Exodus 14: 13 & 21-28
21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, 22 and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. 23 The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea. 24 During the last watch of the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. 25 He jammed[a] the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt.” 26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.” 27 Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward[b] it, and the Lord swept them into the sea. 28 The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived.
Let’s unpack. Moses was instructed to lead the Israelites into a newfound freedom. Freedom from the bondage of the Pharaoh, the control of man, and the lack of value. The Pharaoh refused to release the Israelites without a fight. As the Israelites embarked on the road to the promised land, they were followed by their previous captors. We will soon see the intentions that God had behind the chase. The sight of the Pharaoh and his army of Egyptians frightened the Israelites. They questioned the purpose of their freedom just to be hunted down again. Many of us know this frustration very well. We have been delivered from something just for it to chase us again. It has felt better to be bound than to run from the afflicted at some point. This can often feel like a revolving door of shackles. As weariness and anger grew, Moses reassured the people with a powerful message.
13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
I know what you see excites your fear. The world around feels like it is caving in, and the enemy appears to be bigger than God. You were once bound, and now you are on the run. See that is our issue. We run from things that God can defeat. So Moses tells the Israelites to be still and allow God to be God. We try to aid God in the war when we need to cease all movement. The advisory that has afflicted you will not be an issue if you just be still. Whew! An on-time word! Especially in such a time of panic.
Verses 21-28
Moses has been instructed to part the Red Sea allowing the Israelites to travel the pathway of escape. The Egyptians began to follow the same path. Moses stretched out his hand and closed the sea on top of them. Not one of them survived. Proving that yet again, God cannot lie! God allowed the Egyptians to linger to show his power yet again. The Israelites have been freed from the most powerful being they've encountered. They had years of experience with the power of the Pharaoh. However, from bondage to freedom, they had to learn that God has all power.
Imagine the instant defeat that the Israelites felt when they approach the body of water. "God, I've been running from this thing for a while now. I'm tired, and I cannot find a way out". We have all been here before. Overwhelmed with our reality and ready to throw in the towel. If we're being honest, our faith is not always turned to the max, if it's on at all. When we see obstacles, our fight or flight kicks in. We fold before God can fix it. Some of our obstacles are so large that we try to find a way around them. You cannot get over it because you have to go through it. God did not remove the obstacles; he made a way through them.
You have to go through it and allow God to work his hand. Allow God to reveal the purpose that fueled it all. You have to go through it and allow God to defeat the enemy. Allow God to show you that his word never lies. You have to go through it and allow God to position you for his promise; it doesn't always feel good, but it will always work for your good. Don't run. Let him work. Let God make a miracle way for you to survive this!