QT 3/11/2026 Exo 14:1-4, Trusting God in tough times

Exodus 14:1–14 (ESV) —

1 Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 “Tell the people of Israel to turn back and encamp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, in front of Baal-zephon; you shall encamp facing it, by the sea. 3 For Pharaoh will say of the people of Israel, ‘They are wandering in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.’ 4 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord.” And they did so.

5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the mind of Pharaoh and his servants was changed toward the people, and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” 6 So he made ready his chariot and took his army with him, 7 and took six hundred chosen chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them. 8 And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the people of Israel while the people of Israel were going out defiantly. 9 The Egyptians pursued them, all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and his horsemen and his army, and overtook them encamped at the sea, by Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon.

10 When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord. 11 They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” 13 And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

 

NOTE: Pharaoh considered himself a god, but he was defeated and outwitted at every turn. Pharaoh ran on emotion, God knows all and sees all. This is the last part of the judgment against Egypt and the humiliation of Egypt, the destruction of their army. God hardens Pharoah's heart because his judgment is not finished.

 

This is the third day since the Israelites stopped making bricks. The country is in turmoil; work projects have come to a halt, and the former slaves (Israel) seem to be in confusion and going in the wrong direction. Maybe Pharaoh thought this was his opportunity. In modern day warfare this type of ruse is classic and brilliant, it forces the enemy to engage his forces on your time and on your grounds. Although, I would not have chosen that ground, God knew what he was planning to do. In the end, he destroyed a large portion of the Egyptian army without a single Israelite engaging the enemy.

 

Of note, is the continual complaining of the people with their sarcastic comments, "Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness?" We do this too! What we need to do is to trust God, but what we really do is complain and worry. When will we every learn?

 

PONDER:

1. How do I respond when things are out of my control, and don't seem to be going in the right direction?

 

PRAYER: Father, I admit it is hard to trust. For three years, my wife and I suffered wondering if our baby would ever have a normal life free of pain. But I have known other parents whose suffering for their children went on for decades. So, I understand. But I also know that these are just excuses. We need to trust your hand. We need to voice our complaints, but not to others, to you directly. We need to listen to your word and your spirit speak. We need to watch you work.