Exodus 14:10
And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD. And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD.
Israel was encamped by the sea with the Red Sea before them and the pursuing Egyptian host behind them, shut in by rugged mountains with no visible way of escape. Pharaoh drew nigh with his army equipped for war on horses and in chariots, and at the sight this helpless multitude of former slaves was sore afraid with failing hearts before the mightiest army of the mightiest nation. Their cry was divided, for some cried out to the Lord while many complained against Moses and wished they had stayed in Egypt, showing how soon they distrusted God and forgot His judgments upon Egypt when their confidence was tested. Moses answered them to fear not but to trust in God and stand still and see His salvation, for the Lord would fight for them, and God had brought them there to make them recognize their helplessness and need for divine help. God then commanded them to go forward in faith and parted the sea to bring them through on dry land, teaching that His people must cease murmurings and complaints and turn them to prayer and faith, for those who trust His word though helpless can withstand the power of the whole world.
Trapped at the Sea
Israel was encamped by the sea with the Red Sea before them and the Egyptian host behind them, shut in by rugged mountains on either side so that they could see no way of escape. The route beside the mountain appeared impassable, and the position left them hemmed in between water, mountain barriers, and the enemy. To their eyes there was no opening for flight and no human means of deliverance.
Pharaoh drew nigh with the Egyptians marching after them equipped for war, some on horses and some in chariots, with armor and chariots plainly in view. At finding Israel completely in their power the Egyptians shouted in triumph. The pursuit followed after Pharaoh regretted letting Israel go once the Egyptians had buried their dead, while his counselors and mighty men would not admit the plagues were a judgment from God.
At the sight of the pursuing army the people were sore afraid, a helpless multitude of former slaves facing the mightiest army of the mightiest nation, with failing hearts looking toward disaster. Their lack of discipline and self-control made their fear loud and deep. Expecting to fall into their oppressors' hands, they even questioned whether the cloud that had led them forward signaled disaster because it had brought them to that place.
Their response was divided and fear spread through the camp. Some cried out to the Lord, while many, even most, complained to Moses. With that complaint came the wish that they had stayed in Egypt.
Their terror showed how soon they distrusted God and forgot His past deliverance after witnessing His judgments upon Egypt to compel the king to let them go. When their confidence was tested in need they did not trust Him but let unbelief and fear control them. With rebellious, unsubdued hearts they murmured against faithful Moses even though he was following God's direction and trusting His promises. They accused him of causing their distress by bringing them from Egypt to die in the wilderness for lack of graves, and repeated their unbelieving words spoken in Egypt that it was better to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.
God's Deliverance Through Faith
Moses met their panic with the charge to fear not, to withhold every expression of unbelief, to trust in God and to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord shown that day. The Lord would fight for them while they held their peace, and the Egyptians whom they saw that day they would see no more forever. While he so encouraged them, Moses himself earnestly cried to the Lord to deliver His chosen people. God had brought them to that shut-in place to make them recognize their helplessness and their need for divine help, so that His deliverance would fill them with love and gratitude and confidence in His power and bind them to Him as their deliverer from temporal bondage.
Then came the command to go forward, and as they obeyed and stepped into the water He parted the Red Sea before them. He opened the sea and brought them through on dry land in the path He had prepared, and their escape was miraculous deliverance. The lesson is not to murmur as they did but to cease all murmurings, questioning doubts, and complaints and turn them to prayer, faith, and works, believing and doing all that can be done. God can open a way through circumstances that seem impossible when His people act in faith and do what they can, and then the salvation of God is seen.
Their desperate position with the sea before them and the enemy behind illustrates the position of people held by oppressive power. It illustrates how a helpless, terrified multitude of former slaves who trusted the Word of God could by that trust withstand the power of the whole world. Though facing the mightiest army of the mightiest nation on the globe, those who trust God's word can stand against overwhelming human power.