Although the Israelites seemed to leave in a hurry, Moses got Joseph’s remains to take with them as had been promised.
The following verses are counted in the top ten most influential passages for my own life.
17-18 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” So God led the people around to the Red Sea.
There is so much to take from this. If I knew I was going to Canaan, I would have been inclined to take the most direct route. But God alone knew what obstacles and challenges were along that path, and instead of risking that the Israelites’ free will could take them back to the land of slavery, he took them another path- towards the Red Sea- never mind that it was a body of water and “naturally” impossible to cross.
21-22 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. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.
14:1-4 The Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites to turn back and camp near Pi Hahiroth by the sea. Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.’ And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.” So the Israelites did this.
The display of power with the plagues hadn’t been enough. God wanted the Egyptians to know that He was the Lord. The Israelites agreed to camp there, but I doubt they understood that Pharaoh would soon pursue them. God’s plan was to be known and glorified, and that involved provoking enemies to pursue God’s people who had been led by Him to be (seemingly) trapped in the desert.
When the king of Egypt was told about the Israelites, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds. They took an army of the 600 best chariots with all the other chariots in Egypt.
8 The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, so that he pursued the Israelites.
All Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, horsemen, and troops pursued the Israelites.
As Pharaoh approached, the people saw them and were terrified.
11-12 They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn’t we say to you, “Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians?’ It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”
How quickly people were to blame a person when God was clearly the one who led them out. It’s also interesting how easily they forgot the horrors of their slavery and past life which they had cried out to be saved from for so long.
13-14 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
God told Moses to raise his staff over the waters to divide the water so the Israelites could walk through on dry ground.
19-20 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, 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.
The waters were divided, the Israelites crossed over, and the Egyptians pursued them into the sea.
24-25 The Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. He made the wheels of their chariots come off so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt.”
After the Israelites passed through, God told Moses to stretch his hand back over the water, and the waters flowed back over the Egyptians. Not one of them survived.
30-31 Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. And when the Israelites saw the great power the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.
You’d think they would have done that after all the plagues. We humans can be stubborn creatures.
Chapter 15 begins with a song that Moses and the Israelites sang to the Lord telling of what He had done.
Below are several verses.
2 “The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.
3 The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name.
11 Who among the gods is like you, O Lord?
13 In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.
18 The Lord will reign for ever and ever.”
Our strength and our abilities are never required for what God wants to do with us and through us. If He seems to be leading you to a Red Sea, don’t question it. He can move mountains. All things are possible for Him and for us with his power. Oh, that we would rest in His power, trust in His love, and not limit the great works He wants to do so that those around us would know He is the Lord.
Father, you are mighty. In your strength and your love, you have redeemed me from my own slavery. I pray that everyone who is aware of their own weakness tonight would rest in your strength and your love. Your power is enough.
A Walk Through The Bible 