Hebrew Children Trapped at The Red Sea

A John Hopkins University doctor says, “We do not know why it is that worriers die sooner than the non-worriers, but that is a fact.” But I, who am simple of mind, think I know; We are inwardly constructed in nerve and tissue, brain cell and soul, for faith and not fo … More

Fearful

Several days after the children of Israel had left Egypt the Egyptians were still  mourning  the death of their first-born. The Lord instructed Moses to have the people camp between Migdol and the Red Sea (vv. 1-2). News  of Israel’s departure caused Pharaoh to reconsider his generosity in letting the people go. He said I will make the King stubborn again, and he will try to catch you (vv. 3-4). He had lost his servants and the question was who was going to build their cities (v. 5)? When the King of Egypt heard that the Israelites had finally left, he and his officials changed their minds and said, “Look what we have done! We let them get away, and they will no longer be our slaves.”

Immediately the Egyptian chariots started out after the fleeing multitude (vv. 6-7). Pharaoh knew that they had turned and gone toward the Red Sea. He thought that they would be trapped in the wilderness with no way to get out. Pharaoh had with him 600 special chariots and all the other available chariots in Egypt. Some of the army were on horseback and some on foot. This was the greatest army in all the world at that time. 

When the Hebrew children saw Pharaoh’s army approaching they felt trapped and were very frightened (vv. 8-10). They had a mountain to the North and South. The waters of the Red Sea were to the east and all they could see was the dust of Pharaoh’s approaching army to the west. Then they blamed Moses for bringing them there and said, “It would have been better for us to go on serving the Egyptians then to die in the wilderness (vv 11-12).” Moses said, “Don’t be afraid” (v. 13)! “The Lord will save you and the Egyptians will never bother you again. The Lord will fight for you and you won’t have to do a thing (v. 14).

Application

Sad  to say, the Jews were walking by sight and not by faith. When they  saw the army coming, they gave up in fear. Have I ever done this instead of trusting the Lord when things seemed hopeless?

Exodus 14:1-14 (English Standard Version)


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