God, knowing the heart of Pharaoh tells the Israelites to change direction, Exodus 14:1. He asks them to turn back to the north and go towards the Red Sea, Exodus 14:2.
The reason for this change of direction is because God knows that Pharaoh will pursue His people and He wants to lead Pharaoh and his army towards the Red Sea where he can destroy them.
Pharaoh would pursue Israel, thinking they were trapped, which would fill him with confidence, Exodus 14:3, but God, knowing Pharaoh better than Pharaoh knows himself, was going to take advantage of this ruler’s stubborn and arrogant heart, Exodus 14:3.
God is setting an ambush for Pharaoh, even with the horror of the death of the firstborn, the change in Pharaoh’s heart is only temporary, and he will strike at Israel if he thinks he has a chance.
God says He will gain glory for Himself through Pharaoh, his army, and the Egyptians; they will know that He is LORD, Exodus 14:4. The Israelites did as God asked them to do, Exodus 14:4.
Here we read that Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about letting Israel go free, Exodus 14:5. They ask, what have we done? We have let the Israelites go and have lost their services! Exodus 14:5.
It isn’t hard to think of at least ten good reasons, namely, ten powerful plagues, why Pharaoh let Israel go. Maybe Pharaoh thought that the Lord had shot all His arrows; after all, no more died after the plague of the firstborn, but God isn’t short on resources!
We are so quick to forget what God has done and what He has shown us. How often is it said that we can go from walking in the Spirit to walking in the flesh in an instant? He wanted to punish them because, in his mind, they were his slaves.
Jamieson, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Those whom the Lord has doomed to destruction are first infatuated by sin.’
Pharaoh now gets his chariot made ready and takes his army with him, Exodus 14:6. He takes six hundred of the best chariots, along with all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers over all of them, Exodus 14:7.
Remember, Egypt was a world power, and they were thoroughly equipped for war. Chariots were the most sophisticated military technology available at that time, and so in their mind, Israel had no chance against them.
The LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart once again, so that he pursued the Israelites. The Israelites, however, were marching with boldness, Exodus 14:8. 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 rebels is that they rebel against the wrong things!
Psalm 106 describes this rebelliousness on the part of Israel at the Red Sea, Psalm 106:7-12, and is also mentioned in Exodus 14:10-12. The whole of Pharaoh’s army pursues the Israelites and overtook them as they camped by the sea near Pi Hahiroth, opposite Baal Zephon, Exodus 14:9.
When the children of Israel see Pharaoh’s army coming, it’s not surprising that God’s people were terrified and cried out to Him, Exodus 14:10 / Psalm 46:1. Because the Israelites were terrified, they couldn’t see what God could see, they couldn’t see that God was ready for action, and they couldn’t see that God was about to deliver them from the hand of the Egyptians forever.
We may have thought that Satan would let us go easily, or that once we had left his kingdom, we would forget about us. It doesn’t work like that! Satan will pursue you to try to keep you at least on the fringes of his domain, and to destroy you if he can.
They start complaining to Moses, Exodus 14:10-12. And let’s be fair, wouldn’t you be complaining if you saw an army of Egyptian chariots coming towards you? Did they really think Moses was motivated by a desire to see all of Israel die in the wilderness?
We are often wrong and always on dangerous ground when we claim we can read the intentions of others’ hearts. Moses had said nothing or done nothing that would support such a conspiracy theory, but the children of Israel can still say, ‘This is the real reason he brought us out here, Exodus 4:11 / Numbers 14:22-23.
They were not a week out of Egypt yet, and they were already distorting the past, thinking that it was better for them in Egypt than it really was, Exodus 14:12. They end up getting stuck before the Red Sea, and they have nowhere else to go.
If they try to move forward, they will drown in the Red Sea; if they try to move backwards, they will be caught by the Egyptian army that is moving in on them. The only thing that can save them now is a powerful miracle from God Himself.
And so now, more than any other time, is the time for faith. This was not the time to be looking back; this wasn’t the time to be wishing they had never left in the first place, Psalm 106:7-8.
Moses steps forward in this hopeless situation and tells the Israelites to trust in God. The idea behind ‘you shall see them no more forever’, Exodus 14:13, implies much more than at first glance; Moses may be speaking in terms of eternity as well as the here and now.
In his response, he basically tells them five things:
1. Do not be afraid, Exodus 14:13.
2. Stand firm, Exodus 14:13.
3. See God’s deliverance, Exodus 14:13.
4. The Lord will fight for you, Exodus 14:14.
5. Be still, Exodus 14:14.
At this point, Moses can have no idea how God will come through in the situation; all he knows is that God will certainly come through. In a sense, Moses knows he is in such a bad situation that God has to come through.
