THE Lord had said to Pharaoh, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me"; and Pharaoh had answered by stubborn refusal. The Lord had also said, "Israelis My son, even My firstborn; and I say unto thee, let My son go, that he may serve Me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn." But Pharaoh's heart was hardened; and at length the destroyer went forth from Jehovah, and His angel smote the firstborn of Egypt, of Pharaoh, and of all his people. And on that self-same night, as the terror-stricken Egyptians were wailing over their dead, and as their great cry arose, God brought Israel out of the land of Egypt and their hour of bondage.
The people of Israel left Egypt, a vast company of men and women and little children, with cattle and possessions. They went out in haste; but the haste of such a company must have been very slow compared with that of the flight of a few persons. Order prevailed in the host, and they brought up and encamped together on the edge of the wilderness in Etham.
How long they were in Etham we cannot tell, but we know the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them by the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light: " to go by day and night " (Ex. 13:2121And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: (Exodus 13:21).) That “fiery, cloudy pillar” was wonderful indeed, but more marvelous the fact that the Lord was in it. He was there to protect and to lead them, hence not one single step they took when following that cloud could possibly lead them astray.
After they had left Etham the people were bidden by the Lord to turn and encamp by the Red Sea. Their encampment, it is supposed, was between hills: they were shut in the wilderness, with the sea in front of them.
While they were there, the Egyptians began to say, “Why have we let Israel go from serving us?" The terror at the death of their firstborn sons passed from their hearts, the remembrance of the plagues which had fallen on them was forgotten, the might and anger of Jehovah no longer caused them to tremble—" the heart of Pharaoh and his servants was turned against the people." "The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy (or re-possess) them." (Chapter 15:9.)
Pharaoh made ready his chariot, and took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over everyone of them, and his horsemen—a great, swift army—and away he went to slay and to bring back Israel, to drag the people out of the hand and from under the protection of the living God.
The trial of our faith is exceeding precious, and God allows us oftentimes to be hedged in by dangers out of which we can see no way of escape, unless He pleases to make the way. At such moments confidence in God is our resource. God is faithful, and what He has promised He will perform. Do not try to measure your trials, dear young friends, by your own power, but seek to trust in God who loves to deliver.
The people of Israel did not know what the Lord had told Moses, and they were not aware how swiftly the army of their old master was sweeping on towards their camp. Nor did Israel know that Jehovah. would be honored upon that army. We read, the Lord made known His ways unto Moses, His acts unto the children of Israel. Over and over again Moses was in the Lord's secret, and knew what would be done, while the people of Israel were in despair because of their trials and difficulties. Faith rests in God—unbelief despairs because of difficulties.
Presently, however, the dust of the approaching army became visible. The children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, filled with terror, they cried unto the Lord. They also said to Moses, "Were there no graves for us in Egypt?” Egypt was and is a land of graves. Even now its opened graves teach us its history and its wonders. The mummy-cases of the ancestors of the Egyptians and even of animals filled the rocky sides of their river, and mummy-cases were present at their feasts. “It had been better," murmured the people, "to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness." But the Lord God had not brought His people out of bondage in order to let them be slain or enslaved again by their old master; and He was about to deliver.
“Fear ye not, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord," said Moses; then at Jehovah's bidding, Moses lifted up his rod and stretched it out over the sea, which divided at his word. God knows how to protect those who trust in Him. Unbelief might have said, “How can we get across the sea before Pharaoh reaches us? He is galloping to us at terrific speed." God is not in haste, and those who trust Him can "stand still" at the moment of intense distress.
God is a wonder-working God; His resources cannot be exhausted. He would not let Pharaoh's host touch the least child of the people of Israel. And God has numbered the very hairs of our heads, and will not allow Satan to hurt one of His people. The Lord removed His cloud and stood between the Israelites and the Egyptians. He turned the darkness of the cloud towards the camp of the Egyptians, so that they could not find where the camp of Israel was; and He turned the bright light of the cloud across the sea where the people were to go and gave them light in the night.
This is God's way for those who trust Him still, not that He now gives a light to shine upon our path, which our natural eyes can see, but no less He gives a light for our souls, and preserves us from our enemies. Be still, and trust Him. When danger comes, when Satan tries and threatens, when you are tempted to try to save yourself, remember the words, “Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord."
The pathway of Israel was a wondrous one indeed. The strong east wind drove back the sea before it, and on either side of the people of Israel were walls of water. The waters were piled up on the right hand and on the left; “the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea." (Chapter 15:8.) What a sight it must have been that night! The dark sky overhead, the multitudes of people hastening along with their children and their cattle on the dry bed of the sea, and the crystal walls, shining in the splendor of the fiery pillar, on either side of them.
The Lord made the way for His people, and lighted up their every step; in His light on they went, till the last of them reached the further shore. Not one was left behind, not the least among the children.
As the night wore on, the army of Pharaoh found out where the camp of Israel had been, for the pillar of cloud which followed at the rear of the people, moved after them. Then on, on drove the Egyptian chariots; they thundered along over the spot where Israel's camp had been, and down to the sea in battle array—all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots and his horsemen—and then right into the pathway Jehovah had made.
Our picture gives a faithful representation of the rush of their chariots, as is gathered from the ancient pictures still remaining in Egypt.
The dawn was nearly breaking, the morning watch had come; the army of the enemy was in the crystal pathway; when Jehovah looked through the dark cloud upon Pharaoh and his host. Then terror seized them; they discovered where they were. They saw the. Jehovah they had despised. He took off their chariot wheels, so that they went heavily, and the army of Pharaoh turned to flee with the cry, "The Lord fighteth for them against the Egyptians."
The Lord's time had now come. It was morning, Israel was in safety across the waters, the army of Pharaoh in the midst of the sea. " Stretch out thine hand over the sea," said the Lord to Moses, and at his word those solid walls of crystal gave way; the mass of waters returned to their strength, and crushing down, swept into destruction Pharaoh's chosen captains and his swift army.
“THE Lord is a man of war: the Lord is His name. Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath He cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red Sea."