19 “And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them: and the pillar of cloud 20 removed from before them, and stood behind them; and it came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel; and there was the cloud and the darkness, yet gave it light by night; 21 and the one came not near the other all the night. And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all the night, and 22 made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their 23 right hand, and on their left. And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh’s 24 horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. And it came to pass in the morning watch, that the Lord looked forth upon the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of cloud, and discomfited the host of the Egyptians. And He took off 25 their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily; so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the Lord fighteth for them against the Egyptians.” 26 “And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. And Moses 27 stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.”
Golden Text.—“I will sing unto the Lord, for He hath triumphed gloriously.” Ex. 15:1.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) By what visible token were the Israelites guided in their deliverance from Egypt? What peculiar movement of this guide took place as they approached the sea? Verse 19. Note 1. (2) What was the effect of this position? Verse 20. Note 2. (3) What then did Moses do? What other instrumentality was brought into action? What was the result? Verse 21. Note 3. (4) What indicates the renewed courage of the people? What were the waters to them then? Verse 22. Note 4. (5) Then what did the Egyptians do? Verse 23. Note 5. (6) What came to pass early in the morning? Verse 24. (7) How did the Lord hinder the progress of the Egyptians? Of what were they at last convinced? Verse 25. Note 6. (8) What then did the Lord say to Moses? Verse 26. Note 7. (9) When Moses stretched forth his hand, what was the effect upon the sea? and what became of the Egyptians? Verse 27. Note 8.
NOTES.
1. The Lord went before His people, the only requirement of them being to follow and obey. As long as they did this, all went well. This principle holds good in all the conflicts of the Christian life. Our leader is “the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.” His is the wisdom to plan, and His the power to execute. On our part, “this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”
2. The cloud contained the Angel of God, Christ, the Word of God, which is always light to the believer, but darkness to those who reject it.
3. The human instrument is shown in the stretching forth of Moses’ hand, but it was the Lord’s power that made the sea open before the people. No one can take any glory to himself for any great or good work; but God permits the child of faith to be a co-worker with Him. The power of God was manifest in the strong wind. Coming in response to the act of Moses, it was an object-lesson to the people, showing them that Moses was recognized of the Lord as their leader.
4. The wall of water was a flank protection on either side from their pursuers, and, in connection with the cloudy covering, it served as a baptismal font. The people had expressed their faith in the Passover supper and in sprinkling the blood on their doors, now came the baptismal service. 1 Cor. 10:1, 2.
5. The Egyptians were confused by the darkness, and did not realize that they were being led into a trap. With all their experience with the God of Israel, they had not before had to reckon with Him as a military strategist. They were still counting on the Israelites as an unorganized mass of men, women, and children, with their herds and flocks, and thought the present discomfiture was merely the result of a storm. They still thought the Israelites had gone merely by the permission of the king, and could easily be compelled to return.
6. So many troubles came to the Egyptians, and the elements warred against them in such an unusual manner, that at last they were convinced that the God of Israel was again contending with them. But their conviction came too late.
7. Again Moses’ instrumentality is called into requisition. The Lord honors him before the people. The great demonstration had begun by the stretching out of his hand containing the Lord’s rod, and now it was to be completed in the same way. Moses was a type of Christ, through whom is the great deliverance from sin. The Lord says, “Them that honor Me I will honor.”
8. “The Lord overthrew the Egyptians.”—There have been numerous attempts on the part of expositors to explain the action of the sea by natural causes, supposing that it was but an extraordinary movement of storm and tide which periodically occurs in that region, only in a less degree. This comes of the attempt to leave God out, and to account for everything by human wisdom. The lesson for us is, that God delivered His people by a mighty hand, and whatever part the elements played, they did so at His command. There is nothing impossible with Him—even to the salvation of penitent sinners, which is the greatest of all wonderful works.
