The big picture
The people of Israel have left slavery in Egypt and are following God's guidance. Moses, their leader, now receives an order to camp beside the sea. Pharaoh, Egypt's king, regrets losing their labour and pursues them with his army. Water lies ahead and armed chariots approach behind. The people fear death, but God will open a way through the sea and end the army's pursuit there.
In this chapter
- Pharaoh Pursues the Departed Slaves Exodus 14:1-9
The next command tells Moses to turn and camp by the sea near named landmarks.
- Fear Makes Slavery Seem Safer Exodus 14:10-14
Israel sees the Egyptians approaching and cries to the LORD in fear.
- God Places Protection Behind Israel Exodus 14:15-20
Now Moses must send the people forward.
- Dry Ground Opens Through the Sea Exodus 14:21-25
Moses holds his hand over the sea.
- The Water Ends the Pursuit Exodus 14:26-31
Moses receives another command to stretch his hand over the sea.
Central truth
God opens a path through the sea for Israel and destroys the pursuing army, turning the people's fear into trust.
Scripture beside the summary
Exodus · King James Version · 31Exodus 14:1-9
Pharaoh Pursues the Departed Slaves
The next command tells Moses to turn and camp by the sea near named landmarks. Pharaoh will think the wilderness has trapped them. God says he will harden the king's heart and gain honour through what happens to the pursuing force. Pharaoh and his servants regret letting their labourers go. He prepares his chariot, six hundred chosen chariots, and the rest of Egypt's chariot force with their officers. They catch up with Israel's camp beside the sea. The former masters now bring military power against the people they released.
In everyday life
The expedition leader studies a map while a search team behind them mistakes a planned turn for a dead end. The walkers can see only the water ahead, and their leader alone knows why they have stopped there. Their position looks exposed. Appearances are the only likeness here; God intends a judgment on armed pursuers at the sea.
Notice
Exodus 14:5 Pharaoh's servants name the lost service of Israel as their regret. Their pursuit seeks to recover the labour they had held through slavery.
Exodus 14:1-9
King James Version1And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baal-zephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea.
3For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in.
4And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD. And they did so.
5And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?
6And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him:
7And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them.
8And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an high hand.
9But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pi-hahiroth, before Baal-zephon.
Exodus 14:10-14
Fear Makes Slavery Seem Safer
Israel sees the Egyptians approaching and cries to the LORD in fear. The people accuse Moses of bringing them out to die. They say serving Egypt would have been better than death in the wilderness. Moses tells them not to fear but to stand and see the LORD's rescue. The Egyptians they see now will not remain their threat. God will fight for them while they keep still. Their escape has reached a point where they cannot overcome the army by their own strength.
In everyday life
A woman at a refuge hears that her threatening former employer has found the address. She grips her bag and says returning to his control feels safer than waiting. The shelter worker asks her to stay while protection is arranged. Fear makes the old captivity look familiar. Moses promises God's victory, which no shelter worker can guarantee.
Notice
Exodus 14:12 The people compare slavery with the death they expect, not with the rescue God promises. Their fear narrows the choices they can imagine.
Exodus 14:10-14
King James Version10And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD.
11And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?
12Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.
13And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
14The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
Exodus 14:15-20
God Places Protection Behind Israel
Now Moses must send the people forward. Moses must stretch his rod and hand over the sea so Israel can cross on dry ground. The Egyptians will follow, and God will gain honour over their force. God's angel and the pillar of cloud move from the front of Israel's camp to the rear. The cloud stands between the two camps, bringing darkness to one side and light to the other. Throughout the night, the pursuing army cannot reach Israel. Guidance becomes a barrier while the way ahead opens.
In everyday life
A caving instructor moves from the front to the tight opening behind the group. He braces a loose gate while the slower visitors crawl through the next safe passage. The guide now protects the rear instead of pointing ahead. His place changes with the danger. God's cloud blocks an army, rather than holding a cave gate steady.
Notice
Exodus 14:19 The guide moves behind the people when danger comes from that direction. The change of position protects them rather than abandoning their route.
Exodus 14:15-20
King James Version15And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:
16But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.
17And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
18And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
19And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:
20And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.
Exodus 14:21-25
Dry Ground Opens Through the Sea
Moses holds his hand over the sea. The LORD drives the water back with a strong east wind through the night, leaving dry ground. Israel enters between walls of water. Pharaoh's horses, chariots, and riders follow. Near morning, God throws the Egyptian force into confusion and removes their chariot wheels, making movement hard. The soldiers recognize that the LORD is fighting for Israel and decide to flee. Their equipment and pursuit no longer give them control. The path that carries Israel toward safety becomes a place of alarm for their pursuers.
In everyday life
Several wheelchair users cross a temporary ramp from a railway carriage while staff hold others back. A heavy luggage trolley enters behind them and jams, leaving its operator unable to turn. The narrow route serves those it was designed to help. God opens the sea and defeats armed pursuers; a ramp is human engineering.
Notice
Exodus 14:25 The Egyptians themselves say that the LORD fights for Israel. The pursuing army recognizes the same reality Moses had announced to the frightened people.
Exodus 14:21-25
King James Version21And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
22And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
23And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.
24And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians,
25And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians.
Exodus 14:26-31
The Water Ends the Pursuit
Moses receives another command to stretch his hand over the sea. At morning, the water returns and covers the Egyptian chariots, riders, and army that entered after Israel. None of that force survives. Israel has crossed on dry land and now sees Egyptian bodies along the shore. Exodus calls this the LORD's rescue from Egyptian control. The people see what he has done, fear him, and trust both him and Moses his servant. Their freedom is secured through a judgment that kills their pursuers, not through a peaceful agreement.
In everyday life
Those rescued sailors sit wrapped in blankets while a coastguard officer confirms that the danger has passed. Relief comes with silence as they learn that others have died. The end of fear does not make the loss light. They look differently at the crew who brought them through. Israel's rescue includes God's deliberate judgment against the pursuing army.
Notice
Exodus 14:31 Trust follows the people's sight of God's action. Their earlier accusation against Moses gives way to belief in him as God's servant.
Exodus 14:26-31
King James Version26And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.
27And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.
28And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.
29But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
30Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.
31And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Exodus 14:1 begins with “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,”
Where the chapter turns
Exodus 14:16 forms a natural hinge: “But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of…”
The final note
Exodus 14:31 leaves the reader with “And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words Egyptians, Israel, LORD, children, Pharaoh, chariots help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- host
- An army or large organized company, here Pharaoh's fighting force.
- salvation
- Rescue from danger, here release from the pursuing Egyptian army.
Music and video connected to the passage
Related media appears when its Scripture reference overlaps this study. Music and video can illuminate a theme while the biblical text remains the foundation.
