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Realizing the presence, promise, and power of the Kingdom of God.
The DEEP

The Grand Design

is for God's glory.

Exodus 14:1-9 (NKJV)

Now the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: “Speak to the children of Israel, that they turn and camp before Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, opposite Baal Zephon; you shall camp before it by the sea. For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, ‘They are bewildered by the land; the wilderness has closed them in.’ Then I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, so that he will pursue them; and I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD.” And they did so.

Now it was told the king of Egypt that the people had fled, and the heart of Pharaoh and his servants was turned against the people; and they said, “Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” So he made ready his chariot and took his people with him. Also, he took six hundred choice chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt with captains over every one of them. And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the children of Israel; and the children of Israel went out with boldness. So the Egyptians pursued them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen and his army, and overtook them camping by the sea beside Pi Hahiroth, before Baal Zephon.

Sun Tzu, in his classic “The Art of War,” teaches that an army with its back to the sea will fight courageously. http://suntzusaid.com/book/11  (Paragraphs 23-25)

But the Israelites are definitely no army, and that is definitely not God’s plan here. They will be complete chickens. God will rescue them and get glory over Pharaoh and all his host.

Wait. What? Of course the creator of time, dimension, matter and energy has the power to drown Pharaoh’s army. Big deal. What’s so glorifying about that? Gaining honor over Pharaoh is small potatoes.

This is really all about the grand design of God’s plan of salvation. God will patiently lead a fallen people: rescuing them, teaching them, warning them, encouraging them, rebuking them, winnowing them down to a remnant – and finally redeeming them.

Now that’s glorious.


We live on the other side of the great redemption. The glory of that plan has been achieved.

Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You.” – John 17:1 (NKJV)

So, what’s left? How can we further glorify God? By cooperating with how He glorifies Himself.

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” – John 14:12-13 (NKJV)

By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. – John 15:8 (NKJV)


The weekly study guides, which include discussion questions, are available for download here:

https://www.ailbe.org/resources/itemlist/category/91-deep-studies

Mike Slay

As a mathematician, inventor, and ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church in America, Mike Slay brings an analytical, conversational, and even whimsical approach to the daily study of God's Word.

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