Exodus 14

V 1–4: FOLLOWING The children of Israel are following God’s plan and God’s servant Moses. God reveals that Pharaoh will pursue them, believing that they are lost and discouraged in the wilderness. This is God’s plan to overthrow Pharaoh and his army, and teach the Egyptians that He is the Lord. V 5–9: FICKLE Pharaoh continues to break his word. He mobilises all Egypt’s chariots to pursue the Israelites. They catch up with the Israelites as they camp beside the Red Sea. V 10–12: FEAR Faced with the sight of the Egyptians coming after them, the Israelites fear and tell Moses that they should have carried on serving the Egyptians rather than coming to die in the wilderness. Like Pharaoh, they are also fickle, but for a different reason. They are fearful because of their lack of trust in God. V 13–14: FIRM Moses is rock solid in his trust in God. He tells them to stand still and see God’s salvation, which He will accomplish. The Egyptian army will be overthrown because God will fight for His people and give them peace. V 15–18: FORWARD God tells Moses this is not a time for praying, but for action. He tells Moses to lift up his rod over the sea, which will divide. Israel will go through on dry ground to the other side. God will be victorious over Pharaoh’s army. V 19–20: FAITHFULNESS God’s faithfulness is seen as His Angel puts a pillar of cloud between the Israelites and the Egyptians. It is a cloud of darkness to the Egyptians and of light to the Israelites, and they are kept apart. God is merciful and gracious to those who trust Him, but those who rebel against Him face judgement. This is a principle throughout time and eternity. V 21–23: FORCE Moses stretches out the rod over the sea, and the force of God causes a strong east wind all night to dry the land and divide the waters. With the waters as walls on both sides, the Israelites walk through the midst of the Red Sea on dry ground and are pursued by Pharaoh’s chariots and horsemen. V 24–25: FRUSTRATED God frustrates the Egyptians as they follow the Israelites. He troubles the Egyptian army and takes off their chariot wheels so that they cannot drive their chariots. The Egyptians want to flee from Israel as they recognise that God is fighting against them and against their efforts to pursue His people. V 26–29: FLOW God commands Moses to stretch out his hand over the sea. As he does so, the sea returns and swamps Pharaoh’s army. What was formerly dry ground with walls of water to help Israel, now becomes a watery grave for their pursuers. V 30–31: FEAR God’s saving work in delivering Israel and destroying the Egyptians produces reverential fear from His people and faith in the Lord and in ‘His servant Moses’.