Exodus 14:26–31

"When all the Israelites had reached the other side, the LORD said to Moses, 'Raise your hand over the sea again. Then the waters will rush back and cover the Egyptians and their chariots and charioteers.' So as the sun began to rise, Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the water rushed back into its usual place. The Egyptians tried to escape, but the LORD swept them into the sea. Then the waters returned and covered all the chariots and charioteers—the entire army of Pharaoh. Of all the Egyptians who had chased the Israelites into the sea, not a single one survived.

 

       But the people of Israel had walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, as the water stood up like a wall on both sides. That is how the LORD rescued Israel from the hand of the Egyptians that day. And the Israelites saw the bodies of the Egyptians washed up on the seashore. When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the LORD had unleashed against the Egyptians, they were filled with awe before him. They put their faith in the LORD and in his servant Moses."

 

 

This amazing miracle was all the Lord's doing. The people just had to walk in the way God had prepared for them. He took care of everything else: creating the way in the first place by making the ground dry enough for the Israelites to walk on, then letting the waters rush back at just the right moment to destroy the Egyptians. God always does the bulk of the work. Our job is to walk in the way he has prepared. Do that, and let him take care of the rest.

Exodus 14:21–22

"Then Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the LORD opened up a path through the water with a strong east wind. The wind blew all that night, turning the seabed into dry land. So the people of Israel walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on each side!"

 

This event, in which God made a "pathway through the mighty waters—a pathway no one knew was there" (Psalm 77:19), is one of the great historical events that God wants his people to always remember. It is a picture of what God can and does do for his people all the time: making a way where there was no way, so that it would be clear that it is God who is at work. Where in your life do you need God to "make a way where there is no way"? Ask him for that; trust him for that.

Exodus 14:1–4, 9–14

"Then the LORD gave these instructions to Moses: 'Order the Israelites to turn back and camp by Pi-hahiroth between Migdol and the sea. Camp there along the shore, across from Baal-zephon. Then Pharaoh will think, "The Israelites are confused. They are trapped in the wilderness!" And once again I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will chase after you. I have planned this in order to display my glory through Pharaoh and his whole army. After this the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD!' So the Israelites camped there as they were told. …

The Egyptians chased after them with all the forces in Pharaoh's army—all his horses and chariots, his charioteers, and his troops. The Egyptians caught up with the people of Israel as they were camped beside the shore near Pi-hahiroth, across from Baal-zephon.

       As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the LORD, and they said to Moses, 'Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren't there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt? Didn't we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, "Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It's better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!'"

       But Moses told the people, 'Don't be afraid. Just stand still and watch the LORD rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The LORD himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.'"

 

God told the people, through Moses, that he would cause Pharaoh to chase after them and that this would be for God's glory. They camped where he told them, but they obviously didn't understand what God said because when they saw the Egyptians coming after them, they panicked. So Moses reiterated the promise that God would deliver them. They just had to stand and watch what God would do. How many times have you doubted his promises because you were looking at your circumstances? Stand still and watch God come through on his promise!

Exodus 13:21–22

"The LORD went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud, and he provided light at night with a pillar of fire. This allowed them to travel by day or by night. And the LORD did not remove the pillar of cloud or pillar of fire from its place in front of the people."

God guided his people by day and by night. He led them by something that contrasted with their environment: a pillar of cloud by day, a pillar of fire by night. Do you need God's direction? His guidance may be something you won't see if you're looking at your environment. You need to look to God's Word and allow the Holy Spirit in you to point the way. Those are the two things he'll never remove.