ETB Exodus 14:19-31

Session 5: 12/29/2024 Power Revealed

The Greek word exodos appears about fifty times in the Greek Old Testament and three times in the New Testament. While for us it typically refers to a single event, like an exit or the end of a play or one’s life, the Israelites saw it as the season when God demonstrated His unmatched power (Deut. 7:19).

The exodus represents a foundational moment in the Bible and points toward the message of the gospel. It is essential to God’s salvific work. Without the language of the exodus narrative, the rest of the Bible, especially the New Testament, would be very different. [LifeWay Adults (2024). Explore the Bible: Adult Leader Guide, Spring 2024]

Hollywood has portrayed today’s passage or similar references in movies using various special effects, depending on the technology available.

Ask: What movie do you remember profoundly impressing you with its special effects?

I met someone in Oklahoma that did not believe that man had landed on the moon and claimed it was all special effects for TV.

How may the prolific use of computer graphics and animation hinder people from believing in the Bible?

Transition: Hollywood has spent millions of dollars showing events in the Bible. But God performed miracles without special effects, including an event that crippled a world power and saved a nation just finding its footing as a people.

Understand the Context

Two weeks ago, we studied the first Passover in Egypt and our passage ended with Pharoah telling the people of Israel to leave. Today’s passage picks up the narrative less the 48 hours after that dismissal.

Then the Lord led Israel from Succoth to Baal-zephon by the Red Sea, guiding them by His pillar of cloud and pillar of fire, which never left them (13:17–14:2). By the sea, God warned Moses that he would cause Pharaoh to harden his heart and pursue Israel, so that the Lord’s glory would be revealed and the Egyptians would know that He alone is God (14:3-4).

When Israel saw the Egyptians coming, they cried out in terror to the Lord and complained to Moses. Although their current situation had resulted from their initial groaning under the weight of oppression and their pleas to God for help (2:23), like spoiled children they now reconstructed the facts and made their situation Moses’s fault. In their minds, it would have been better to stay in Egyptian slavery than to face the dangers of the wilderness (14:11-12).

Rather than arguing the point, Moses turned to God in prayer for help and challenged the people not to fear. [ETB:ALG Spr'24]

Our lesson passage begins God answering Moses’ prayer and the people’s fears in a visible way.

Explore the Text

Exodus 14:19–22 ESV

19 Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, 20 coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was the cloud and the darkness. And it lit up the night without one coming near the other all night. 21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. 22 And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.

The angel… and the pillar of cloud

I cannot tell from the translations if this pillar and the angel are separate entities or one and the same. From the rest of the context and cross references, it appears to be a description of how the two were together but separate, similar to the bush being aflame but not burning up.

was going before… and stood behind

The pillar and angel at first were moving or “going” before the people leading them in the direction to go and the people were expected to follow. Now the presence of God gets behind them and “stands” still. It is still encouraging them to move forward but also preventing them from going back as well.

God will encourage faithful movement however we need if we are willing to heed His directive. Sometimes we need Him to show us the way to go by going before, sometimes we need Him to keep us from going back.

Which way does God seem to lead you more often, clearing the path or barring the return?

The angel and pillar moved to the rear of the camp not only for guidance, but also as protection.

coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel

I looked at various maps depicting various possible routes where these events may have happened. There were several places with large bodies of water and small peninsulas that would allow the people of Israel to “encamp facing the sea” as directed back in verse 2. This would also give the Egyptian armies a false hope of “trapping” the slaves against the sea. Then having this fiery cloud at the base of such a peninsula would easily keep the two groups separated.

Unfortunately, I do not believe a single one of those maps accurately displayed the path taken. Mostly because they do not have an accurate topographic or hydrological map of the land when these events were occurring. This area was known for flooding often, some places even annually, which changes landscapes and riverbeds. Many of the hydrology and road maps from 6 months ago for Western North Carolina are inaccurate today after one rain event called Helene. I think is it very likely that after 3000+ years (3470 according to Pastor Steve) the waterways and possible roadways have changed significantly enough that the exact paths could not be depicted in a way that matches what we are reading. I am just going believe the words as they are written and not try and force them into modern cartography.

And there was the cloud and the darkness. And it lit up the night

Verse 20 must be a difficult phrase in the Hebrew because it did not seem many of the English translations I read agreed. Some combined the phrase, some parsed out to different sentences.

ESV, CSB - There was the cloud and the darkness. And it lit up the night...

LSB - And there was the cloud along with the darkness, yet it gave light at night

LEB - And it was a dark cloud, but it gave light to the night

NLT - As darkness fill, the cloud turned to fire, lighting up the night

I think this one fit well with verses describing the visible presence of God like at the end of the previous chapter:

Exodus 13:22 “22 The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.”