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.
Though Moses doesn’t know what God will do, he knows what the result will be. God will utterly defeat the Egyptian enemies of Israel because the Lord will fight for you, Exodus 14:14.
Wow, is this the same Moses we saw earlier at the burning bush? The same Moses who ran away from Egypt and came up with excuse after excuse as to why he isn’t the one who should deliver Israel, Exodus 3:11 / Exodus 3:13 / Exodus 4:1 / Exodus 4:10 / Exodus 4:13.
Before the people, Moses was full of faith, but before God, he was crying out in desperate prayer. Exodus 14:15. This was good; Moses’ confidence before the nation was necessary for their faith.
There is a time to pray, and a time to act, and it can actually be against God’s will to stop everything and pray in a particular situation. We can pray out of the wrong motives, praying to inform others who listen, praying to control a situation, praying to avoid action or buy time.
God reminds Moses that now is not for complaining; now is not the time to go back. They must move on, Exodus 14:15. God tells Moses to raise his staff and stretch out his hand over the sea to divide the water, Genesis 1:2, so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground, Exodus 14:16.
God is going to harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them, Exodus 14:17-18. God was going to be glorified through this whole event, Exodus 14:17, and Pharaoh would get an answer to his question, ‘Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go?’ Exodus 5:2. God used the miracle of the parting of the Red Sea to speak to Egypt as much as He used it to speak to Israel.
Notice the angel of God had been travelling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew, and went behind them, Exodus 14:19. Who is this angel of God? This is a Christophany, which suggests that this is a preincarnate appearance of Christ, Genesis 12:7. Sometimes in the Scriptures, He is called the angel of the LORD.
Haynes Jr, in his commentary, says the following.
‘A study of these passages reveals that the Angel of the Lord appeared in human form, Genesis 18:2 / Genesis 22:1-18 / Hebrews 13:2, and performed normal human functions, Genesis 32:24 / Numbers 22:23 / Numbers 22:31, yet he was an awe-inspiring figure, Genesis 32:30 / Judges 6:22 / Judges 13:22, exhibiting divine attributes and prerogatives including predicting the future, Genesis 16:10-12, forgiving sin, Exodus 23:21, and receiving worship, Exodus 3:5 / Judges 13:9-20.’
Back in Exodus 13:21-22, we saw the LORD Himself was guiding them by going before them; here he we see the angel of the Lord is now giving them protection by standing behind them, Exodus 14:19.
Is there anything which God can’t use to display His power and protect His people? The cloud by day and fire by night not only illuminated the way for Israel to cross the Red Sea but it also blocked Pharaoh’s chariots, Exodus 14:20. The pillar previously mentioned in Exodus 13:21-22, was now positioned as a barrier between the attacking Egyptians and the children of Israel, Exodus 14:20.
We have little idea how much God does to protect us from attack. We believe ourselves to be overwhelmed in battle right now, but we just don’t know what it would be like if the Lord pulled back His protection.
The cloud brought darkness to the Egyptians, but light to the Hebrews, Exodus 14:20. We mustn’t miss the importance of the cloud in the Old Testament. God’s presence, and even the Gospel, can work the same way, Matthew 5:14 / John 8:12 / 2 Corinthians 4:6 / 1 John 1:5.
Earlier, back in Exodus 13:20-22, we saw a cloud that then transforms into a fiery light at night, which would have been amazing to witness. And it must have been large enough so that everyone travelling could see what direction to go, Psalm 84:11 / Psalms 105:39.
Later, when God miraculously feeds the Israelites, the cloud would have been in sight of everyone, Exodus 16:10. The glory of God appeared in the cloud, but whether this was the cloud which accompanied the Israelites, we are not told.
It may have been a special cloud which veiled the glory of God on this special occasion. But the point is this, the appearance of God in this cloud was still a part of the proof that Moses hadn’t led them out of Egypt on his own authority.
It was to convince the people that their God was directing Moses and that any criticism of Moses and his work would be a sin against God. And so when God is speaking to Moses from the cloud, the people could see His glory and hear His voice.
It was a clear sign that the Israelites were indeed being preserved by God Himself. It was a clear sign that God wanted Israel to know that the quail and manna were from Him and not just some coincidence.
This cloud was way more than a novel way to lead Israel in the wilderness; it’s the revelation of God Himself to His chosen people. This same cloud is the very cloud which is going to lead them to the base of Mount Sinai.
