October 14, 2020
The book of Exodus tells the story of the birth of the nation of Israel fulfilling God’s promise to Abraham. From the seventy descendants of Jacob, Israel was fruitful and multiplied greatly until they filled the whole land of Egypt. After four centuries of slavery, God answers the cries of His people for deliverance. God raises up Moses for this calling, to lead his people out of bondage to a land of promise and deliverance.
Some of the greatest stories of the Bible are featured in Exodus—from the Ten Plagues, and the Passover, to the crossing of the Red Sea, and the establishment of the covenant at Mount Sinai. The Passover lamb, the exodus from the land of Egypt, the seven feasts, the tabernacle, and even the high priest, are all foreshadows of the ministry of Christ.
Chapters 1-18 contains the events leading up to God’s delivering the Hebrews from their captivity in Egypt, and chapters 19-40 shares the events in the wilderness and the account of God’s instructions to Moses on Mount Sinai to direct the life and worship of the nation.
Exodus 14
Crossing the Red Sea
1 Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 “Tell the people of Israel to turn back and encamp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, in front of Baal-zephon; you shall encamp facing it, by the sea. 3 For Pharaoh will say of the people of Israel, ‘They are wandering in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.’ 4 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord.” And they did so.
5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the mind of Pharaoh and his servants was changed toward the people, and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” 6 So he made ready his chariot and took his army with him, 7 and took six hundred chosen chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them. 8 And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the people of Israel while the people of Israel were going out defiantly. 9 The Egyptians pursued them, all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and his horsemen and his army, and overtook them encamped at the sea, by Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon.
10 When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord. 11 They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” 13 And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”
15 The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. 16 Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground. 17 And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they shall go in after them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, his chariots, and his horsemen. 18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”
19 Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, 20 coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was the cloud and the darkness. And it lit up the night without one coming near the other all night.
21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. 22 And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 23 The Egyptians pursued and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. 24 And in the morning watch the Lord in the pillar of fire and of cloud looked down on the Egyptian forces and threw the Egyptian forces into a panic, 25 clogging their chariot wheels so that they drove heavily. And the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from before Israel, for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians.”
26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.” 27 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal course when the morning appeared. And as the Egyptians fled into it, the Lord threw the Egyptians into the midst of the sea. 28 The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen; of all the host of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea, not one of them remained. 29 But the people of Israel walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.
30 Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Reflection:
- While God was delivering the Israelites, he had still not forgotten the Egyptians. What did God want the Egyptians to know in verse 4?
- What was different in the Israelites’ attitudes in verse 8 and their attitudes in verse 10? Why did they lose their courage?
- In the Passover, the Israelites only had to exercise a passive faith by obeying God’s instructions to place the blood of the lamb on the door posts and lintel to be saved. At the crossing of the Red Sea, they had to exercise active faith by literally stepping into a seabed made dry by God in the divided waters that could totally engulf them. Is there an area where God is calling you to take an active step of faith?
- What did verse 30 say God did for Israel that day, and what was the people’s response in verse 31?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for delivering me from the enemy as you did the children of Israel from their enemy. Thank you for rescuing me from the devil’s grasp in sin and giving me freedom in Jesus. Lord I believe you, and trust you, and praise you for you are my deliverer! In Jesus’ name, amen.
Dear Heavenly Father,
You are a God of second chances. We are given free will but when we chose to do wrong and ask forgiveness, You are willing to forgive our sins. Thank You for providing a way to reconcile ourselves. We act like children many times wanting our own ay and desires and not listening to You. Please forgive us for our transgressions. I want to please You and follow Your will for my life. Please show me the way for I am lost without You. In Jesus ‘ name. Amen.
The Lord will fight for me. He is my deliverer. I believe in the Lord.
AMEN AND HALLELUJAH!!!! THE LORD WILL ALWAYS HELP ME WHEN IN NEED. I will always trust
HIM
The Lord is just as powerful today as He was then. He will defend us just as He did with Israel. But, first we must believe in Him, trust Him and obey Him. How are we doing in that regard as a nation?
Thank
You God for All Your Many Blessings!
Lord you are my deliverer! This virus has struck my loved one including my elderly Mom, my sister, and her husband. Thank you for the reminder that you have a fire of protection for your children. I’m calling on this protection, this provision now for my family. Tears of fear are running down my face – like the Israelites I am afraid. I’m calling on your strength, your healing, your protection – just as you did in the lives of your people. Forgive me for my fear – love has no fear. Thank you for my mustard seed of faith – may it grow during this battle against the virus. Please Lord be glorified. My heritage is filled with saints that love you. My small group are sending prayers to you as well. Please intervene. BUT if you choose not to physically heal, I will still glorify you. I will stand for you forever and ever AMEN.
Praying for your family, Tracy Leigh.
Thank you God for using all circumstances, even our disobedience, as an opportunity to reveal yourself to us. Thank you for giving us courage to obey you and help us keep our fear/reverence on you, rather than our circumstances that distract us and cause us to doubt and disbelieve. Help me have a more active faith by trusting you to reveal yourself to me through your word, that your Spirt would enable me to rightly interpret and teach your word to shepherd those you have put in my care for your glory. Thank you for saving me Lord though faith in Jesus Christ.