Then the Lord told Moses to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between
Migdol and the sea, opposite Baal Zephon. Pharaoh would then think that the Israelites were wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.
God would harden Pharaoh’s heart, so that he would pursue the Israelites.
God would gain glory for himself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians would know that he is the Lord. When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them. He had his chariot prepared and took his army with him. He took 600 of the best chariots, along with all the other chariots in Egypt, with officers over them all.
The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out boldly. The Egyptians, all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots, horsemen and troops, pursued the Israelites and overtook them as they camped by the sea near Pi Hahiroth. As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. They accused Moses of bringing them to the desert to die. The people said that it had been better for them to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert (Psalm 106:6–7). Moses told the people not to be afraid. They should stand firm and they would see the deliverance the Lord would give them that day. The Lord would fight for them. (Exo 14:1–14).
Watch the following short videos:
- Gulf of Aqaba.
- Israel Encampment at Pi-hahiroth.
- Road in the Wilderness.
- Coral at the Red Sea Seafloor.
- Red Sea Crossing.
Then the Lord told Moses to raise his staff and stretch out his hand over the sea to divide the waters so that the Israelites could walk through the sea on dry ground. God would harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they would follow them. God would gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. The Egyptians would know that he is the Lord. Then the angel of God, who had traveled before the army of Israel, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved and stood behind them and came between the armies of Egypt and Israel. All night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other; so neither came near the other that night.
The Egyptians pursued them and all Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and horsemen followed them into the sea. During the last watch of the night the Lord confused the Egyptian army. The Lord jammed the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving. The Egyptians then understood that the Lord was fighting for the Israelites against Egypt. Then the Lord told Moses to stretch out his hand over the sea, so that the water can flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen. Moses did so and at daybreak the sea returned to its place. The Egyptians were swept into the sea. The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen, all of Pharaoh's army that had followed the Israelites into the sea
(Deu 11:4). None of them survived. But the Israelites passed through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.
That day the Lord saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. When the Israelites saw the Lord's mighty hand shown against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in his servant Moses. (Exo 14:15–31, 15:1b, 4–5, 8–10,
Psalm 66:6a, 78:13, 52–53, 106:8–11, 114:3a, 5a).
It's somewhat unclear whether it was only the Egyptian army that was swept into
the sea or whether it also included the Pharaoh, who may be Dedumose II, see
New Egyptian Chronology. Psalm 136:13–15 indicates that it included Pharaoh.
The crossing of the Red Sea is also a picture of water baptism, see
Christian Water Baptism in The Book of Romans, see also Typology.
Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea (in Hebrew: Yam Suph) and they entered the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. When they came to Marah, they couldn't drink its water because it was bitter. The people complained to Moses for having nothing to drink. The Lord showed Moses
a piece of wood to threw into the water, and the water became drinkable. There the Lord issued a ruling and instruction to them and put them to the test. He said: "If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes,
if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you." Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water. (Exo 15:22–27).
God tested the Israelites at the place of Marah. The promise that God gave
was a promise to the Israelites, and not a promise to the Christian Church of today.
The decrees that God gave are part of the Old Covenant, see Jesus and the Law.
See also False Teaching on Healing in Word of Faith Movement in the U.S.
God still tests his people, we too can go through periods of bitterness. God doesn't tempt us (James 1:13–15), but he tests us. Instead of becoming bitter when we are tested, see The Book of Job, we should recognize hardship as a test of faith and endure it as discipline, see the first part of The Book of James.
"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him." (James 1:12).
For the next part, see Moses; Part 9: Provision from God.
For all parts, see Moses; Part 1: Introduction.
