Hebrew Children Trapped at The Red Sea
January 14, 2021
Commentary
Several days after Israelites left Egypt, the Egyptians were still mourning the death of their firstborn. The Lord told Moses to have the people camp between Migdol and the Red Sea (vv. 1-2). When Pharaoh heard of their location, he changed his mind again. God said, “I will make the king stubborn again and he will try to catch you” (vv. 3–4). The king said, “Look what we have done! We let them get away, and they will no longer be our slaves. Who will build our cities” (v. 5)?
Pharaoh quickly 600 of his best chariots and his army of soldiers, the greatest army in the world at that time, and started after them (vv. 6–7). Some soldiers rode horses and others went on foot. Pharaoh thought the Israelites were trapped between the desert and the sea and had no way to escape.
When the Israelites saw the Egyptian army approaching, they felt trapped and very afraid (vv. 8–10). Mountains rose to the north and south, the Red Sea was in front of them, and behind them came Pharaoh’s army in a cloud of dust. Feeling hopeless, they cried out and blamed Moses, saying, “It would have been better for us to be slaves to the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness!” (vv. 11–12).
But Moses told the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and the LOD will save you. And the Egyptians will never bother you again. The Lord will fight for you; you only need to be still” (vv. 13–14).
But Moses told the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the Lord’s salvation today. The Egyptians you see now, you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you only need to be still” (vv. 13–14).
Application
What fears or situations make me feel trapped like the Israelites at the Red Sea? When I feel surrounded by problems with no way out, how will I choose to “stand still” and trust God instead of panicking? What would it look like for me to let the Lord “fight for me” in a challenge I’m facing this week?
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.”
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