Summer At Sea: Week 4 Day 5

Exodus 14:21-31

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 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 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.

29 But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. 30 That day the Lord saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. 31 And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.

Two days ago we talked about God judging both the Egyptians and the false gods of the land; in today’s Scripture we can see how He did this. First, God used a mighty east wind to split the sea in front of the supposed “storm god,” Baal (Exodus 14:21). Just like that, God strips the false deity of his authority over wind. Then He throws the Egyptians into confusion and jams their chariot wheels (Exodus 14:25). Now, I don’t know if you know this, but the Egyptians at this time were “The Empire;” if they were doing it, it was the best way it could be done. They weren’t disorganized, and their chariots didn’t jam. God took the strength of His enemies and made them appear weak. Then God used His divine judgment to let the Egyptians follow them into the sea, but it was too late; the winds left and the water crashed down on them. God freed His people and established His dominance at the same moment. God established what David tells us in Psalm 23:4:

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

God walked His people through the darkest valley, and in doing so claimed His supreme authority. Take some time to praise the Lord for His wonderful plan and power!