The two translations that were the most different and suggested additional context that the others did not were:

NIV - Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other

GNB - The cloud made it dark for the Egyptians, but gave light to the people of Israel.

I am not sure how that extra division in the text comes through for these translators, but the wording does reflect the grace and favor of God on these two people groups, additionally foreshadowing the final outcome of this encounter.

the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night

At God’s command, Moses lifted his hands and the staff out toward the sea and God used the wind to display His power to the people.

Because of the overall topography of the land which cannot change significantly, all water flows toward the Mediterranean Sea, meaning it goes from south to north. The people were generally going toward the east. This wind therefore blew across the water into their facing cutting the path in the water from the east side to the west where they were. It also happened overnight so the people may not have seen this new path until the sun started to come up. I imagine that if the sun came up before this channel disappeared, the dawn’s light would shine right down between these two walls of water. Like when the sun comes up between the tall buildings in a city - except maybe with the sun glinting off of some fish scales as that swam to the edge.

the waters being a wall

The people of Israel went into the midst of the sea, but this was not like any other fording of a river.

The Hebrew word translated “wall” (homah) indicates a large wall, like what would surround a city. Likewise, the Hebrew word for sea (yam) only applies to deep water. Israel did not cross a shallow marsh, as some skeptics contend. They were crossing between two massive ramparts of water on each side. [ETB:ALG Spr'24]

The quarterly mentions that the word used here for “wall” in not a small barrier that is easily stepped over but speaks of larger city walls.

I think it is also significant that this is the first use of this word in Scripture letting us know that other walls will be compared to these. The next instance this word is used to describe actual walls has probably already come to your mind because when talk about the Old Testament and city walls, what city comes to mind?

Jericho is our next use of this word used in a narrative text.

Joshua 2:15 “15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was built into the city wall, so that she lived in the wall.”

Joshua 6:5 “5 And when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him.””

These descriptions negate any possibility of this “division of the sea” being a natural tidal or seasonal event. Insurmountable walls of water do not happen naturally, but to have 2 and dry ground between is even more miraculous.

What would have happened if one of the people went left or right?

Deuteronomy 5:32 “32 You shall be careful therefore to do as the Lord your God has commanded you. You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.”

Matthew 7:13–14 “13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”

The Hebrews were not the only ones to enter the channel between these two walls of water.

Exodus 14:23–28 ESV

23 The Egyptians pursued and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. 24 And in the morning watch the Lord in the pillar of fire and of cloud looked down on the Egyptian forces and threw the Egyptian forces into a panic, 25 clogging their chariot wheels so that they drove heavily. And the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from before Israel, for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians.” 26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.” 27 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal course when the morning appeared. And as the Egyptians fled into it, the Lord threw the Egyptians into the midst of the sea. 28 The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen; of all the host of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea, not one of them remained.

Ask: What change occurred that started all the action in these verses? What were Pharaoh’s intentions?

Exodus 14:17 “17 And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they shall go in after them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, his chariots, and his horsemen.”

We have read that phrase or one similar multiple times in Exodus either about Pharaoh’s or the Egyptian’s hearts being hardened by the Lord.

How do you reconcile the concept of a holy God causing an unholy attitude within Pharoah and the Egyptians?

Someone explained to me this way at it helped. God is always holy, and His ways are higher than ours, but He treats all people with His pure love. That love, like the sun’s light, shines down on all people. It is the ingredients or internal character that determine the reaction. The same heat from our sun will melt butter and harden brick. So it is with God’s love.

This pursuit one way the Egyptian’s hardened heart is displayed. Their “following closely with a hostile nature” was so intense that they did not even realize the situation they were getting themselves into until it was too late.

Have you ever been blinded by your own desires that you went into a dangerous situation?

Part of what makes me think this was supernatural “blinding rage” was the fact that it affected all the armies present. I also see how this hardening was removed in the next few verses so that God’s enemies would realize their fate and understand God’s power before they went into eternity.

in the morning watch

This phrase about the time in verse 24 is when God removed the rage and caused the panic which clarifies some timing of events for us.

Although verse 21 tells us the wind blew “all night” the path through the sea was available and used before the sun came up.

This “morning watch” was most like the period just before the dawning of the sun.

It also suggests that the “pillar of fire” was bright enough to light enough of the path for the Israelis to see.

Also, since verse 20 says this pillar kept the two camps separated all night, it must have moved through the sea with them. Pushing the Hebrews forward to salvation and pulling the Egyptians along to their destruction.

clogging their chariot wheels so that they drove heavily.

What happened to the wheels of the chariots is must be a difficult Hebrew phrase to interpret because in the 10 different English versions I read, the translation varied significantly between 6. (Compared to verse 21, where on the name of God used and tenses of verbs vary.)

