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Context No. 2871 of 4322 · Exodus

Context · Reflection

Exodus 14:21-25: in context

21Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. 22The children of Israel went into the middle of the sea on the dry ground; and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 23The Egyptians pursued, and went in after them into the middle of the sea: all of Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. 24In the morning watch, the LORD looked out on the Egyptian army through the pillar of fire and of cloud, and confused the Egyptian army. 25He took off their chariot wheels, and they drove them heavily; so that the Egyptians said, “Let’s flee from the face of Israel, for the LORD fights for them against the Egyptians!”

Moses stretches out his hand, and through the night God drives the sea back with a strong east wind, turning it to dry land, the waters standing like walls on either side. Israel walks through on the seabed. When the Egyptians pursue into the same path, God looks out from the pillar of fire, throws their army into confusion, clogs their chariot wheels, until they cry, let us flee, for the LORD fights for Israel against Egypt.

The rescue is total, and it is God's doing from start to finish. Moses only lifts his hand; God parts the water, dries the ground, confuses the army, and fights the battle. And hear the enemy's own confession at the end: the LORD fights for them. Even Egypt recognizes, too late, whose hand is at work. The same sea is a highway for God's people and a trap for their pursuers; deliverance and judgment run through the identical waters.

When I face an impossible barrier, do I believe the God who made a road through the sea can fight for me too?

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