Chapter 36. Exodus 14. Pharaoh Drowned.
WHEN Moses and the Israelites left Egypt in so much haste, they did not forget Joseph’s dying command, but carried his bones with them. Then they went on, and came to the Red Sea. But when Pharaoh heard they were gone, he commanded his servants to bring his chariots, and his horses; and he went with a great army to bring the people back again. He overtook them by the sea where they were encamped. God had gone with them in a pillar of cloud to show them the road by day; and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light. They were safe in God’s keeping.
But soon they looked back; and what did they see? Pharaoh and the Egyptians coming after them, with their chariots and their horses. The Israelites cried to the Lord, and said to Moses: Why hast thou carried us out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? Did we not tell thee to let us alone to serve the Egyptians? How soon they had forgotten God’s power displayed in Egypt! But Moses said to them: Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. Fear not, and the Lord will fight for you. Then the Lord commanded the people to go on. But where could they go? The sea was before them, and there was no bridge to go over, and no ships to carry them across. What could they do? Nothing, but God could provide for them a way of escape. The pillar which was before them, went behind them. It stood now between the Israelites and the Egyptians: but the side next to the Israelites was bright to give them light; and the side next to the Egyptians was dark and cloudy, so that they could not see to do the Israelites any harm all that night. Then God told Moses to stretch his rod over the sea; and the Lord sent a very strong wind to blow back the water; and they went into the midst of the sea upon dry ground. The water stood like a wall on each side. Who did this wonder? Not Moses, not his rod, not the strong wind alone; it was God, God who has power to do all things. Not one was drowned, for God held back the water till they were all gone over safely.
Then the Egyptians tried to pursue them; and went in after them; but God looked at them through the pillar of fire and cloud, and made them fear, and took off the chariot wheels so they drove heavily: At this the Egyptians said: Let us flee from the face of Israel for the Lord is fighting for them against us. The Lord told Moses to stretch his rod over the sea, and the waters came back again upon Pharaoh and his army, and his servants, and chariots, and horses and they were all drowned. In the morning, the Israelites saw their enemies dead upon the sea shore. And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians; and the people feared the Lord, and believed Him and His servant Moses.
God would teach us by this wonderful story that we cannot do anything to save ourselves. Like the Israelites, we must stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. He made a way of escape for them, and He has made one for us, too. We cannot atone for our sins, but the judgment we deserve on account of sin has been borne by the Lord Jesus. He went down into the waters of death that we might come up victorious on the other side. “All Thy waves and Thy billows are gone over Me,” says the Lord, and, “I sink in deep mire where there is no standing; I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow Me.” Ps. 69: 2. He was speaking of the waters of death, the judgment for our sins, He was going to bear on the cross. And now, by His grace, we can “stand still” and just accept His salvation.
ML 12/19/1909