God's Plan C

As an introduction to this study, please read the 1-minute devotion When God Has a Plan C.

1. Imagine you were standing between the angry Egyptian army and the Red Sea. 

Why do you think God waited to tell His people about His Plan C? What did the people gain by their delayed deliverance? Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation?

When you read this passage, remember that at this point the Israelites had already experienced God's miraculous power, provision, and purpose in the ten supernatural plagues that freed them from cruel slavery in Egypt.

For the sake of room, I've put the "bare bones" version of this story. If you have time, I encourage you to read the entire story by clicking the link.

Exodus 13:17-14:31: "When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, 'If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.' 18 So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle.… Then the LORD said to Moses, 2 '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. 3 Pharaoh will think, "The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert."' … As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the LORD. 11 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? 12 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!' 13 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. 14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.'"

2. Read the entire 77th Psalm HERE, and explain why verse 19 would be especially meaningful to Asaph, the author of the psalm.

Psalm 77:19: "Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen."

This passage has been especially meaningful to me on several occasions when I thought there was only choice A or B, neither of which were good, but God provided a choice C that was better than either A or B. You can read about one of these situations here: God's Unseen Footprints.

Copyright, Gail Burton Purath, 2013, BiteSizeBibleStudy.com, edited and updated in 2021

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