Jump Start # 3863
Exodus 14:27 “So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal state at daybreak, while the Egyptians were fleeing right into it; then the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.”
It often amazes us to dig deeply into God’s word and find hidden insights and gems that open our eyes to so much understanding. And, in that journey, we often find ourselves having to deal with things that we have always believed or heard to be true but now the Scriptures shows us otherwise.
Such is the case with our verse today. Two thoughts spring out of this that are not the way I always pictured them.
First, it seems that Israel crossed the sea at night. I assumed it was in the daytime. We know that 600,000 men left Egypt. Add, wives, children, animals, what a long time it must have taken to get that crowd through the sea.
Second, it seems that the Egyptians had turned around and were trying to head back out the way that they came in. In verse 25 the text records the Egyptians saying, “Let us flee from Israel, for the Lord is fighting for them against the Egyptians.” If the Egyptians were fleeing from Israel, then they must have turned around and were hurrying to make it back to the shore when the walls of water collapsed upon them. Not the picture I’ve had in my mind. I thought the Egyptians were hot on the trail of Israel when they drowned.
Several things to be learned here:
First, assumptions and what we’ve always thought and were told do not always match with what the Bible says. The Bereans searched the Scriptures to see whether what they heard was true. We must do the same. What makes sense may not always be the way things happened. Going through the parted sea at night or day doesn’t really change things for us, but it’s about accuracy and being careful with the details. There are areas where the details do matter to us. Sloppy, careless and assuming can lead to things that are not right and true.
Through the years, we’ve heard many quotes that sound “Biblical,” but they are not. Consider the following:
– God moves in mysterious ways
– God hates sin but loves the sinner
– Confession is good for the soul
– Cleanliness is next to godliness
– All’s well that ends well
– Let your conscience be you guide
– He’s got the whole world in His hands
All of those statements sound like they came from the Bible, but they do not.
Second, the protection of God through this exodus from Egypt is amazing. It was more than just being led by clouds and fire. It was more than parting the sea. It was more than just creating dry ground to walk on. There was causing the Egyptian chariots, 600 of them, to swerve and drive with difficulty. It was bringing the walls of water down upon the Egyptians. They understood that God was doing all these things. One wonders what happened to the Egyptian government and security when Pharoah’s entire army was destroyed. Exodus 14:28 says that the water covered the chariots and the horsemen, even Pharoah’s entire army that had gone into the sea after them. What a devastating hardship upon the Egyptian government. God has demonstrated His protective hand so many times throughout the Bible story. Opening prison doors for Peter. Shutting lion’s mouths for Daniel. Keeping Paul alive after being beaten with rocks and rods.
This reminds me of a hymn, “Safe in the arms of Jesus.” God has protected His people.
Third, the unsatisfied, ungrateful, complaining Israel tried to appoint a new leader that would lead them back to Egypt. They longed for Egypt more than the land God had promised. They grumbled when hungry. They complained when thirsty. And, one wonders, how would they get the sea to part again for them if they did return? Did they think God would do it again? Did they think that they had such powers?
After a blessing, after a prayer answered, do we forget? Do we begin complaining again so soon after God has rescued us, saved us, helped us, forgiven us and blessed us? Did Israel really think that God went through all that He did to get them out of Egypt only to die from thirst in the wilderness? Where was the trust and the faith in the Lord?
These Biblical images ought to remind us, teach us and help us on our journey. Amazing lessons can be found when one opens the Bible. It’s life changing.
Roger