Daily Devotions
Exodus
"The LORD is exalted, for He dwells on high; He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness." Isaiah 33:5
Text: Exodus 14 : 5-9
SIGNIFICANCE OF DEPARTURE OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL
The full impact of the exodus of the children finally hit home. They formed a huge group of workers in Egypt. Their departure would spell even bleaker economic days for Egypt! How would they be able to replace their Hebrew slaves?
REGRET AND ANGER
Report after report came! Pharaoh had to do something about the mass exodus of the children of Israel! What would their foes think about Egypt? They would deride them for being weak!
“Now it was told the king of Egypt that the people had fled,
and the heart of Pharaoh and his servants was turned against
the people; and they said, ‘Why have we done this, that we have
let Israel go from serving us?'”
EXODUS 14:5
The fear that they felt towards the God of Israel was all gone now! Regret and anger filled their hearts now! They should not have let Israel go in the first place!
REVERTING TO HIS OLD ARROGANT SELF
Pharaoh had conveniently forgotten his word to Moses! He had dismissed Israel. He had even asked for Moses’ blessing (Cf. Exodus 12:31-32). His old arrogant self returned in full force. He determined within his heart that he would teach Moses a lesson and bring the children of Israel back to Egypt.
“So he made ready his chariot and took his people with him.
Also, he took six hundred choice chariots, and all the chariots
of Egypt with captains over every one of them.
And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt,
and he pursued the children of Israel…
So the Egyptians pursued them, all the horses and chariots
of Pharaoh, his horsemen and his army, and overtook them
camping by the sea beside Pi Hahiroth, before Baal Zephon.”
EXODUS 14:6-9
Pharaoh brought out the pride of Egypt’s military might – his famous chariots! They were a feared fighting team! His infantry ran alongside the chariots intending to give vital support to the charioteers.
Israel was virtually defenseless! They had no chariots certainly. They may have had some kind of a militia, but they would be no match for the trained soldiers of Egypt! How could the children of Israel hope to get out of this difficult situation? There was the sea in front of them, and there was the formidable army of Egypt pressing down on them from behind! How would God extricate them out of this situation? Pharaoh must have gloated as he led his army! Surely the last laugh would be his! Or would it?