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
