After Pharaoh released Israel from slavery and sent them out of Egypt, one would think their ordeal was over... but it wasn't. His heart was hardened against Israel (again!) and he ordered his armies to mobilize against Israel as they made their way south into the wilderness. God, however, has another plan. The Lord says to Moses, " 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.” (Ex. 14:4). That last piece of God's comment is interesting. What we expect to hear is that Israel will know that I am the Lord. However, what God says will happen is the Egyptians will know that the Lord is God. While what God is doing here will benefit the Israelites and certainly has the potential to help them see who He is, the Lord's stated purpose is to show Himself to the Egyptians. God's purposes, though always for our good, are never just for us, but so that God might show Himself good through us as well.