Crossing the Red Sea
Pharaoh's army pursues Israel
Exo 14:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Exo 14:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baalzephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea.
Exo 14:3 For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in.
Exo 14:4 And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD. And they did so.
The LORD purposely led Moses to the Red Sea instead of the closer way across dry land. This would appear to Pharaoh that they were wandering in confusion and he would try to come after them. Pharaoh was being tempted to break his word. God knew his heart was not repentant and he hardened his heart even more. We all will be tempted to show our hearts response. Lord keep my heart from sin.
Pharaoh wants them brought back
Exo 14:5 And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?
Exo 14:6 And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him:
Exo 14:7 And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them.
Exo 14:8 And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an high hand.
Exo 14:9 But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon.
How soon they forgot the wonders of the LORD, for Pharaoh and his people said: Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us? Miracles testify of God, but they must be received by faith. They are for a reason, to know that the LORD God of Israel is LORD of all. He has not lost his power. We can call on him today as his New Covenant people.
All of the Kings chariots as well as six hundred chosen chariots, the best of the best were sent after Israel. All the horses and chariots and his horsemen with his army. But they were no match for the God of Israel.
Psa 20:7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
vs 8 The Children of Israel went out with a high hand, with boldness, with fists clinched in defiance, with rebellion.
The Children of Israel cry out
Exo 14:10 And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD.
Exo 14:11 And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?
Exo 14:12 Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.
How soon they forgot the bondage to which they suffered in Egypt. It was their voices crying out to God that brought them Moses, their deliverer. When Pharaoh earlier told them to gathr their own straw for their brick making, they cried out against Moses. Now again when trouble comes, they would rather be in bondage then to suffer and trust in their LORD. Moses gave up all for his people and to follow the LORD.
Heb 11:24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
Heb 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
Heb 11:26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
Heb 11:27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
They needed to be like Moses, as the Christian is to be like Jesus.
They had not learned to trust in their LORD, even with all the miracles they had seen. Salvation doesn't mean there will be no obstacles to overcome We must expect them while trusting the LORD to take us through them.
Psa 106:7 Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea.
Moses speaks encouragement
Exo 14:13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
Exo 14:14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
Fear not and stand still before the LORD, and see the salvation of the LORD. We are to stand in faith as well.
Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Hold your peace, the LORD will fight for you; stand your ground. Do not let fear cause you to fall away from the promises of God.
God leads them across the Red Sea
Exo 14:15 And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:
Exo 14:16 But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.
Exo 14:17 And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
Exo 14:18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
The LORD said, why are you crying to me? Tell the people to move on. A lot of times when we pray, we already know what God wants us to do, so just do it. The Egyptians were behind the pillar of fire, it is a fearful time, but God will show up. Lift up your rod or staff, Moses and stretch out your hand over the Red Sea, and divide it and the children of Israel will cross the Red Sea on dry land. Not on mud, or shallow water, but on dry land! Now that had never been done before, but Moses obeyed the LORD. The LORD will be glorified in all of this.
Cloud barrier, dark and light
Exo 14:19 And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:
Exo 14:20 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.
To the Egyptians there was a dark cloud dividing the Egyptian army from the Israelites. The same pillar was a pillar of light to God's people. Similarly, the good news of salvation is light to those who receive him and darkness to those who refuse him.
2Co 2:15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
2Co 2:16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?
Parting of the Red Sea and the Exodus
Exo 14:21 And Moses stretched out his hand 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.
Exo 14:22 And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
The opening had to be a mile or so wide to allow the Hebrews to cross in one night. The LORD used an East wind to divide the sea. There was a wall of water on either side of them.
Psa 77:16 The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled.
Psa 77:17 The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad.
Psa 77:18 The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook.
Psa 77:19 Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.
Psa 77:20 Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
The Egyptian Army is Drowned
Exo 14:23 And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.
Exo 14:24 And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians,
Exo 14:25 And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians.
Exo 14:26 And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.
Exo 14:27 And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.
Exo 14:28 And the waters returned, 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.
The Egyptians pursued them into the midst of the divided Red Sea but the LORD fought against them, the chariot wheels came off and the LORD made it difficult for them to drive.The Egyptians said let us flee for the LORD fights for them. Moses stretched out his hand again and the waters returned drowning the Egyptians in the sea. The horse and riders all perished in the sea.
In the six day war in Israel in 1967 Israel was attacked from all sides by four surrounding nations They were out numbered 2 to 1, the Arab countries had greater numbers of tanks and aircraft. The LORD was with Israel as enemy tanks broke down and were destroyed just as Pharaoh's chariots came apart. After six days of war Israel retained ancient territory and became three times larger in size. Jerusalem once again was within the borders of Israel.
Salvation and Judgement
Exo 14:29 But the children of Israel walked 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.
Exo 14:30 Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.
Exo 14:31 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.
The LORD delivered them out by blood and by his power.
Exodus 15
Exodus 13
Exodus 1 Table of Contents
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