— by Victor Fawole
Divine and Dramatic Deliverance. What a befitting title for Exodus Chapter 14! This chapter is one of the most famous accounts in the Bible. It appears in several other parts of the Bible. Moses composed a song to celebrate it (watch out for it tomorrow!). Moses reviewed the account in Num. 33:3-8 & Deut. 11:2-4. Rahab testified to how the event became globally popular (Jos. 2:10). When the Levites led the post-exile revival, they recounted this event too (Neh. 9:9-11). How about the numerous references in Psalms? (Psa. 66:5-7, Psa. 77:16-20, Psa. 78:12-53, Psa. 106:7-12, Psa. 114:1-8) Prophet Isaiah mentioned it again and again (Isa. 10:26, Isa. 43:16-17, Isa. 51:10). Even in the New Testament, it was referenced by Stephen (Acts 7:36), the writer of Hebrews (Heb. 11:29), Apostle Paul (1Cor. 10:1-2), and Jude (Jude 1:5).
Why so much repetition and reference of this event? God never wastes a miracle. The purpose of this miracle was to show God’s omnipotence and sovereignty.
Let us review:
1. DAUNTING DILEMMA
Exo. 14:8-9 And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the children of Israel; and the children of Israel went out with boldness. 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.
God was not done with Pharaoh yet. He had earlier said in arrogance: “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go.” Who is the Lord? I do not know the Lord. Really?! Now, his scoffing was about to be answered. God hardened his heart, fuelled his rebellion, and funded his journey to destruction, so that His power would be known throughout the world. The Israelites were on the brink of escape into the wilderness, but God ordered them to turn back and encamp with their backs to the sea. So, it appeared to Pharaoh and his Egypt that the Israelites had no escape route out of Egypt.
Exo. 14:3 For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, ‘They are bewildered by the land; the wilderness has closed them in.’
Notice:
- Pharaoh’s Pursuit:
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.
Thinking that they were trapped in the wilderness, Pharaoh launched a hot chase on the Israelites. He couldn’t bear losing 600,000 free labourers, so much that he forgot the painful loss of his own firstborn in the meantime. With 600,000 chariots, armed soldiers, and uncontrollable fury, he was ready to crush God’s firstborn in return.
- People’s Panic:
And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord.
The Israelites saw that the greatest military power in the world was coming against them and their boldness melted off. Their reaction made logical sense, but it was not a faith-inspired one. They saw the army of Egypt with the eyes of fear, not the eyes of faith. As long as the Israelites kept their eyes on the fiery pillar and followed God, they were walking by faith. But the moment they took their eyes off and looked back and saw the Egyptians getting nearer, they panicked and began to complain, which leads us to the next point.
- People’s Protest:
“Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt?
One of the devil’s tactics is to wipe off the testimonies of God’s greatness and goodness from our memories. This way, we would easily succumb to defeat. Fear made the Israelites desire the graveyards of Egypt! The delivered people wanted to be enslaved again. God’s chosen people would rather die and be buried in the enemy’s camp. Their reaction was that of rebellion (Psa. 106:6-7). Forgetting one’s redemption is really a terrible thing! (2Pet. 1:9) Hmmm… If we could only consider each of our trials and persecutions as an occasion for God to be more greatly honoured and glorified, it would certainly enable us to endure any crisis.
2. DIVINE DIRECTIVES
Exo. 14:13-14 And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”
Where terror abounds, God’s favour much more abounds. Where attacks abound, much more, we shall attract God’s protection in Jesus’ name. Where daunting dilemmas abound, may divine directives much more abound to us. Amen!
At every trial of life, we must learn to say “YES” to God’s directives, His purposes and plans.
- Say YES to His PEACE:
“And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord
To every daunting dilemma, God prepares a divine deliverance. Their situation was a terrible interception, and Moses knew they only needed God’s favourable intervention. But he had to get the people to align properly first. He gave three directives:
- i. Do not be afraid (Confidence in God)
- ii. Stand still (Patience in God)
- iii. See the salvation of God (Providence of God)
As Pastor Dammy will always say, only the still can still the storm. Despair will cast you down. Fear will make you retreat. Impatience will bring mistakes. Presumption will make you jump on your own. But faith will make you stand still and hold your peace. Salvation belongs to our God our Saviour. Deliverance belongs to our God our Deliverer. Our life belongs to the Author and Finisher.
- Say YES to His PROMISE:
“the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever.
The tyranny will indeed be over forever. No longer would their slave master terrorise them. They would see two things: the deliverance of the Lord, and the death of the Egyptians. What a sure deliverance! Likewise, our salvation is certain. The sins that easily beset us, the snares of the Devil, the lust of the eyes, the lusts of the flesh, the pride of life, and so on… we shall see them no more! We shall be redeemed even in our bodies. Our full and eternal deliverance is sure. Hallelujah!
- Say YES to His PROTECTION:
“The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.
When Pharaoh declared a war against the Israelites, he actually declared it against God. This was the Lord’s battle, hence there was no need to be worried or scared about it. The LORD is a warrior (Exo. 15:3), He needs no help. The only thing expected of the Israelites was quietness. Man cannot worry and war properly at the same time. Worry is a recipe for defeat in war. Quietness is a posture of complete trust in God’s goodness and greatness. Worry says: “How can I escape death…?” Quietness says: “I know my Redeemer lives!”
