#28 – Exodus 14:23-31
The L-RD Fights for Israel
“It was simply amazing!! All night we walked through the midst of the sea on dry land, the L-RD lighting our path. On our right hand, a wall of water. On the left, another wall. And you won’t believe what happened next!”
All the king’s horses and all the king’s men
The Egyptian soldiers had been separated from the Israelite camp, obscured by the cloud. (Exodus 14:19-20 NASB). All during the night the L-RD sent a strong east wind to open an escape route for Israel. (Exodus 14:21-22 NASB).
At some point the pursuers discovered their quarry had moved. Our narrator doesn’t record their stunned response to this unbelievable stealth maneuver of the Hebrews. Since when does a road open in a sea?
We are told about the army’s actions. Then the Egyptians took up the pursuit, and all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots and his horsemen went in after them into the midst of the sea.[1] (Exodus 14:23.)
Divine intervention
During the small hours of the morning,[2] the L-RD has a look at what’s transpiring. Through the pillar of fire and cloud He sees the advancing Egyptian forces. He brought the army of the Egyptians into confusion. 25 He caused their chariot wheels to swerve, and He made them drive with difficulty…. (Exodus 14:24-25ab.)
Given the military’s imminent demise, one may wonder why the Almighty takes this final opportunity to demonstrate His sovereign control over earthly events. Our clue is found in the military’s response: “Let us flee from Israel, for the L-RD is fighting for them against the Egyptians.” (Exodus 14:25c.)
A warrior trained for battle has no concern about pursuing unarmed slaves on the run. Victory is assured with no casualties expected. But losing control of chariots while surrounded by walls of water amidst the Red Sea was not something they had trained for. Mid-charge, the Egyptians discover this is not an enterprise worth pursuing. More than simply giving up the chase, they sense the need to flee for their lives.
G-d had promised that He would be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. Then the Egyptians will know that I am the L-RD, when I am honored through Pharaoh, through his chariots and his horsemen.” (Exodus 14:17c-18.) In this very last moment of Pharaoh’s life, he and his troops knew the reality that “the L-RD, He is G-d.”[3]
Not even one remained
Once more Moses, now safely across the Red Sea, is instructed to stretch out his hand over the waters. He does so,
…and the sea returned to its normal state at daybreak, while the Egyptians were fleeing right into it; then the L-RD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen, even Pharaoh’s entire army that had gone into the sea after them; not even one of them remained. (Exodus 14:27b-28.)
The first nine plagues had brought devastating losses to Egypt’s possessions. Following the 10th, the people mourned the death of their firstborn. Now the powerful Egyptian army which had gone to retrieve their escaped labor force to rebuild their shattered economy is eliminated in a moment.
Fear factor/Misery index
How swiftly life’s circumstances can change. Pharaoh and his forces went from conquerors to confused to consumed in a matter of minutes. The Jewish people whose hearts were failing them for fear when the Egyptian army appeared have seen G-d’s deliverance in a most remarkable way overnight.
Where is G-d?
Skeptics will doubt, scoffers will mock, and brilliant minds lacking wisdom will seek alternate explanations for “coincidences.” But our text is clear: Thus the L-RD saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. (Exodus 14:30.)
“For the L-RD is fighting for you” is a theme that will be repeated in Israel’s history.
“Do not be afraid of them; the L-RD your G-d is the one fighting for you.” (Deuteronomy 3:22.)
“for the L-RD your G-d is the one who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.” (Deuteronomy 20:4.)
“One of your men puts to flight a thousand, for the L-RD your G-d is He who fights for you, just as He promised you.” (Joshua 23:10.)
What is an appropriate response to G-d’s deliverance of His people and destruction of their enemies?
When Israel saw the great power which the L-RD had used against the Egyptians, the people feared the L-RD, and they believed in the L-RD and in His servant Moses. (Exodus 14:30.)
The “fear of the L-RD” is the best kind of fear. It produces what G-d designed and desires us to do: honor Him for Who He is and glorify Him for His awesome deeds.
For the first time we read that Israel “believed in the L-RD and in His servant Moses.” And as we shall see in the final study in this series, their faith resulted in worship.
Personal application
How is your “fear of the L-ORD” producing faith and worship in the midst of these fearful times? It’s easy to believe G-d is good when our health is good, our relationships are strong, our country is at peace, and our finances are in order.
But even should “all the stars align” and our circumstances are as we would desire, we recognize the transitory nature of life in our fallen world. The challenge is, how do we respond in adversity?
Habakkuk takes an accurate inventory in his day and comes up short in every category. But check out the lyrics to the song he composes:
Though the fig tree should not blossom
And there be no fruit on the vines,
Though the yield of the olive should fail
And the fields produce no food,
Though the flock should be cut off from the fold
And there be no cattle in the stalls,
Yet I will exult in the L-RD,
I will rejoice in the G-d of my salvation.
The L-RD G-d is my strength,
And He has made my feet like hinds’ feet,
And makes me walk on my high places.
For the choir director, on my stringed instruments. (Habakkuk 3:17-19.)
What song would you sing to the L-RD in your present circumstances?
[1] We may glean from this that the children of Israel were still in the process of moving that great mass of people through the Red Sea.
[2] The morning watch is between 2 a.m. until dawn.
[3] This is the repeated phrase of the Jewish people following another demonstration of the L-RD’s superiority over a pagan deity. G-d rained fire from heaven when Elijah prayed, “O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, today let it be known that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and I have done all these things at Your word. 37 Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that You, O Lord, are God, and that You have turned their heart back again.” (1 Kings 18:36c-37.) The showdown on Mount Carmel resulted in victory over Baal and the priests who served him.
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