HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 435
EXODUS 14
page 65
8 The
Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, the
king of Egypt, so he chased after the people of
Israel, who had left with fists raised in defiance.
9 The Egyptians chased after them with all the
forces in Pharaoh’s army—all his horses and
chariots, his charioteers, and his troops. The
Egyptians caught up with the people of Israel
as they were camped beside the shore near
Pi-hahiroth, across from Baal-zephon.
10 As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw
the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out
to the Lord, 11 and they said to Moses, “Why did
you bring us out here to die in the wilderness?
Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt?
What have you done to us? Why did you make
us leave Egypt? 12 Didn’t we tell you this would
happen while we were still in Egypt? We said,
‘Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a
corpse in the wilderness!’”
13 But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid.
Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you
today. The Egyptians you see today will never
be seen again. 14 The Lord himself will fight for
you. Just stay calm.”
Escape through the Red Sea
15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you
crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving!
16 Pick up your staff and raise your hand over the
sea. Divide the water so the Israelites can walk
through the middle of the sea on dry ground.
17 And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians,
and they will charge in after the Israelites. My
great glory will be displayed through Pharaoh
and his troops, his chariots, and his charioteers.
18 When my glory is displayed through them, all
Egypt will see my glory and know that I am
the Lord!”
19 Then the angel of God, who had been leading the people of Israel, moved to the rear of the
camp. The pillar of cloud also moved from the
front and stood behind them. 20 The cloud settled
between the Egyptian and Israelite camps. As
darkness fell, the cloud turned to fire, lighting
up the night. But the Egyptians and Israelites
did not approach each other all night.
21 Then Moses raised his hand over the sea,
and the Lord opened up a path through the
water with a strong east wind. The wind blew
all that night, turning the seabed into dry land.
22 So the people of Israel walked through the
middle of the sea on dry ground, with walls of
water on each side!
23 Then the Egyptians—all of Pha raoh’s
horses, chariots, and charioteers—chased them
into the middle of the sea. 24 But just before dawn
the Lord looked down on the Egyptian army
14:25 As in Greek version, Samaritan Pentateuch, and Syriac
version; Hebrew reads He removed.
from the pillar of fire and cloud, and he threw
their forces into total confusion. 25 He twisted*
their chariot wheels, making their chariots difficult to drive. “Let’s get out of here—away from
these Israelites!” the Egyptians shouted. “The
Lord is fighting for them against Egypt!”
26 When all the Israelites had reached the
other side, the Lord said to Moses, “Raise your
hand over the sea again. Then the waters will
rush back and cover the Egyptians and their
chariots and charioteers.” 27 So as the sun began
to rise, Moses raised his hand over the sea, and
the water rushed back into its usual place. The
Egyptians tried to escape, but the Lord swept
them into the sea. 28 Then the waters returned
and covered all the chariots and charioteers—
the entire army of Pharaoh. Of all the Egyptians
who had chased the Israelites into the sea, not
a single one survived.
29 But the people of Israel had walked through
the middle of the sea on dry ground, as the
water stood up like a wall on both sides. 30 That
is how the Lord rescued Israel from the hand
of the Egyptians that day. And the Israelites
saw the bodies of the Egyptians washed up on
the seashore. 31 When the people of Israel saw
• Worry
E XODU S 14:13
Whatever your worries are today, they
probably do not top the 600 Egyptian
war chariots bearing down on the people
of Israel! Trapped between the Egyptian
army and the sea, the people forgot
the God who had delivered them from
Pharaoh’s hand, and they cried out in
despair. But Moses, who focused on
the promise of God, stood firm in his
hope. When we face our “chariots,” it is
quite normal to feel anxiety and fear. But
when we remember God’s faithfulness
and his ability to bring good out of any
situation, we find our fears calmed and
our confidence renewed.
• Prayer
E XODU S 14:15
The Lord told Moses to stop praying and
get moving. Prayer must be followed
up with obedient action. Sometimes we
know what to do, but we pray for more
guidance as an excuse to justify our
failure to act. If God has shown you what
to do, then it is time to get moving!