Exodus 14 “God Will Do It!”

Exodus 14 NIV

Suggested Praise Songs:

• Be Still – Hillsong Worship
• Josh Baldwin ~ Stand In Your Love
• Vertical Worship – Yes I Will

Resources for Family Worship (with Children):

• Moses and the Red Sea | Stories of the Bible – Lesson for Kids
• Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust (Hand Motions) – Song for Kids
• Shout Praises Kids – Way Maker – Song for Kids
• Won’t Worry ‘Bout A Thing | Shipwrecked VBS | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• Discussion Questions for Children & Youth arelocated in the section after Explanation, Meditation, and Prayer (at the end of this email/blog).

Explanation:

After some time, God told Moses to turn back from the path they were marching on and to camp “between Migdol and the sea, by Pi Hahiroth, across from Baal Zephon, by the sea” (v. 2). There is scholarly debate about the exact location of this place. As previously mentioned, many of the locations mentioned during the wilderness journey cannot be definitively identified today. God led the Israelites into a region where they appeared trapped with no way out. This was a kind of strategic enticement, anticipating that Pharaoh would change his mind and pursue the Israelites (vv. 3–4).

On the other hand, when Pharaoh received the report that all the Israelites had left Egypt, he regretted his decision and reversed it (v. 5). This was because God had once again hardened his heart (vv. 4, 8). Through Pharaoh’s stubbornness, God planned to clearly demonstrate to both the Egyptians and the Israelites that He alone is the Lord. Hearing that the Israelites were trapped in a difficult region from which to escape, Pharaoh mobilized his army and set out in pursuit (vv. 6–7).

When the Egyptian army drew near the shore where the Israelites were camped (v. 9), the Israelites “were terrified” and cried out to the Lord (v. 10). They began to complain and grumble against Moses (vv. 11–12). In response, Moses calmed them, saying, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today” (v. 13). He comforted them, adding, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” (v. 14).

Even though Moses spoke these words to the people, it seems he was also anxious. So, he cried out to God. But God rebuked him, saying, “Why are you crying out to me?” (v. 15), and told him to command the Israelites to move forward. This command made no sense, as the sea stood directly in front of them. Yet God explained that when Moses stretched out his hand over the sea with his staff, the waters would part, and the Israelites would walk through on dry ground. Pharaoh’s army, however, would be destroyed (vv. 16–18).

At that moment, the pillar of cloud moved and stood between the Egyptian army and the Israelites, preventing the Egyptians from advancing (vv. 19–20). Moses obeyed God’s command, lifted his staff, and stretched his hand over the sea. A strong east wind blew all night, pushing the waters back and turning the sea into dry land. The Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground. Not long after, the Egyptian army pursued them (vv. 21–25). Once the Israelites had safely crossed, God told Moses to stretch out his hand again over the sea. The waters returned to their original place, and the entire Egyptian army was drowned (vv. 26–29).

It was only after this that the Israelites “feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant” (v. 31).

Meditation:

The words the Israelites spoke while blaming Moses in this no-win situation reveal the depths of human nature. Even though they had just witnessed God break Pharaoh’s stubbornness through the ten plagues, even though they had worshiped and praised God for His mighty acts of deliverance (12:27), and even though they had committed to obey the words of Moses and Aaron (12:28), their attitude changed when they were trapped—blocked by the sea in front and chased by the Egyptian army from behind. In that moment, they rejected all the past grace and gratitude, crying out to God and blaming Moses. They had sung songs of freedom after escaping slavery in Egypt, but now they complained that it would have been better to remain slaves under the Egyptians.

This is how fickle the human heart can be. Moses was caught in the painful tension between the grumbling people of Israel and the mysterious ways of God. He was also anxious and afraid. Yet he had to calm down and encourage the people. So, he said, “Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today” (v. 13). But in verse 15, we learn that after speaking these words, Moses went before the Lord and cried out. Outwardly, he comforted the people, but inwardly, he was afraid too. Moses spoke words of assurance that he himself struggled to believe, but those words were still true. Through repeated experiences like this, Moses likely learned to align his heart and actions more closely with the truth he knew in his head.

We also believe that the words of verse 13 are true. Yet, when we face difficult situations, instead of entrusting them to God and waiting on Him, we often try to resolve them by our own strength. In doing so, we sometimes end up acting unjustly or leaning toward what is wrong. We do not want to know the truth in our heads merely—we long for our hearts, our words, our hands, and our feet to live in alignment with that truth.

Prayer:

Lord, we believe that You are alive. We believe that You reign overall. We believe that You will make all things beautiful in Your time. Help us to live according to that faith, entrusting all our worries and concerns to You. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Discussion Questions for Children & Youth:

Key Point: Even when we feel stuck or scared, we can trust that God is working behind the scenes. Instead of panicking or blaming others, we can stand still in faith and watch how God makes a way—even when there seems to be no way.

• For Preschool-Elementary
  • Have you ever felt scared when something didn’t go the way you expected? What did you do?
  • Moses told the people to “stand still and watch what God will do.” What does it mean to “stand still” when we are scared?
  • Why do you think God wants us to trust Him even when things look impossible?
    
• For Youth
  
  • Why do you think the Israelites forgot God’s past miracles when they saw Pharaoh’s army coming? Have you ever forgotten God’s help in your own life?
  • Moses comforted the people even when he himself was afraid. What does that teach us about leadership and faith?
  • What would it look like for you to “stand firm” in faith during a difficult or uncertain situation at school, home, or with friends?