horsemen,” (14:18 emphasis added).

While honor is an internal attitude of respect, courtesy, and reverence, it should be accompanied by appropriate attention or even obedience. Honor without such action is incomplete; it is lip service (Isa 29:13). God the Father, for example, is honored when people do the things that please him (1 Cor 6:20).
Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, http://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries/bakers-evangelical…/honor.html

There are two major clashes occurring in Exodus 14. Pharaoh, in his erroneous overestimation of his military might, enlists a feckless army to wage a hopeless campaign against the Powerful Hand of the LORD God Almighty.

The second clash, though appearing less devastating, is in reality the more detrimental; for this second clash assaults God’s people in the most critical of essentials for every battle: faith. The distorted voice of fear threatens to demoralize confidence in the supernatural ability and power of Him Who Will Be Honored.

Nevertheless, regardless of man’s faith, He Will Be Honored. Three times the LORD declares it…and it is so… and will be so! He Will Be Honored and all will know that He Is the LORD.

Consider Him Who Will Be Honored

1. Though the enemy plots evil, He Will Be Honored. (14:4)
2. Though the enemy charges, He Will Be Honored. (14:9)
   
3. Though His children lose trust, He Will Be Honored. (14:11-12)
4. As He fights while His people stand silent, He Will Be Honored. (14:14)
5. As the pillar of cloud separates the opposing camps, He Will Be Honored. (14:19)
6. As the Red Sea is parted and turned into dry land, He Will Be Honored. (14:16, 21)
7. As His children walk through the midst of the sea on that dry land, He Will Be Honored. (14:22)
8. As the enemy relentlessly takes up pursuit against God’s people, He Will Be Honored. (14:23)
9. As the enemy faces the frightening reality they are fighting against the LORD Himself, He Will Be Honored. (14:25)
10. As He overthrows His enemy in the midst of the sea, He Will Be Honored. (14:27)
11. When not even one of His enemies remains, He Will Be Honored. (14:28)
12. When people see, fear, and believe His great power, He Will Be Honored. (14:31)

How do we respond to Him Who Will Be Honored?

The most obvious response is to honor Him. But, honor is not mere lip service or keeping up appearances through man-made traditions.

Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men,” (Isaiah 29:13 Berean Study Bible)

Honoring the Lord occurs through an internal posture regenerated by the work of the Holy Spirit through the gift of faith, and lovingly responds in reverence and obedience.

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship, (Romans 12:1)

• Let us carefully consider the twelve points above. There is nothing that transpires that will not ultimately bring Him honor; His plans will not be thwarted. There is coming a day when not even one of His enemies will remain and He will receive glory for His great and awesome deeds. The remarkable fact is we have the opportunity to choose to honor Him with our lives now. But whether we choose to do so or not, there is coming a day when He Will Be Honored by all of His creation.
  • “Great and marvelous are Your works,
    O Lord God, the Almighty;
    Righteous and true are Your ways,
    King of the nations!
    ⁴ “Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name?
    For You alone are holy;
    For all the nations will come and worship before You,
    For Your righteous acts have been revealed,” (Revelation 15:3-4).

• Let us Honor Him with gratitude, reverence, and obedience.
  • “Only fear the LORD and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you,” (1 Samuel 12:24).

• Let us Honor Him in our faith and choose to trust Him in spite of the outward circumstances.
  • As for me, I will always have hope;
        I will praise you more and more, (Psalm 71:14).

• Let us Honor Him as we wait, believing His Goodness, and knowing that He Will ~ in fact ~ Be Honored!
  • II would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord
    In the land of the living.
    ¹⁴ Wait for the Lord;
    Be strong and let your heart take courage;
    Yes, wait for the Lord, (Psalm 27:13-14).

Let’s Grow Together!