Exodus 14

            Verses 1-4: God directs Moses to have the children of Israel set up camp at Pi-hahiroth (Numbers 33:7), which is between Migdol (Jeremiah 44:1) and the Red Sea, near Baal-zephon. However, the exact location is unknown today, so there are three possible sites within three days journey of the Valley of Goshen where the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea, as described in this chapter, could have taken place. (Refer to the map below, courtesy of Logos Bible study software.) (v.2) Pharaoh and his army would believe that they had the Israelites trapped with no way of escape. (v.3) (Psalm 71:11) God would once again harden Pharaoh’s heart so that he would pursue the children of Israel. God states in verse 4, “…I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am the Lord.” (Exodus 9:16, Romans 9:17, 22-23)
            God will have glory, honor and praise one way or another. If not willingly through the bended knee and humble heart of the repentant, then He will have it through judgment and punishment of the stiff-necked, proud and defiant. Either way, God always wins!
 
           Verses 5-9: Pharaoh and his people regret letting the Israelites go. It has only been a few days since the death of all the firstborn throughout Egypt, and it seems astounding that the Egyptians are so hardened in their sin, and so stubborn in their pride and rebellion, that they willfully continue fighting against their creator. But Pharaoh harnesses his chariot and summons all his captains and his armies from all over Egypt to pursue the children of Israel. (v.6-7) We are reminded in verse 8 that God is still directing Pharaoh, hardening Pharaoh’s heart because of his willful rebellion and disobedience, and that the Lord is about to deliver His chosen people “…with an high hand.” (Acts 13:17) Thus, Pharaoh and all his army, which most likely numbers several thousand, thunders across the desert plains toward the encampment of the Israelites at Pi-hahiroth.
 
            Verses 10-14: When the children of Israel see the Egyptian army headed their way, they immediately turn to Moses in terror and anger. “…Hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness?” (v.11) Exactly as God had foreseen, the Israelites’ faith in the Lord crumbles at the first sign of what they view as certain defeat and death. They accuse Moses of leading them to their doom. “…For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.” (v.12) But Moses’ faith is greater than that of the Israelites, and he commands them, “Fear ye not..” (Genesis 15:1, 46:3, Exodus 20:20, 2 Chronicles 20:17, Isaiah 41:10, 13-14) “…stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord…” (Exodus 15:2, Psalm 46:10-11) “…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.” (v.13) “The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.” (v.14) (Exodus 15:3, Deuteronomy 1:30, 3:22, Joshua 10:14, 42, 23:2, 2 Chronicles 20:29, Nehemiah 4:20, Isaiah 31:4)
 
            Verses 15-18: God tells Moses to command the children of Israel to start marching towards the sea. (v.15) He then commands Moses to “…lift thou up thy rod (Exodus 4:17, 20, 7:19, 17:5-6, 9, Numbers 20:8-9, 11, Isaiah 10:26), and stretch out thine hand over the sea…”, at which point God will divide the waters so that the Israelites will walk across on dry ground. (v.16) He then states emphatically once more that He “…will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them…”. God will receive honor and glory because of Pharaoh and his people. (v.17) “And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord…” (v.18)
 
            Verses 19-22: The angel of God (Exodus 13:21-22, Isaiah 63:9) moves from the forefront of the Israelites’ camp to the rear where the cloud then becomes like darkness to the pursuing Egyptians, thus separating the children of Israel from their enemy. (v.19) To the Israelites there was light, even during the night, but the Egyptians were surrounded with total darkness. They could not come near the children of Israel for most of the night. (v.20) The reason for this supernatural defense and separation is because it takes half the night for the “…strong east wind…” to divide the waters of the Red Sea. (v.21) This verse is proof that the location where God had directed the Israelites to cross was no mere shallow, narrow pond or tributary of the Red Sea. That is what many skeptics today claim in order to deny the truth of this event, thus denying the power and majesty of God. There was a large sea, several miles deep and most likely one or two miles wide, whose waters needed to be separated and piled up into two walls on either side of a dry path for the 2.5 million Israelites to cross. This passage in Exodus, the true and inerrant word of almighty God, who was the maker and sustainer of this miracle, states very clearly for us today what really happened. There is no other explanation for this supernatural event. It was “…the salvation of the Lord…” on behalf of the children of Israel! (v.13)
            In the early hours of the morning watch of the following day, while it is still night, the Israelites step onto the dry bed of the Red Sea and begin their journey to the other side. (v.22) (Exodus 15:19, Joshua 3:17, 4:22, Nehemiah 9:11, Psalm 66:6, 78:13, Isaiah 63:12-13, 1 Corinthians 10:1, Hebrews 11:29)
 
            Verses 23-25: God allows just enough distance between the Egyptians and the Israelites for Pharaoh to witness this astounding miracle, yet Pharaoh’s heart is so hardened that he orders his army to pursue the children of Israel into the Red Sea. (v.23) This is in the very early hours of the morning (v.24), when the cloud that is the angel of God is still between the Egyptian and Israelite camps. God confuses and confounds the Egyptian army by breaking off their chariot wheels, thus causing chaos among the ranks and slowing their progress. (v.25) Many of Pharaoh’s army turn back, recognizing that “…the Lord fighteth for them against the Egyptians.” But it’s now too late for them to make it back to the shore.
 
            Verses 26-31: As soon as the Israelites are safely on the other side, God tells Moses to once again “…Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.” (v.26) At dawn, just as the sun is beginning to rise, the hand of God releases the waters of the Red Sea, utterly and completely overwhelming the whole of the Egyptian army. (Joshua 4:18) Not a single one of them is left alive. (v.27-28) God’s final judgment against Pharaoh and all his people is, at last, complete. The children of Israel are saved! (v.29-30) (Psalm 58:10, 59:10, 66:6, 78:52-53, 106:10, Isaiah 11:15-16, 63:8, 11)
            As a result of this miracle, the Israelites’ faith in the Lord is renewed, and their trust in both Him and his servant Moses is restored. (v.31)