We know that at Sinai, God came to the people in ‘a thick cloud’, Exodus 19:9. Later in Exodus 33:9-10, we read that the cloud came down and rested at the entrance of the tabernacle, and the Israelites would worship God.
One of the last events at Mount Sinai was the construction of the tabernacle, in which the cloud played a significant role. Exodus 40:34-35 tells us that the cloud covered the tent of meeting and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And so once the tabernacle was constructed, the cloud remained over the tabernacle.
It’s important to note that Israel didn’t aimlessly just walk around the wilderness for forty years; God was leading them from place to place. When the cloud moved, the tabernacle was disassembled and moved until the cloud came to rest, Exodus 40:36-38.
What a sight this must have been as the water slowly rose to the left and the right. The Red Sea is literally parted, and there is now dry ground, Exodus 14:21, which God has miraculously provided for His people in order for them to escape from the Egyptians.
The Hebrew phrase for the Red Sea is ‘yam suph’, which clearly means ‘Reed Sea.’ The term aptly describes the lake region north of the Gulf of Suez, comprising the Bitter Lakes and Lake Timsah.
It is possible that the Israelites went along the narrow neck of land on which Baal-Zephon stood and that the Biblical Sea of Reeds was modern Lake Sabonis. We are certain that the crossing was in this area because the Israelites found themselves in the Wilderness of Shur after crossing the sea, Exodus 15:22.
We don’t know exactly where the place was, and what the exact geography was, an area like this will change geography every flood or drought season, but we do know there was enough water present to trap the Israelites, and then later to drown the Egyptians, perhaps ten feet of water or so, and we know there had to be enough room for the Israelites to cross over in one night, perhaps a mile-wide stretch.
Cole, in his commentary, says the following concerning the words, ‘wall of water’, Exodus 14:22.
‘The metaphor (water like a wall) is no more to be taken literally than when Ezra 9:9 says that God has given him a ’wall’ (the same word) in Israel. It is a poetic metaphor to explain why the Egyptian chariots could not sweep in to right and left and cut Israel off; they had to cross by the same ford, directly behind the Israelites.’
We can only imagine what this would have been like to be actually walking on this dry ground with a literal wall of water on both sides of us, Exodus 14:22 / Joshua 4:22. I would imagine that this was one of the scariest walks in Israel’s history.
But do you know what they are learning as they walk through? Faith. They’ve already seen many wonders by God, and now they are practising what real Bible faith is. Real Bible faith has legs attached to it; real faith walks with trust in God, Hebrews 11:1 / Hebrews 11:6 / James 2:24.
At this time, the Egyptian army had just entered the dry land, Exodus 14:23. The confusion was caused by God pulling off chariot wheels, and so the Egyptians couldn’t really drive their chariots, Exodus 14:24-25. The advance of the Egyptians against Israel was probably fragmented and highly disorganised.
It must have been like watching a multi-car pile-up on the M6 with cars smashing into each other in all directions. Psalm 77:16-20 gives more detail in the description of the course of events during the Red Sea crossing.
Paul says that the walls of water stood on either side of the Israelites, and the cloud was over them, 1 Corinthians 10:1-2. And so they went ‘through’ the sea, as they passed ‘under’ the cloud, they were immersed in the cloud-sea combination.
The people were saved from the Egyptians on the day of their baptism, at which point they also entered into a new relationship with Moses. Like Christians today, we are made free from sin when we submit to the waters of baptism, which replicate Christ’s burial and resurrection, Romans 6:3-7.
Tertullian, in his writings, says the following.
‘The nations are set free from the world by means of the water (their baptism), and the devil they leave quite behind, overwhelmed in the water. How mighty is the grace of water. Christ himself was baptized in water, demonstrated his power in water when invited to the nuptials, invited the sinful to drink of the living water, cited a cup of water as glorious among the works of charity, recruited his strength at a well, and walked over the water; and even as he approached the cross, the water witnessed his innocence when Pilate washed his hands!’
Could this really have happened? Isn’t this just another interesting legend? It is completely plausible.
According to a Los Angeles Times article by Thomas H. Maugh titled ‘Research Supports Bible’s Account of Red Sea Parting’, he says the following.
‘Sophisticated computer calculations indicate that the biblical parting of the Red Sea, said to have allowed Moses and the Israelites to escape from bondage in Egypt, could have occurred precisely as the bible describes it. Because of the peculiar geography of the northern end of the Red Sea, researchers report Sunday in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, a moderate wind blowing constantly for about 10 hours could have caused the sea to recede about a mile and the water level to drop 10 feet, leaving dry land in the area where many biblical scholars believe the crossing occurred.’
