FIRST GOOD SAMARITAN BAPTIST CHURCH
The Caring Church, Preparing the World by Sharing the Word

WEEKLY WORD

FOR HIS GLORY
[PART I]

17 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.
Exodus 13:17, 18

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.
Exodus 14:4

There is a popularized saying from many pews and pulpits that says: “You can’t talk about my glory until you know my story.” It is this saying that this scripture echoes but from a unique perspective. This scripture is unique thematically because of the perspective Moses, the writer, shares in this story.

Moses shares a story that conveys God’s thoughts on glory concerning Himself. It is in Exodus 14:4 that says, “…But I will gain glory for myself…” It’s one thing for us to give God glory but it is another for God to bring Himself glory.

One of the lessons that we learned in the introduction of this message is that God will sometimes not lead us in a direct way but for His glory will be a round about way. The exodus of the Israelites from Egypt to the Promise Land was a 4-day trip that ended up being a 40-year journey.

When it comes to God bringing Himself glory, it involves patience and perseverance on our part. It was God that took His people the long way because not only was He trying to evacuate them out of Egypt but had to get Egypt out of them. Many of us have been delayed our promise lands in life because of our lack of maturity to handle what would be our destiny.

In the case of the children of Israel, God used Pharaoh to be part of the equation for their emancipation. It was the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart that helped in the emancipation of His people. God bringing Himself glory required the enemy that propelled His people to their destiny. This is indicative of Genesis 50:20 when it comes to the enemy and God’s ultimate victory. The glory given to Himself which says, “…what the enemy meant for evil, God made it work for our good…” UNDERSTAND, WHAT BRINGS HIMSELF GLORY, ULTIMATELY WORKS OUT FOR OUR GOOD.

Dr. James A. Simmons, Senior Pastor