It is really important as we read the OT that we understand we are seeing the unfolding of God’s plan of redemption. A key instrument in this plan is a man by the name of Abraham. In Genesis 12:1-3 Abraham (or, Abram, at the time) was told to leave his homeland and go to a land that God would show him, and that the Lord would bless him and make a great nation from him, so that all of the families of the earth would be blessed. The ultimate aspect of this promise involved the Son of God coming into the world to save the world (compare Mt. 1:21; also see Gal. 3:16).
It was an extremely slow start, but in Egypt God finally began multiplying the sons of Jacob, the Israelites. This was after God used Joseph to preserve this “royal family,” as is seen in the last several chapters of Genesis. When a king arose in Egypt who did know Joseph, he began to deal harshly with the Israelites, fearing them since they were becoming so numerous. But God had a plan and His plan always works. At this point, in Exodus 2, God raised up a deliverer by the name of Moses, and after preparing him, the Lord called him (as well as his brother Aaron) to lead the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage. That also was a slow go as they met with the king, or Pharaoh, who was a very hard-hearted man. It wasn’t until the Lord sent the 10th plague upon the Egyptians, the death of the first-born male of every household, that he finally let them go. So that basically brings us to our text of Exodus 14.
Let’s take a few minutes now and consider some of the familiar facts regarding chapter 14, as the Israelites cross the Red Sea. As we go we will also consider some perhaps not so familiar applications that can serve to strengthen our faith.
It wasn’t long after Pharaoh permitted Israel to leave Egypt that his heart was once again hardened, so he led his men in hot pursuit of them and soon pinned them up against the Red Sea. Some suggest that Israel took an unorthodox route from Egypt, and this may have enticed Pharaoh because they seemed to be easy prey. Very possibly the extreme shock of the death of the first-born males in Egypt had diminished somewhat, and the thought of losing such a huge labor force weighed heavily on this hard-hearted man. Regardless of the exact motives, the text says in verse 8 that “the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh.”
A quick word about this expression. Sometimes we are told that Pharaoh hardened his own heart (see 8:15, 32), and sometimes we are told that God hardened his heart (as we are here). One thing I know with great certainty is that we should not see Pharaoh as being the innocent victim of God. There is no such thing as an innocent victim of God. In simplistic terms perhaps we could say that God presented him with circumstances that He knew would cause this callous ruler to act in a certain way. God used the hard-heart of Pharaoh for His glory (see 14:18, 31). Here He does so to show one final act of His glory and power over Egypt… the dividing of the Red Sea, allowing Israel to pass through on dry ground, but the Egyptians to get stuck in the mud (literally) and then baptized (immersed) in the Red Sea. This power of God would be both well known to the surviving Egyptians and to the Israelites (see again 14:31).
But before the Sea was parted, the Israelites became fearful, seeing no possibility of escape. Being fearful, they began, again, to grumble against Moses (see vv. 11-12). Moses dealt with grumbling in Egypt and now this is but the beginning of the grumblings as Moses led the people out of Egypt. Perhaps if they gave proper thanks during the good times (see 1 Thes. 5:18; Eph. 5:20) they would have turned to Him during the difficult times (see 1 Pt. 5:7; Phil. 4:6).
But with every adversity they faced, the people began to grumble (see 15:24; 16:2). What was the problem? They still weren’t walking by faith, they were walking by sight (see 2 Cor. 5:7). They didn’t believe that listening to God was the true key to their deliverance. God’s plan was insufficient… at least they acted as if this was the case. Do we ever do that?
Of course, it is difficult for us to imagine being in the situation that Israel was in. They have just left Egyptian oppression and now they are seemingly trapped against the Red Sea. But it is also difficult for us to comprehend the faith that should have been built in the hearts of Israel by this time. They have seen the blessing of God as He built a great nation of them in adverse circumstances. They had just witnessed the great judgments by which they were delivered from slavery in Egypt. God has been nothing but true and faithful to His word and His plan. But it is easier to complain and bicker than trust in God! It is easier to walk by sight and not by faith.
Daren Schroeder