"God tells the Israelites to wander around by the Red Sea to confuse Pharaoh and make him think that they are lost. Pharaoh will pursue the Israelites and God intends to destroy the Egyptian Army. Sure enough, the Egyptians--all Pharaoh's horses, chariots, horsemen, and his army--chased after them and caught up with them as they camped by the Red Sea. The Israelites begin to panic. They think that they will be slaughtered by the Egyptians in the wilderness. As the Egyptian army approaches, Moses calms the people saying that God is going to come to the rescue. God parts the Red Sea, and the Israelites cross to the other side of the shore walking on dry ground. The Egyptians pursue the Israelites through the parted sea. God causes the Red Sea to collapse upon them. The waters engulf them, and none of the Egyptians survive. That day the Lord saved the Israelites from the power of the Egyptians. Afterward, the people feared the Lord and believed in Him and his servant Moses."
Exodus 14 Amplified Bible (AMP)
Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Tell the sons of Israel to turn back and camp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. You shall camp in front of Baal-zephon, opposite it, by the sea. 3 For Pharaoh will say of the Israelites, ‘They are wandering aimlessly in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.’ 4 I will harden (make stubborn, defiant) Pharaoh’s heart, so that he will pursue them; and I will be glorified and honored through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians shall know [without any doubt] and acknowledge that I am the Lord.” And they did so.
5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his servants had a change of heart toward the people, and they said, “What is this that we have done? We have let Israel go from serving us!” 6 So Pharaoh harnessed horses to his war-chariots [for battle] and took his [a]army with him; 7 and he took six hundred chosen war-chariots, and all the other war-chariots of Egypt with [b]fighting charioteers over all of them. 8 The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he pursued the Israelites, as they were leaving confidently and defiantly. 9 The Egyptians chased them with all the horses and war-chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen and his army, and they overtook them as they camped by the sea, beside Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon.
10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and saw the Egyptians marching after them, and they were very frightened; so the Israelites cried out to the Lord. 11 Then they said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What is this that you have done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Did we not say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians?’ For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians [as slaves] than to die in the wilderness.”
- PHARAOH'S PURSUIT, ISRAEL'S CRY. Moses and the Israelites' journey in the wilderness was continually guided by God, and continually provided, with the pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of cloud by night. They were told by God to make camp at a certain place called Pi-hahiroth, for something was about to happen. Something that was scary and suspenseful, but something that God will be even more glorified, and wherein His powers will be displayed. Apparently, Pharaoh's pattern of having a hardened (and/or deceitful) heart will return, and he will seek to bring back the Israelites back to the land of Egypt. Or did he want to kill or destroy them? Nevertheless, the most important thing was that the Israelites was on God's side and God won't allow the Egyptians to achieve their evil desires over God's firstborn (Israel).
- LACK OF FAITH? One could understand the fear that the Israelites felt when they saw Pharaoh and his armies! That was indeed frightening, and it made them cry out unto God. That was the best, and only response, that they could do, given the circumstances. In our lives, we also tend to do the same, cry out to God only when we are in great danger, or in the depths of our suffering. May we pray, and even cry out to God, and ask for His help everyday of our lives, and not only on the times we need God-- because we need God everyday, every minute, every moment of our lives. Back to the story, what the Israelites said to Moses was really discouraging-- maybe it was reflective of their current spirit, low morale and self-esteem? Even though they have witnessed many impossible things happening, like the 10 plagues, freedom from bondage from the Egyptians, the pillar of cloud and fire, the Israelites go to Moses with a defeated attitude, they would rather die as slaves in Egypt, than in the wilderness (with God's guidance). As an imperfect human being, and a work in progress, in following the Lord Jesus Christ, I could relate to the struggle of adjusting, and accepting, and living by faith, and believing God's power despite having already seen miracles with my own eyes and heart before. I believe that is our sin part, our human nature, that we need to (and can) overcome by God's grace. The sin of doubting, and cowering back in fear.
"God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble." Psalm 46:1
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7
The Sea Is Divided
13 Then Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid! Take your stand [be firm and confident and undismayed] and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; for those Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you while you [only need to] keep silent and remain calm.”
15 The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the sons of Israel to move forward [toward the sea]. 16 As for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, so that the sons of Israel may go through the middle of the sea on dry land. 17 As for Me, hear this: I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they will go in [the sea] after them; and I will be glorified and honored through Pharaoh and all his army, and his war-chariots and his horsemen. 18 And the Egyptians shall know [without any doubt] and acknowledge that I am the Lord, when I am glorified and honored through Pharaoh, through his war-chariots and his charioteers.”
