(Ex 13:17) Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, "Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt." {18} So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt.

 

 

(Ex 13:19) And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had placed the children of Israel under solemn oath, saying, "God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here with you."

 

So what was their route?

 

(Ex 13:20) So they took their journey from Succoth and camped in Etham at the edge of the wilderness. {21} And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. {22} He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people.

 

 

(Exo 14 NKJV)  Now the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: {2} "Speak to the children of Israel, that they turn and camp before Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, opposite Baal Zephon; you shall camp before it by the sea.

{3} "For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, 'They are bewildered by the land; the wilderness has closed them in.'

(Exo 14:3 NASB)  "For Pharaoh will say of the sons of Israel, 'They are wandering aimlessly in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.'

 (Ex 14:4) "Then I will harden Pharaoh's heart, so that he will pursue them; and I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD."

And they did so.

 

 

(Ex 14:5) Now it was told the king of Egypt that the people had fled, and the heart of Pharaoh and his servants was turned against the people; and they said, "Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?"

 

For Christmas, I got a book entitled: 1001 Dumbest Things Ever Said.  I haven’t checked to see if this statement is one of the things, but it should be included a book of the 10 dumbest things ever said!  They have just suffered through the 10 plagues including the death of their first born, and now they are asking, “Why have we done this?” – What were we thinking?

(Ex 14:6) So he made ready his chariot and took his people with him. {7} Also, he took six hundred choice chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt with captains over every one of them.

 

 

(Ex 14:8) And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the children of Israel; and the children of Israel went out with boldness. {9} So the Egyptians pursued them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen and his army, and overtook them camping by the sea beside Pi Hahiroth, before Baal Zephon. {10} And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the LORD.

 

(Ex 14:11) Then they said to Moses, "Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt? {12} "Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, 'Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians?' For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness."

Moses has Great Faith in Spite of the People!

(Ex 14:13) And Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. {14} "The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace."

 

(Ex 14:15) And the LORD said to Moses, "Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward.

 

 

(Ex 14:16) "But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.

 

(You) “divide it.”   God always honored Moses and let him work with Him.  He also wanted Moses to do something!  Do what you can!

I believe He wants us to do what we can!

(Ex 14:17) "And I indeed will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them. So I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, his chariots, and his horsemen. {18} "Then the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gained honor for Myself over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen." {19} And the Angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them. 

 

[Why?] {20} So it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel.

Thus it was a cloud and darkness to the one,

and it gave light by night to the other,

so that the one did not come near the other all that night.

And the Sea is parted!

 

{21} Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided. (Ex 14:22) So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.

 

{23} And the Egyptians pursued and went after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.

 

 

(Ex 14:24) Now it came to pass, in the morning watch, that the LORD looked down upon the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud, and He troubled the army of the Egyptians.

“troubled :”  1) to move noisily, confuse, make a noise, discomfit, break, consume, crush, destroy, trouble, vex

(NASB)  brought the army of the Egyptians into confusion.

I think “crush, destroy, trouble, vex” better describes what follows:

 

(Ex 14:25) And He took off their chariot wheels, so that they drove them with difficulty; and the Egyptians said, "Let us flee from the face of Israel, for the LORD fights for them against the Egyptians."

 

Now comes closure!  Real closure!

 

{26} Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the waters may come back upon the Egyptians, on their chariots, and on their horsemen." {27} And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and when the morning appeared, the sea returned to its full depth, while the Egyptians were fleeing into it. So the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. {28} Then the waters returned and covered the chariots, the horsemen, and all the army of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them. Not so much as one of them remained.

 

 

(Ex 14:29) But the children of Israel had walked on dry land in the midst of the sea, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. {30} So the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.

 

A Great Moment!

 

{31} Thus Israel saw the great work which the LORD had done in Egypt;

so the people feared the LORD,

and believed the LORD

and His servant Moses.

 

A Great Moment!

If only it could last!

Sad to say, we know it won’t

and they will never see the promised land!

 

Scripture quotations marked "NKJV™" are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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