At this point, there is no doubt in the minds of the Egyptians who are fighting for whom; they now know that they are fighting against the Lord, Exodus 14:25.
Moses was told to stretch out his hand, Exodus 14:26-27, as he did on a previous occasion, Exodus 13:18 / Exodus 15:14. Why? Was it really the motion of Moses’ hand, holding the rod, that parted the sea and made it come back? Of course not, God could have performed this miracle just as easily without Moses’ cooperation.
In addition to this, this was God’s vindication of Moses; Israel had previously accused him of the lowest of motivations and the most evil state of heart, through His blessing on Moses. God showed the whole nation that Moses was their chosen leader, Exodus 14:10-12.
We read Pharaoh’s chariots found themselves stalled in the crossing path of the Red Sea, and the waters’ sudden return brought about their death, Exodus 14:28 / Psalm 77:16-20 / Psalms 106:7-12 / Psalms 136:13-15.
The waters returned and covered the chariots, the horsemen, and all of the army of Pharaoh, and not one of them was left standing, Exodus 14:28. God had literally wiped Israel’s enemy right off the face of the map with this one incredible act of deliverance.
Could this have really happened? Isn’t this just another legend?
Thomas H Maugh continues in his Los Angeles Times article, as he says the following.
‘An abrupt change in the wind would have allowed the waters to come crashing back into the area in a few moments, a phenomenon that the Bible says inundated the Israelites’ pursuers.’
Rabbi Posner says the following.
‘There are differing opinions in the Midrash concerning his fate. Some say that he drowned in the Red Sea together with his army, while others opine that he survived the miraculous event. He survived in order to retell a first-hand account of the miracles and wonders that God performed. According to one Midrash, he made his way to Nineveh, Assyria, where he became king, the same king who, when hearing the prophet Jonah’s message from God foretelling Nineveh’s destruction, encouraged all his subjects to repent in order to avert the divine decree. Apparently, he had learned his lesson.’
The Red Sea was a turning point in Israel’s history. In this era, though they had many troubles ahead, Pharaoh in the Egyptians never troubled them again. If you are on the other side of the Red Sea, if your course with the Lord is set, and you know there is never any turning back for you, can you comfort a saint who is still on the Egyptian side of the Red Sea?
Moses now gives us a summary of the event. The Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left, Exodus 14:29. The LORD saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore, Exodus 14:30.
Cole, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Somehow the sight of those dead bodies was the concrete sign that salvation and a new life for Israel were now assured.’
God came through for Israel! God’s motive for delivering us is not only His love for us, but also a desire to guard His own glory and honour. After witnessing what God had done, the people feared the LORD, and for the moment, they put their trust in Him and in Moses, Exodus 14:31.
Josephus, in his writings, adds the following comment concerning Exodus 14:31.
‘On the next day, Moses gathered together the weapons of the Egyptians, which were brought to the camp of the Hebrews by the current of the sea, and the force of the winds; and he conjectured that this also happened by Divine Providence, that so they might not be destitute of weapons. So, when he had ordered the Hebrews to arm themselves with them, he led them to Mount Sinai to offer sacrifice to God, and to render oblations for the salvation of the multitude, as he was charged to do beforehand.’
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘How could God have destroyed mercilessly such a great host of people? Is this consistent with the revelation of God which has come to us through the Lord Jesus Christ? The answer is certainly YES. The current notion, held by many, that Almighty God will eternally overlook and tolerate human wickedness, cruelty, oppression, and violence, is NOT a true understanding of God. God is angry with the wicked every day, and there is sure to come a time when God, in righteous wrath, shall rise and cast evil out of His universe. As for those “poor Egyptians,” think of the mission upon which they were engaged. Every one of them was armed with military weapons. They were intent on killing whatever thousands or hundreds of thousands of Israel that they might have found necessary to their purpose of returning all of them to work perpetually in the brick yards of Egypt as slaves!’
And so the children of Israel are on the other side of the Red Sea, safe and sound, and they are about to take a journey to Mount Sinai. God is not through displaying His presence with the cloud. The very same water which saved Israel brought an end to their enemies forever.
After seeing all the dead bodies which had been washed up on the shore, which would have included Pharaoh, Psalm 136:15, God’s people feared the Lord and started to trust Moses. They had just witnessed God pouring out His judgment upon Egypt and experienced the same God bring about their salvation.
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 have meant nothing without the miracle of the resurrection; the two must go hand in hand.
God doesn’t perform miracles for the fun of it; He performs them for a reason, and it’s usually to encourage faith in Him, Mark 16:20 / John 20:30-31 / Hebrews 2:4. What a journey this has been, not only for the Israelites but especially for Moses.