19 The [c]angel of God, who had been going in front of the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them. The pillar of the cloud moved from in front and stood behind them. 20 So it came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel. It was a cloud along with darkness [even by day to the Egyptians], but it gave light by night [to the Israelites]; so one [army] did not come near the other all night.
21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord swept the sea back by a strong east wind all that night and turned the seabed into dry land, and the waters were divided. 22 The Israelites went into the middle of the sea on dry land, and the waters formed a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 23 Then the Egyptians pursued them into the middle of the sea, even all Pharaoh’s horses, his war-chariots and his charioteers. 24 So it happened at the early morning watch [before dawn], that the Lord looked down on the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud and put them in a state of confusion. 25 He made their chariot wheels hard to turn, and the chariots difficult to drive; so the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from Israel, for the Lord is fighting for them against the Egyptians.”
26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may come back over the Egyptians, on their war-chariots and their charioteers.” 27 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal flow at sunrise; and the Egyptians retreated right into it [being met by the returning water]; so the Lord overthrew the Egyptians and tossed them into the midst of the sea. 28 The waters returned and covered the chariots and the charioteers, and all the army of Pharaoh that had gone into the sea after them; not even one of them survived. 29 But the Israelites walked on dry land in the middle of the sea, and the waters formed a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.
30 The Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians [lying] dead on the [d]seashore. 31 When Israel saw the great power which the Lord had used against the Egyptians, they feared the Lord [with reverence and awe-filled respect], and they believed in the Lord, and in His servant Moses.
- GOD'S SALVATION. Instead of getting down or offended by the Israelites, Moses stood firm in his faith with God, and answered them strongly with "Do not be afraid, the Lord will fight for you!" That was an excellent display of genuine faith, strong leadership, and being cool, calm and collected in times of trouble. The Lord then commanded Moses to lift up his staff and stretch out his hand over the Red Sea and divide it, so that the Israelites can move forward and cross the dry land. Whaaaaat! Again, that sounds impossible at first, but Moses never doubted God and he obeyed Him. The angel of God (who could very well be pre-incarnate Christ), and the pillar of cloud went in the back to stand in the gap between the Israelites and Egyptians, wow. It was so great it defied natural conditions, at the side of the Egyptians it's dark at day, but in the Israelites side it gives light at night (possibly with the pillar of fire). It prevented the Egyptians from getting near to the Israelites.
- GREAT MIRACLE. Moses lifted his staff and stretched out his hands to the sea, but it was God who cut and divided it, so the Israelites can walk in the middle of the sea on dry land. It's like surrendering to God and trusting Him, raising our hands to Him in worship, lifting all our troubles to Him by praying, and it is God who will make a way. He will help us and rescue us, according to His great love, mercies, and grace. As the Israelites moved forward, the Egyptians still pursued them, but God intervened by putting them in a state of confusion. I thought, God already gave them the chance to back away, when he sent the pillar of cloud, however it was too late for them. They only wanted to back away when they were in the middle of the sea, having difficulties in driving their chariots. Nobody survived, and they all drowned. The death of the firstborn was already a tragic consequence of the Pharaoh's hardened heart, but this was even more. Again, if only they just gave up their pride and just let go of the Israelites.
* Study Guide Commentary from David Guzik:
a. You shall camp before it by the sea: We could say that God set an ambush for Pharaoh. Even after the horror of the death of the firstborn, the change in Pharaoh’s heart was only temporary (he will pursue them). He was quick to strike at Israel when he had the chance.
b. They are bewildered by the land: This was exactly what God wanted Pharaoh to believe. God told Moses to lead Israel in a way that looked confused. God told Moses and Israel to do something that look confused because God would gain honor over Pharaoh through it.
a. Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us? This was a strange question for Pharaoh to ask. It wasn’t difficult to think of at least ten good reasons – namely, ten powerful plagues – why Pharaoh let Israel go. This demonstrates how we are often quick to forget what God has done and demonstrated.
i. Perhaps Pharaoh thought that plagues were the limit of God’s power; that now he could successfully strike against Israel.
ii. There is an analogy in this to the spiritual life. We sometimes think that Satan will let us go easily, or we think that that once we leave his kingdom he forgets about us. Yet just like Pharaoh after Israel, Satan pursues us, attempting to keep us at least on the fringes of his domain and hoping to destroy us if he can.
b. Six hundred choice chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt: Pharaoh had the best military resources. Chariots were the most sophisticated military technology available at that time. Israel had nothing except that the children of Israel went out with boldness.