ESV - clogging their chariot wheels so that they drove heavily.

CSB - He caused their chariot wheels to swerve and made them drive with difficulty

KJV - And [took off] their chariot wheels

NIV - He jammed the wheels of their chariots

NLT - He twisted their chariot wheels,

GNB - He made the wheels of their chariots get stuck

This is another one of those times that I believe when the translation of the words could be multiple options, then most or all of them probably happened.

The surrounding context, as it often does in Scripture, helps clarify what the intent of the wording means.

How many people groups are mentioned in this passage? Israel and the Egyptians.

In verse 22, and in verse 29, how is the ground described and for which group?

If the ground was dry for the Israelites, what does that infer about the ground for the Egyptians?

What would wet, sandy ground do to heavy chariot wheels?

It would clog them, make them twist and swerve erratically, get them stuck, and horses could jerk them off if they panicked.

The Israelites walked along with ease, but the Egyptians were having a difficulty going along the same path.

The Egyptians recognized that this was something supernatural being done by the Lord. Look at the end of the verse.

the Lord fights for them

“Yahweh fights for them.” They had seen all the plagues comes through their country and had heard about Yahweh, the god of the slaves, but until now they did not realize that He was truly “against” them and not just being a wrathful god like the ones they worship. Some may have also suddenly understood the Pharaoh was not the one holding back the water.

sea returned to its normal course when the morning appeared

God then instructed Moses to perform the same semantics again and the sea returned to its natural state.

No one on earth at this time ever saw this parted sea in the daylight. I could believe that some of those first into the divided sea wondered if it went all the way across. With only God’s pillar or light behind casting a shadow on the path and maybe their oil lamps to light the way, it would be a harrowing experience.

Imagery like that reminds me of Psalms & Proverbs that speak of God lighting the way and our need to trust in His guidance.

Psalm 119:105 “105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

Proverbs 3:5–6 “5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

NIV Bible Speaks Today: Notes Chapter 14

With about twenty-five separate references to it, we can reasonably say that the crossing of the Red Sea (21–28) remained vivid in Old Testament memory. The first reference (10:19) may pass unnoticed, but in hindsight the use of the Red Sea to end the huge locust threat is significant. The sea starts to become the location for a demonstration of the Lord’s sovereign rule over every force within the created order and the place of his power exercised against his enemies for the good of his people. At the crucial moment, it was not locusts but Egyptians that the Red Sea devoured

Verses 27-29 Repeat the actions and truths of the previous verses with slightly different words and emphasis, but the literary tactic of repetition is to validate its truth and factual content. This is the opposite of what you expect to happen if someone is lying, they typically cannot repeat the story the same accurately each time. Moses, writing these events many years later shows us how vividly he remembers these events by describing them twice.

Our passage ends with the people seeing the totality of their rescue from Egypt.

Exodus 14:29–31 ESV

29 But the people of Israel walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 30 Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses.

If God had only allowed the people of Israel to escape, then Pharoah may have found an alternate route to pursue and overtake “his slaves.” But be decimating the Egyptian cavalry, Pharaoh had nothing left to pursue them with and was also defenseless if other countries attempted to invade. God’s salvation from Egyptian’s hold was complete, but the people’s walk with the Lord to the Promised Land had only just begun.

This event and its imagery is used throughout Scripture as reminders of God’s saving power.

The ESV Study Bible Chapter 14

14:22 The people go down symbolically into death and come up alive, prefiguring the reception of resurrection life through Christ (see Rom. 6:4; 1 Cor. 10:2).

14:30 The death of Egyptians prefigures that final destruction of all God’s enemies (Rev. 20:15; 21:8).

Israel saw … feared... and believed.

The Bible speaks of fear in both negative and positive terms. God’s people are sometimes told not to fear (in the sense of being “afraid”), yet at other times are commended because they feared the Lord (using the same Hebrew word). Here, Moses referred to the positive fear of God. This is a deep sense of awe before Him and the equivalent of faith in Him. Positive fear of God, sometimes called godly fear, blends into faith, gratitude, love, obedience, and worship. [ETB:ALG Spr'24]

We know how the rest of the story goes and how long the people acted as if they believed. But this combination of words, (saw, feared, and believed) reminded me of an admonition of the Lord to Thomas.

John 20:27–29 “27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.””

Apply the Text

This week’s memory verse is Ex.14:13

Exodus 14:13 “13 And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.”

What “Egyptians” might you be facing this week that you need the Lord’s encouragement to face?

Pray: God, please reveal Yourself to each of these men this week by answering at least one of their prayers. Help us to follow You and Your way even when the circumstances we see seem bleak or impossible. Remind us often that You are always in control. Let us see Your power manifested to strengthen our faith and magnify Your name.