Hebrew Children Trapped at The Red Sea

Topic: Fearful
Passage: Exodus 14:1–14

January 14, 2021

Commentary

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 (NET)

1 The Lord spoke to Moses, 2 “Tell the Israelites that they must turn and camp before Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea; you are to camp by the sea before Baal Zephon opposite it. 3 Pharaoh will think regarding the Israelites, ‘They are wandering around confused in the land—the desert has closed in on them.’ 4 I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will chase after them. I will gain honor because of Pharaoh and because of all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.” So this is what they did.

5 When it was reported to the king of Egypt that the people had fled, the heart of Pharaoh and his servants was turned against the people, and the king and his servants said, “What in the world have we done? For we have released the people of Israel from serving us!” 6 Then he prepared his chariots and took his army with him. 7 He took 600 select chariots, and all the rest of the chariots of Egypt, and officers on all of them.

8 But the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he chased after the Israelites. Now the Israelites were going out defiantly. 9 The Egyptians chased after them, and all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh and his horsemen and his army overtook them camping by the sea, beside Pi Hahiroth, before Baal Zephon. 10 When Pharaoh got closer, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians marching after them, and they were terrified. The Israelites cried out to the Lord, 11 and they said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the desert? What in the world have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Isn’t this what we told you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone so that we can serve the Egyptians, because it is better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!’”

13 Moses said to the people, “Do not fear! Stand firm and see the salvation of the Lord that he will provide for you today; for the Egyptians that you see today you will never, ever see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you, and you can be still.”