Exodus 14

From Theologica

Contents

Overview

The Defeat of Egypt (14:1 - 14:31)

Pharaoh pursues (14:1 - 14:12)

Observation

  • 14:1 - The Lord spoke to Moses concerning what would happen to Pharaoh
  • 14:2 - God tells Moses to tell Israel to turn back and camp before Pi-Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea
    • Israel is to camp in front of Baal-zephon, oposite it, by the sea
    • Pi-hahiroth
    • Migdol - from wikipedia "Migdol, or migdal, is a Hebrew word (מגדּלה מגדּל , מגדּל מגדּול) which means either a tower (from its size or height), an elevated stage (a rostrum or pulpit), or a raised bed (within a river). Physically, it can mean fortified land, i.e. a walled city or castle; or elevated land, as in a raised bed, like a platform, possibly a lookout. Figuratively, it has connotations of proud authority."
    • Baal-zephon
  • 14:3 - By Israel doing this, it will entice Pharaoh to say they are wandering aimlessly and that they are trapped.
  • 14:4 - God will harden Pharaoh's heart.
    • Pharaoh will then chase after Israel
    • God will be honored in some as yet unspecified way through Pharaoh and his army.
    • All Egyptians will know that the Lord is God.
    • Israel obeyed.
  • 14:5 - Upon hearing that Israel had fled Egypt, Pharaoh and his servants have a change in heart.
    • Forgetting all they had just gone through they ask themselves, "What is this we have done."
    • They realize they have no one to serve them
  • 14:6 - Pharaoh prepares his chariot and takes his people with him after Israel
  • 14:7 - Pharaoh takes six hundred "select" chariots with him after Israel
    • He takes all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over them all.
  • 14:8 - Pharaoh's heart is hardened by God
    • This causes him to chase after Israel
    • Israel at the time was going out boldly
  • 14:9 - The Egyptians chased after Israel with all the horses and all the chariots of Pharaoh
    • Egypt overtakes Israel as they camp by the sea
  • 14:10 - Upon seeing Pharaoh and his army pursuing, they become frightened
    • This is a change from 14:8 when they went out boldly
    • Israel cries out to God
  • 14:11 - Speaking to Moses with sarcasm, they ask him why he brought them out of Egypt to die
    • They've already forgotten
    • They blame Moses.
  • 14:12 - Israel cleans to have tried to ignore Moses
    • They think it's better to die in bondage than in the wilderness

Interpretation

  • What God is doing: How His enemies respond; How His people respond
    • God is seeking after His glory
    • Egypt hardens her heart, forgetting God's grace and rebuke (Romans 8:5-8)
    • Israel fails to trust God; fears men over God; they have a little god
  • BOth Egypt and Israel fail to see God's plan; they respond accordingly and similarly
  • With God actively in their midst Israel still has no faith

Application

  • We quickly forget God when troubles appear on the horizon; we do not wait for His action. We are not patient
    • Even when trouble hasn't even arrived
  • We quickly forget God in our trouble even when we have seen Him work recently
    • We do not try to see what He might be doing

Parting the Sea (14:13 - 14:31)

Observation

  • 14:13 - In response to Israel's fear, Moses reassures them
    • He tells them not to fear, but to "stand by" and see how God will accomplish their salvation
    • He promises that Israel will never see the Egyptians again
  • 14:14 - The Lord will fight for Israel while they keep silent
    • xref Is 30:15 = "In quietness and trust is your strength"
  • 14:15 - God asks Moses why he is crying out to Him
    • Commands him to lead Israel forward
  • 14:16 - Moses is to lift up his staff and stretch out his hand over the see and divide it
    • Israel will go through the part on dry land.
  • 14:17 - God will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will continue to pursue
    • God again says He will be honored through Pharaoh and His army
  • 14:18 - ^^^ Why? So that the Egyptians will know god is the Lord
    • They will know it when He is honored through Pharaoh and his army
  • 14:19 - God led Israel through His angel
    • This angel moved to the rear
    • The pillar of cloud moved behind them
      • is this a parallellism? Is the angel and the pillar of cloud the same?
  • 14:20 - The pillar of cloud stood between Israeli and Egyptian camps
    • There was cloud and darkness
    • There was light at night on one side
    • This separated the two nations
  • 14:21 - Moses stretched out his hand over the sea
    • The Lord swept the sea back by a strong east wind all night
    • The sea was turned into dry land
    • The sea is divided
  • 14:22 - Israel went through the midst of the sea on dry land
    • The waters were like a wall on either side
  • 14:23 - The Egyptians take up pursuit
    • All the armies of Pharaoh pursue into the sea
  • 14:24 - During the morning watch
    • The Lord looked from the pillar of fire/cloud - Emphasis that God was in Israel's midst
    • He brought confusion to the Egyptians
  • 14:25 - God caused the Egyptians' wheels to swerve
    • They drove with difficulty
    • The Egyptians desired to flee from Israel
      • They recognized that God fought for Israel
  • 14:26 - God then commands Moses to stretch out his hand over the sea
    • So that the waters come back over the Egyptians
    • Over their chariots and horsemen

Interpretation

Application

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