Exodus 14
God leads Israel to the seashore
Then the Existing One told Moses,
“Tell Israel’s descendants to go back and camp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol [a fortified city on the Egyptian border] and the sea. Camp there in front of Baal-zephon and by the sea. Pharaoh will think that Israel is confused out in the world, imprisoned by the wilderness. I’ll stiffen Pharaoh’s heart, and he’ll chase after you. My weightiness will increase through Pharaoh and his entire army, and the Egyptians will know that I’m the Existing One.”
So that’s what they did.
Egypt chases after Israel
When Pharaoh heard that the people had left, he and his servants changed their hearts toward the Israelites and asked themselves,
“Why did we release Israel from our servitude?”
So Pharaoh prepared his chariots and army. He took all of Egypt’s chariots including his best 600 and equipped them all with officers. The Existing One stiffened his heart, and Pharaoh chased after Israel as they left with their newfound power. The Egyptian army pursued them with all of their chariots and horsemen and found them camping by the sea near Pi-hahiroth and Baal-zephon.
As the Israelites saw them approaching, they grew terrified and cried out to the Existing One. They asked Moses,
“Did Egypt not have enough cemeteries for us that you had to take us out here to die in the wilderness? Why’d you bring us out of Egypt? Didn’t we tell you to leave us alone so we could serve the Egyptians? Working for the Egyptians would have been better than dying in this wasteland!”
But Moses told the people,
“Don’t be scared! Stand your ground and watch how the Existing One rescues you today. Take a good look at these Egyptians, because you’ll never see them again. The Existing One will fight for you while you keep quiet.”
God splits the sea
Then the Existing One asked Moses,
“Why are you crying out to me? Tell Israel’s descendants to press forward.
“Moses, you’ll need to lift your staff and raise your hand over the sea and split it so that Israel’s descendants can enter the sea’s area on dry ground. While you do that, I will stiffen the Egyptians’ hearts so that they’ll follow after them. Then my weightiness will increase through Pharaoh and his entire army of chariots and horsemen. Then the Egyptians will know that I’m the Existing One as my weightiness is increased through them.”
God’s angel who had been leading Israel’s people pulled back and positioned the cloud column behind Israel so that it stayed between them and the Egyptians. The cloud obscured the surroundings yet also illuminated the area preventing either camp from approaching the other all night.
Then Moses reached his hand out over the sea and the Existing One moved the sea back with a strong east wind all night that split the water and exposed dry land. The Israelites walked on dry land right into the seabed. The water was like walls on their right and left. Then the Egyptians followed them into the seabed with all their horses, horsemen, and chariots. In the morning the Existing One looked down at the Egyptian army through the column of fire and cloud and confused them, causing their chariot wheels to swerve and roll poorly which made the Egyptians to say,
“Let’s leave them alone because the Existing One is waging war against us on their behalf!”
Then the Existing One told Moses,
“Reach your hand out over the sea so that the water goes back over the Egyptians, their chariots, and their horsemen.”
So Moses reached out his hand over the sea, and it returned to its normal state at sunrise right as the Egyptians were charging into the seabed. The Existing One shook the Egyptians out into the middle of the sea floor, and then the water went back and covered Pharaoh’s entire army after they had chased Israel into the middle of the seabed. But the Israelites continued walking on dry ground through the seabed with walls of water on their right and left.
So the Existing One saved Israel from Egypt’s power that day, and the Israelites witnessed the Egyptians die near the seashore. When Israel saw the power the Existing One used against the Egyptians, they viewed him with more fear and respect, and they depended on the Existing One and his servant Moses.
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