Reading: Exodus 14:1-4; 15-31
Israel has just left Egypt. Now God leads them towards the Red Sea. But when they arrive at the water’s edge they are in great danger. Behind them is the road to Egypt. One both sides are steep high mountains and before them is the Red Sea. If an enemy comes after them now they will be trapped in this deadly canyon. But in vs 3 and 4 God tells the people he has carefully chosen this location; “and I will gain honour over Pharaoh and over all his army, that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD.” Furthermore God also plans to perform such a great and terrifying miracle that both Israel and the surrounding nations will fear Him.
Back in Egypt Pharaoh changes his mind. He and his servants say “Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” (Ex 14:5). They assemble all the chariots and horses of Egypt with their captains and nation’s great army. Together they pursue Israel and to their delight find them completely trapped. The Israelites fear greatly and cry out. But then the Lord shows His majestic power. That evening He first moves the great cloud between the two camps, creating darkness for the Egyptians but light for the Israelites. He cuts a dry path through the sea and commands the bewildered Israelites to march into the sea between two tall walls of water. When the Egyptians pursue God frustrates them; chariot wheels fall off causing panic. After a long march through the night Israel reaches the other since; when they all step onto the land God commands Moses to stretch out his hand over the sea which crashes down, drowning all the Egyptians.
What a great humiliation for the enemy and a triumph for almighty God! See how He cares for His church and saves it from the bigger enemy Satan. Not only does God again save Israel, he also destroys Egypt’s power leaving Israel in peace for a long time. Furthermore, through this great display of God’s power, Israel fears and believes in Him and the nearby nations are dismayed (Ex 15:14-16).
Key text: Ex 14:31 “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.”
Question: This overwhelming experience of God’s majesty and power brings the Israelites very close to Him, strengthening their faith and trust. 1 Corinthians 10:11 says “Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition”. Do you sufficiently study God’s great deeds so that your faith in God grows stronger and stronger?