i. The idea behind the Hebrew words with boldness (ruwn yad) includes the idea of rebellion against authority (1 Kings 11:26-27). The rebellious nature of Israel was good when it was against Pharaoh and all it stood for; it was bad when it was against the Lord, Moses, and all they stood for. The trouble with most rebels is that they rebel against the wrong things.
a. Do not be afraid: At this point, Moses had no idea how God would help them in the situation. All he knew was God certainly would help. In a sense, Moses knew he was in such a bad situation that God had to come through.
i. When we see that our only help is God, we are more likely to trust Him. Sometimes it is the little things – the things we think we can do in our own strength – that get us down, not the big things that we know only God can do.
b. Stand still: Moses told the people of Israel to stop. This is often the Lord’s direction to the believer in a time of crisis. Despair will cast you down, keeping you from standing. Fear will tell you to retreat. Impatience will tell you to do something now. Presumption will tell you to jump into the Red Sea before it is parted. Yet as God told Israel He often tells us to simply stand still and hold your peace as He reveals His plan.
b. Why do you cry to Me? There is a time to pray, and a time to act. It can actually be against God’s will to stop doing and to only pray in a particular situation. This was a time for action, and Moses could pray along the way.
c. Lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand: These were simple instructions connected to a mighty miracle. In the same manner, the greatest miracle of salvation happens with simple actions on our part. As the rod of Moses did not actually perform the miracle, so we do not save ourselves with what we do, but we connect with God’s saving miracle.
i. “Neither Moses nor his rod could be any effective instrument in a work which could be accomplished only by the omnipotence of God; but it was necessary that he should appear in it, in order that he might have credit in the sight of the Israelites, and that they might see that God had chosen him to be the instrument of their deliverance.” (Clarke)
a. And the Angel of God…moved and went behind them: God sent both a specially commissioned Angel and the pillar of cloud (Exodus 13:21-22) as a barrier between Israel and the pursuing Egyptian army. God protected Israel from the Egyptian attack until a way was made through the Red Sea.
i. We often have little idea how much God does to protect us from the attacks of our unseen enemies. We sometimes feel that we are overwhelmed in a present spiritual struggle, but we may not know what it would be like if the Lord pulled back His protection.
b. It came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel: The Egyptians didn’t know it, but the same pillar that prevented their pursuit of Israel also protected their lives, at least for a while. If they had submitted to the Lord who blocked their way with His presence, they would have been spared their coming destruction.
c. Thus it was a cloud and darkness to the one, and it gave light by night to the other: The pillar was a source of darkness to the Egyptians but a source of light to Israel. This is a vivid picture of how the glory of God or work of God can be light to one person yet seem dark to another.
i. “Thus the double nature of the glory of God in salvation and judgment, which later appears so frequently in Scripture, could not have been more graphically depicted.” (Kaiser)
ii. The word of God has a dark side to sinners; as do also the gospel and even Jesus Himself.
c. Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the waters may come back upon the Egyptians: God told Moses to do something with his hand connected with the motion of the sea. We know that it was not really the power of Moses’ hand that held back the sea or allowed it to come crashing back upon the Egyptian army. It was the power of God at work.
i. God could have performed this miracle just as easily without Moses’ cooperation. Yet, God often uses people to take part in His miraculous works. We can say that many miraculous works of God are yet to be done because no person has stepped forth to be the one who will stretch out their hand.
ii. In addition, this was God’s vindication of Moses. Israel previously accused him of the lowest of motivations, and the most evil state of heart (Exodus 14:10-12). With this work through Moses God showed the whole nation that Moses was their chosen leader.
a. Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore: This was confirmation to Israel that their deliverance from Egypt was real and complete. An oppressed people are slow to believe they are free while their tyrants still live. God wanted Israel to know that their oppressors were dead.
c. The people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord and His servant Moses: This was just the result God intended. Sadly for Israel they did not stay in this place of respect and faith toward the Lord. This was probably more a circumstance of feelings than it was of true faith, because they left this place of respect for the Lord and Moses quickly.
i. We can say that the deliverance of Passover and the miracle of the Red Sea go together. If not for the victory won at the Red Sea, the redemption at Passover would have meant nothing. But they would have never made it to the Red Sea without the miracle of God’s redemption at Passover. In the same way, the redemption of the cross would mean nothing without the miracle of the resurrection. The two works of deliverance must go hand in hand.
Reference and credits to https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/StudyGuide2017-Exd/Exd-14.cfm ©2013 David Guzik
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