Old Testament - Exodus 14 - April 4, 2022

4/4/2022 - Exodus 14

The Israelites seem to now be trapped. They had come to the Red Sea, and Pharaoh’s army—the greatest army in the world at that time—was advancing toward them from the other side. The Lord had told Moses to bring them here, but it looked like they were now caught in a dead end, with the powerful Egyptian army fast approaching. Pharaoh was truly angry now and was determined to not let the Israelites leave: “Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” (v 5) And Pharaoh got into his chariot and with “six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them”  (v 6) and this army, the most formidable army of the world at that time, easily overtook the Israelites as they encamped by the sea. 

The Israelites were frightened and desperate, and angry with Moses telling him that “it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.”  But they had yet to learn that after we do all we can, the Lord can reach down and make the difference for us. 

Moses said to them: “Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord…The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.” (v’s 13 & 14) And that’s when the Lord spoke again to Moses: “…lift up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry grown through the midst of the sea.” (v 16) 

From a mortal’s view, the Israelites faced sure death, but the Lord not only told Moses what to do, but He also showed all of Israel that He was with them for He who caused “the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.” (v’s 19-20)

The next day began with Moses holding the rod and stretching his arms out over the sea: “and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night and made the sea dry land and the waters were divided.” (v 21) The Israelites walked through the midst of the sea with walls of water on both sides. Pharaoh’s armies, so angry and so intent on killing them, or bringing them all back to be their slaves, followed after them in their path

The great Egyptian army was caught up as the Lord helped the Israelites. The army realized that they were surrounded by a power far beyond them, and they said “Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the Lord fighteth for them against the Egyptians.”  (v 25) And that’s when the Lord told Moses to again stretch forth his hand, “and the sea returned to, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.” (v 28) And while that was happening to the Egyptian soldiers, “the children of Israel walked up upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand and on their left. Thus the Lord saved Israel…”(v29-30)

This amazing miracle finally got their full attention: “And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians; and the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses.” (v 31). 

You would think that this would be all the proof the Israelites would need in order to leave all the teachings and habits they had developed in their long captivity in Egypt…but we will see that they have short memories. Over and over, they will let their worries of the day block out their memories of the Lord’s help and strength. It took 40 years for them to finally learn what the Lord told them and what the Lord did for them. I want to go through the rest of my life--in my easy times AND in my difficult times-- with the firm remembrance and knowledge of the Lord’s love, protection, and answers to my prayers. It is so simple: I only need to act in faith, and then take time and effort to express my gratitude to Him.