I stumbled into Exodus again yesterday after being certain I would write about Ephesians where I have been studying. Now, I have great pity/respect/understanding for the Pastors that start Sermons with "I was not going to speak on this today but the Holy Spirit redirected my words"....

Exodus is such an amazing book to me. I can often understand it  more than some of the others because it is a story with a storyline, with gems and truths all hidden within it.
But - a story my mind can recognize as a literary structure and more or less follow.

Exodus 13: 21-22

King James Bible
And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.

So here is what got me.
God was With them. (As He is with me.)
God gave the direction and pathways. (As He does with me.)
God made promises to them with obedience. (As He has with me.)

THEY forgot His Goodness. (As I do.)

So I want to just shake my head when the waters part, the miraculous happens, and think about how the Protective Promises and Pillar of Fire  moved behind the Israelites as they entered into the dry land. (IMAGINE the wall of water! IMAGINE the hesitancy giving way to appreciation!)

The Pillar of Fire lead the way and when needed, moved and guarded the rear.
How Like My Working God.

So, I think - how in JUST THREE DAYS...there was complaint. There was a desire to return to Egypt and be re-enslaved as a better solution.
What is WRONG with these guys!

Matthew 7:5

King James Bible
Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

And then, as I pull the huge beam out of my own eye..... I hang my head as the hypocrite I am.
It seems to me that I don't doubt God and His unmatched goodness in my life and every experience and story I can share... and then...
I get irritated. Impatient. Unloving.
My coffee isn't made right.
The traffic is horrible.
I stub my toe.
The person I have to engage with cannot string sentences together.
And I do not follow the Pillar of Fire that guides me...  and instead I too insist on my Egypt in my flesh and give it room.
And Oh, how satan grabs that opportunity to stall my life, my progress, my joy, my loving.

I will continue to work on this, Lord, as I know it not only brings me joy but it brings You joy.

Fight my fights, Walk with me: I give my Egyptian Confusion in my flesh over to You again and again. I am so grateful.

I KNOW MY ENEMY TREMBLES WITH THIS PRAYER, LORD. 
Just as the Egyptians tried to.
Go Before me and Watch Behind me.

Exodus 14: 21-25

King James Bible
And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.
And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians, 
And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians.