Daily Scripture Reading Exodus 14:15-31

As we go through life, sometimes we find ourselves in a situation where obeying God is risky. Perhaps an employer tells us to do something unethical, and refusing to do so means losing our job. Some missionaries are called to go to dangerous mission fields. Maybe we need to confront sin in the church, knowing that corrupt church leaders will condemn the righteous rather than the wicked.

Today we will read a passage in which Yahweh told Israel to do something which appeared to be very dangerous and foolish. Their demonstration of courage and obedience is an example we should follow in our lives.

After Pharaoh allowed Israel to leave, he regretted the loss of the slave labor. Pharaoh gathered his entire army and pursued Israel, intending to enslave them once again. When Israel saw the Egyptian army they cried out to Moses. Moses assured them Yahweh would fight for them.

Ex. 14:15 ¶ Then Yahweh said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Speak to the sons of Israel so that they go forward.

Notice the word “forward”. Going forward turned the faces of Israel away from their fear and threat, the Egyptians, and toward doing something positive and proactive.

Ex. 14:16 As for you, raise up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and split it, and the sons of Israel shall go through the midst of the sea on dry land.

Ex. 14:17 As for Me, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians with strength so that they will go in after them; and I will be glorified through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen.

Ex. 14:18 Then the Egyptians will know that I am Yahweh, when I am glorified through Pharaoh, through his chariots and his horsemen.”

The Egyptians had many gods. However, none of their so-called gods ever performed the signs and wonders Yahweh had performed. Yahweh was going to perform one more act which would offer the final proof that He is Yahweh, far superior to all the false gods of Egypt.

Ex. 14:19 ¶ Then the angel of God, who had been going before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them.

Ex. 14:20 So it came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel; and there was the cloud along with the darkness, yet it gave light at night. Thus the one did not come near the other all night.

Notice the word “night”. When artists draw depictions of Israel crossing through the Red Sea, they often draw it as being in daylight. However, it actually happened at night.

Ex. 14:21 ¶ Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and Yahweh swept the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea into dry ground, so the waters were split.

Once again we see the word “night”, reminding us this miracle happened at night, not during the day.

Ex. 14:22 So the sons of Israel went through the midst of the sea on the dry land, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.

Take note that the waters were a wall on both sides. In yesterday’s passage we saw that when Egypt pursued Israel, the Israelites lacked faith and assumed they were going to die in the wilderness. However, to their credit, they had enough faith to walk into the Red Sea even though there were walls of water on both sides of them. It took courage to walk into the Red Sea because logic and experience told them the water would crash down upon them.

Ex. 14:23 Then the Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots and his horsemen went in after them into the midst of the sea.

Ex. 14:24 Then at the morning watch, Yahweh looked down on the camp of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud and brought the camp of the Egyptians into confusion.

Notice the word “morning”. Egypt did not enter the Red Sea until daylight.

Ex. 14:25 And He caused their chariot wheels to swerve, and He made them drive with difficulty; so the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from Israel, for Yahweh is fighting for them against the Egyptians.”

Look at the words “Let us flee”. This falls under the category of too little, too late, as in too little wisdom coming too late. After all the plagues Yahweh had brought upon Egypt, the Egyptians should have known not to pursue Israel. They should have already known that Yahweh would fight on behalf of Israel.

Ex. 14:26 ¶ Then Yahweh said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may come back over the Egyptians, over their chariots and their horsemen.”

Ex. 14:27 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal state at daybreak while the Egyptians were fleeing right into it; then Yahweh overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.

Ex. 14:28 And 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.

Take note of the words “not even one of them remained”. Throughout the plagues, Yahweh had destroyed the plants and trees of Egypt, killed many of their livestock, and put to death the firstborn of the people. Then at the Red Sea, He completely obliterated the Egyptian army. In less than a year Egypt was destroyed, not by a foreign invader, and not by an uprising of the people, but by the mighty hand of Yahweh.

Ex. 14:29 But the sons of Israel walked on dry land through the midst of the sea, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.

Ex. 14:30 ¶ Thus Yahweh saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.

Ex. 14:31 Then Israel saw the great hand which Yahweh had used against the Egyptians; and the people feared Yahweh, and they believed in Yahweh and in His servant Moses.

Focus on the words “the people feared Yahweh”. Yahweh proved that He had the power to destroy an entire army, and the army was incapable of fighting back. That meant Yahweh could have destroyed Israel at any time. That caused Israel to be afraid, which was good. This is why we should be afraid of Yahweh. He has given us many commands. If we ignore them, He could put us to death instantly.

As we go through life, sometimes we find ourselves in a situation where obeying God is risky. Perhaps an employer tells us to do something unethical, and refusing to do so means losing our job. Some missionaries are called to go to dangerous mission fields. Maybe we need to confront sin in the church, knowing that corrupt church leaders will condemn the righteous rather than the wicked.

Yahweh told Israel to walk into the Red Sea with walls of watering towering on both sides of them. That would have appeared to be very dangerous and foolish, but they obeyed Yahweh and did it anyway. Their demonstration of courage and obedience is an example we should follow in our lives.

What is the dangerous thing Yahweh expects you to do?

Are you willing to obey despite the risk?

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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”