Exodus 14:12
Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness. Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.
Hemmed in with the sea ahead, Pharaoh's army behind, and mountains on either side with no escape, Israel recalled the unbelieving word already spoken in Egypt to be left alone to serve the Egyptians, charging that slavery was better than dying in the wilderness. Their cry came as more than a million people saw the flashing armor and war chariots in the distance and were sore afraid, and it showed terror and a speedy failure of trust despite the judgments on Egypt and the deliverance already begun. In blaming Moses for leading them into danger they wrongly accused a faithful leader who had brought them there in obedience to God's express command and who trusted God's promises to deliver them. Moses answered by bidding them fear not and withhold unbelief so they would see the salvation the Lord would show them that day, while he cried earnestly to God for deliverance. At that crisis God commanded them to go forward, and when they obeyed and stepped into the water the sea opened so they crossed on dry land, teaching that God opens a way through impossible circumstances when His helpless people cease murmuring, trust His word, pray, and obey.
Trapped at the Sea
Israel spoke these words with the Red Sea before them and Pharaoh's pursuing army behind them, shut in on either side by impassable mountains in a valley hemmed in by mountains, with no way of escape. They were encamped beside the sea, more than a million people led into that shut-in place, seeing no way out. Their danger at the sea was then followed by miraculous deliverance through the sea.
In the distance they saw flashing armor and moving chariots with horses equipped for war coming after them. Their hearts failed them, and they were sore afraid and greatly terrified. The Egyptians shouted in triumph at having Israel completely in their power.
The pursuit came because Pharaoh relented after letting Israel go following the slaying of the firstborn from the king on the throne to the most humble, and after the Egyptians had buried their dead. He pursued because his heart and the hearts of his counselors and mighty men stayed hardened against God. They explained the plagues as natural causes and refused to admit His visitation and judgment.
Israel's Fearful Complaint
Trapped in flight from Egypt with the Red Sea before them and impassable mountains shutting them in on either side, the people learned the Egyptians were following in their track and believed they had been brought out there to perish. They recalled the unbelieving word they had already told in Egypt to be left alone to serve the Egyptians, charging Moses with carrying them forth because there were no graves in Egypt to die in the wilderness. They declared it had been better for them to remain in slavery serving the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.
Their words showed terror, discouragement, and how soon confidence and trust failed when tested, for when Pharaoh drew near they were sore afraid and did not trust God in their necessity and peril. They murmured with rebellious, unsubdued hearts, speedily distrusting God despite having witnessed all His judgments upon Egypt to compel the king to let them go and such evidences of His power in their wonderful deliverance already begun. Their complaint manifested very little faith notwithstanding repeatedly witnessing the manifestation of His power in their behalf, and they had forgotten the miracles and deliverance they had already seen.
In blaming Moses for causing all their distress and leading them into danger and difficulty, they wrongly accused a faithful leader who had brought them to that position in obedience to the express command and direction of God. Moses had led them into danger in obedience to God's command while trusting God to deliver them according to His promises. Moses encouraged them to trust in God, to fear not and withhold their expressions of unbelief so they would see the salvation the Lord would show and do for them that day, while he himself earnestly cried to the Lord to deliver His chosen people.
Deliverance Through Trusting Obedience
At that crisis God commanded them to go forward, and as they obeyed and stepped into the water the Red Sea parted before them and opened so that they crossed on dry land in the path God had prepared for them. Their danger at the sea with no way out was thus followed by miraculous deliverance through the sea.
Their helplessness at the sea made them recognize their need for divine aid. God's deliverance taught them His power and mercy and led them to love and trust Him as their deliverer from temporal bondage. The account teaches that God can open a way through circumstances that seem impossible when His people trust and obey Him. The lesson is to cease all murmurings, questioning doubts, and complaints, turn them to prayer and faith and works, believe and do all that can be done, go forward, and see the salvation of God work deliverance.
They were a helpless, terrified multitude of slaves and former slaves who trusted the Word of God. In themselves utterly helpless, they withstood the power of the whole world against the mightiest army of the mightiest nation on the globe. Their standing shows how people who trust God's word can stand against overwhelming human power.