Exodus 14:1-31
Q.1. Why did God tell Moses to wander in the wilderness from Succoth to the Red Sea? What did Pharaoh intend to do to Israel? How did he plan to succeed? How did Israel react? – (Exo.14:1-12 c.f. Exo.13:18)
God told Moses to travel through the wilderness – to Pi-hahiroth between Migdol and the (Red) Sea (Exo.14:2). By their wandering via that route, Pharaoh would think that they were trapped (Exo.14:3). God would thus – 4 … harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will chase after them; and I will be honoured through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord (Exo.14:4). The sons of Israel went out boldly for a few days from Succoth to Etham (c.f. Exo.13:20; 14:8). From Etham to Pi-hahiroth was another few days, bringing Israel near the Red Sea (Exo.14:9). Pharaoh and his servants soon changed their minds about allowing the Hebrew labour force to go free (Exo.14:5). He took six hundred select charioteers, besides all the other chariots of the army, and horsemen. He chased the Israelites and caught up with them at the edge of the Red Sea (Exo.14:5-9). Israel panicked when they saw the vast army of chariots. Many of the people turned on Moses, and said accusingly – 11 Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us in this way, bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness’ (Exo.14:11-12).
Q.2. What encouragement did Moses give Israel? Where did God provide a way of escape for His people? What would happen to the Egyptians? How did God protect Israel from the Egyptians? – (Exo.14:1-4, 9-20)
Moses responded confidently – Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. 14 The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent (Exo.14:13-14). God then told Moses to lift his staff, to divide the sea, to provide Israel with a way of escape (Exo.14:16). The Egyptians would follow in their chariots and horsemen – then the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord (Exo.14:17-18 c.f. Exo.14:4). God protected the Israelites and held the Egyptian army at bay as – 19 The angel of God, who had been going before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them. 20 So it came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel; and there was the cloud along with the darkness, yet it gave light at night. For this reason, one did not come near the other all night (Exo.14:19-20).
Q.3. How well did Israel and the Egyptians travel through the Red Sea? Why did the army not try to escape? What was the outcome for Israel and the Egyptians? How deep was Israel’s faith? – (Exo.14:21-31)
Doubters try to explain away the miraculous crossing of millions of Israelites, and the destruction of the Egyptian charioteers at the Red Sea (Gulf of Aqaba). The New Testament is in no doubt about this baptism of the nation (1 Cor.10:1-2). Perhaps the biggest miracle was that the Egyptians, who had been held back by the pillar of cloud, would try to follow Israel through the Red Sea. This happened because God hardened the hearts of the Egyptians (Exo.14:4, 8, 17). That night, with the light of the pillar of fire, when – Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; the Lord swept the sea back by a strong east wind all night and turned the sea into dry land, so the waters were divided (Exo.14:21 c.f. Exo.14:20 & 24). Israel’s hosts passed through on dry land, followed by the Egyptian army (Exo.14:22). The Lord fought for Israel, and – 24 At the morning watch, the Lord looked down on the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud and brought the army of the Egyptians into confusion. 25 He caused their chariot wheels to swerve, and He made them drive with difficulty (Exo.14:24-25). Moses was then ordered to stretch out his hand over the sea at daybreak, and – The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen, even Pharaoh’s entire army that had gone into the sea after them; not even one of them remained (Exo.14:28). It is recorded – 30 Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 When Israel saw the great power which the Lord had used against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in His servant Moses (Exo14:30-31). Sadly, Israel’s faith was built on signs and wonders, and not God’s promises, and it would soon evaporate in the wilderness.