Exodus 14:1-14

¹ Then the LORD spoke to Moses, ² “Speak to the people of Israel and make them turn back and encamp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, in front of Baal-zephon; you will encamp facing it, by the sea. ³ Because Pharaoh will say of the people of Israel, ‘They are wandering in the land; the desert has shut them in.’ ⁴ And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.” And they did so. ⁵ When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the mind of Pharaoh and his servants was changed toward the people, and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have sent Israel away from serving us?” ⁶ So he made ready his chariot and took his people with him, ⁷ and took six hundred chosen chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them. ⁸ And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the people of Israel while the people of Israel were going out defiantly. ⁹ The Egyptians pursued them, all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and his horsemen and his army, and overtook them encamped at the sea, by Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon. ¹⁰ When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and see, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they were very afraid. And the people of Israel cried out to the LORD. ¹¹ They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the desert? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? ¹² Is not this what we told you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone, so that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert.” ¹³ And Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, stand firm, and you will see the LORD’s deliverance, which he will work for you today. Because you see the Egyptians today, you will never see them again. ¹⁴ The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to plow in.”

you will see the LORD’s deliverance

In the panic of seeing the Egyptians again, the Israelites forgot the whole of the exodus encounter. All it took was some time and a few hundred chariots. Both the Egyptians and the Israelites were thinking that time and location would make a difference. But what we know about God is that those things are insignificant. You may face a great challenge today. You may be tempted to think that it is too much for you. You need to remember what God has already done for you.

Difficulties and challenges will come in this life. They are not the exception, they are the rule. The purpose for them is that God wants to get the glory over the gods and rulers of the land. He is the God of rescue. All we have to do is plow in. The Hebrew expression was a figure of speech which called for silent trust during times of distress. Moses pointed out that it was actually a good thing that the Israelites saw those chariots coming at them. It meant that God was true in his prediction (vs. 4). So, there was every reason to trust that the deliverance would come as well.

Listen to the apostle Peter’s advice for when we face similar situations: “Be alert; be watching. Your opponent the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to eat. Resist him by standing firm in your faith, because you know that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your other brothers throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, validate, strengthen, and establish you.”[1]

LORD, thank you for the showdowns in life. Give us the insight to stand firm, and let you fight our hopeless battles, so that you get glory over our enemies.

[1] 1 Peter 5:8-10.