March 22 - The Red Sea
Exodus 14
When reading chapter 14 in Exodus, seeing the things greater than ourselves is more than just scenery, but the scenery is simply amazing. God’s greatness is on full display as the text speaks of our God orchestrating the entire event, once again keeping His promise to never leave or forsake us. This promise was for His people the Israelites, and now we are all His people, and that promise still holds true today. At the end of the previous chapter (chapter 13) the word of the Lord says this: 21 By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. 22 Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.
Right at the beginning of chapter 14, here is what the Lord says to Moses: And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them (The Israelites). But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.”
Pharaoh and the Egyptians didn’t stand a chance. Their intent was to continue to enslave the Israelites, beat, whip and at times starve the people in order to bend their wills to theirs, but God had other plans when he heard His people crying out to their God. Pharaoh and the Pharaoh before him only wanted to rule a people that begin to grow at an alarming rate. Out of fear, evil intent sat in and that made things bad for God’s chosen people. When Pharaoh realized that all the Israelites were gone, he decided to have them killed. The next few verses describes it this way:
6 So he had his chariot made ready and took his army with him. 7 He took six hundred of the best chariots, along with all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers over all of them. 8 The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh King of Egypt, so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out boldly. 9 The Egyptians—all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots, horsemen[a] and troops—pursued the Israelites and overtook them as they camped by the sea. 10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. Again the Lord of Host had other plans.
19 Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, 20 coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long.
Even though the Israelites were really afraid, God’s hand was on His people because he loved them as His children, and so protected them the way we would protect our children but only better. Through Moses, God gives these words to the people: 13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” We all know the rest of the story when God ask Moses to raise his staff and part the Red Sea and all of the Israelites cross to the other side while the Egyptians are held at bay. Once they all cross over, the Egyptians are allowed to give chase only to have Moses raise his staff again and all of Pharaoh’s army drowns including horses and chariots, while not one Israelite was lost. Our God saves His people. Every single one of them, and He saved us to…every single one of us. Throughout our lives we can be certain that we are all saved by grace alone and He will never leave us or forsake us.
Link to Bible verses: Exodus 14