GOD permitted the full power of the enemy to be arrayed against Israel encamped by the Red Sea. Never were they in such great alarm than when they saw Pharaoh and the Egyptians marching after them, and in their unbelief they cried out to Moses: “Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness?... For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.” They judged according to the sight of their eyes, and as unbelief ever does, they left the Lord out, making it a question between themselves and the Egyptians.
But God used their alarm to show their total inability to cope with their terrible situation. It was for the purpose of having the full power of Satan brought out against His people in order that He might destroy that power forever. Pharaoh and all his hosts and chariots were drawn up there ready to devour the poor children of Israel. Captivity or death seemed certain. But God was there and then about to accomplish a deliverance such as was never known before, and which would ever rain the bright and strong ground for counting on such a God. A work was to be wrought that day in which the people could have no part. They needed deliverance from two things — Pharaoh and his hosts, type of Satan’s power; and death and judgment, as represented by the Red Sea. For through man’s sin Satan now wields the power of death as the just judgment of God against sin.
In Egypt the children of Israel had just experienced what it was to be sheltered from the judgment of God by the blood of the paschal lamb)
but they had not yet learned the value of that blood, how that it had secured everything for them, deliverance from their foes, guidance through the wilderness and eve possession of the promised inheritance. So when Pharaoh appeared they were “sore afraid” and “cried unto the Lord.”
“And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will show you today; for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more forever. The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.” vv. 13,14.
“Salvation is of the Lord.” How many there are who think they must do something. No! He who has prided the true Passover Lamb (Christ), whose blood cleanses from our sin, will do the rest. Salvation is God’s own perfect, finished work. What can man do in the presence of such foes as Satan and death — as seen here in Pharaoh’s power and the Red Sea? Nothing! He cannot escape, and if he would learn the lesson, he must “stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord.”
“The Lord shall fight for you and ye shall hold your peace.” Here was the great secret of victory.
ML-06/29/1969