- Say YES to His PROGRESS:
“Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward.
Standing still means “prayerful trust” and going forward means “practical obedience”. And yes, “trust and obey” is not just a cliché. Those who stand still will find it easy to progress at God’s command. A lifestyle of prayer empowers us to charge forward at God’s commands without hesitation or fear. For the Israelites, going back is destruction, staying idle is destruction, going as God leads is the only way of escape. No battles are won by going backward. Forward is the way to freedom.
- Say YES to His PLAN:
But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it.
God gave Moses simple instructions. They looked so simple that one would hardly connect them to a mighty miracle. While reading this verse, I tried to dramatise it in my room, using a mopping stick. It looked too simple… Too good to be true. Then it struck me that it was NOT the rod of Moses that actually performed the miracle. God did (Isa. 51:10). God has the prerogative to use objects or people in his miraculous doings, but we are not to arrogate the glory to the objects or people. For more understanding on this, I recommend that you read these two articles written by Pastor Dammy:
i. Is There Power In The Anointing Oil?
We move on…
3. DAZZLING DEMONSTRATION
Exo. 14:19 And the Angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them.
God is a specialist in granting total defeat to people who trouble His children. In fact, it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble us (2Thess. 1:6). Pharaoh’s end is here!
Notice the:
- Supernatural Shielding:
Thus it was a cloud and darkness to the one, and it gave light by night to the other…
As I mentioned in yesterday’s review, this “Angel of God” is a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus. He was the One leading and protecting them, guiding and guarding them. He was both “before them” and also their “rear guard”. He is the same for us too (Isa. 58:8, Isa. 52:12). The pillar of the cloud was “darkness” to the Egyptians, but it gave “light” to Israel. What was a blessing to Israel was bane to Egypt. What was a comfort to Israel was confusion to Egypt.
In a like manner, the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God (1Cor. 1:18). It is the foundation of the believer’s peace and, at the same time, seals the condemnation of the guilty world. The Lamb of God leads us by His gentle hand through the green pastures and beside the still waters forever, but the unsaved will be terrified by His wrath.
- Supernatural Splitting:
“Then 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 into dry land, and the waters were divided.
Moses stretched and God swept. It was not Moses’ stretch that divided the sea; it was God’s strength (Psa. 74:13). There was no way of escape for the Israelites, but God opened up a dry path through the Red Sea. Sometimes we find ourselves caught in a problem and can’t find any way out. Don’t panic. Stand still and hold your peace. God can open up a way. He makes a way where there’s no way. People say that “heaven helps those who help themselves”, but in true biblical reality, “heaven helps those who are helpless but have faith in God”. The writer of Hebrews linked the passage through dry land to faith, such that when the Egyptians attempted it, they drowned (Heb. 11:29).
- Supernatural Striking:
“He troubled the army of the Egyptians. And He took off their chariot wheels, so that they drove them with difficulty
As the Egyptians pursued the Israelites, God struck them with confusion so that they wouldn’t catch up with the Israelites. Although God is not an author of confusion (1Cor. 14:33), we have numerous instances where He used different demonstrations to throw His enemies into confusion (1Sam. 7:10, Exo. 23:27, Jos. 10:10, Jdg. 4:15, 2Chr. 15:6). In this case, He disrupted their transportation system. It started with traffic congestion, as a possible narrow passage slowed down their pursuit. Then their chariots’ wheels jammed. Then their engines broke down, losing momentum, and unable to regain speed. I can also imagine their fuel pump not supplying well. Due to unfavourable weather conditions like strong winds, heavy rain, or fog, it is not out of place to imagine that they also experienced GPS disruption. Confusion replaced their coordination. They saw this strike against them as an act of God!
- Supernatural Sinking:
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the waters may come back upon the Egyptians, on their chariots, and on their horsemen.”
Pharaoh’s defeat is so significant that it is retold throughout the Bible (Deut. 11:4; Exo. 15:19, Jos. 24:6-7, Psa. 78:53, Psa. 106:11, Psa. 136:15, Neh. 9:11). What a supernatural sinking! Through his death and resurrection, Jesus spoiled Satan, and his principalities and powers. He saved us. He abolished death, the last enemy, and made us more than conquerors over all. He made an end to all of our sins – they are buried in the deepest part of the sea, never to rise again (Mic. 7:19). There is none left that He didn’t cover.
And as I established previously, the plagues foreshadow the end times. In the end times, Jesus will also bring death to His enemies at the battle in the valley of Armageddon (Rev. 19:11–20).
4. DYNAMIC DEVOTION
Exo. 14:30 So the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.
As the Israelites saw the dead bodies of Egyptian soldiers with their own eyes, they testified to the fact that their deliverance from Egypt was real and complete. Now, they have seen the salvation of their God. Their response to God’s salvation is worthy of note:
Notice:
- The PERCEPTION of the Miracle:
“Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians.” - The PIETY from the Miracles:
“The people feared God.” - The PERSUASION from the Miracle:
“And believed the LORD and his servant Moses.”
Dear Gogolights, if God has the power to part the Red Sea, there is no problem that is too big for Him to handle. Stand still. Hold your peace. Trust in Him. Obey His directives. And the “Egyptians” you see today, you shall see no more. Amen!
Tag five people and tell them: The Lord will fight for me, and I shall hold my peace!
God bless you for reading.
Grace to you, Church!
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