QT 3/12/2026 Exo 14:15-31, Refusing to bend the knee

Exodus 14:15–31 (ESV) —

15 The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. 16 Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground. 17 And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they shall go in after them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, his chariots, and his horsemen. 18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”

19 Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, 20 coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was the cloud and the darkness. And it lit up the night without one coming near the other all night.

21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. 22 And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 23 The Egyptians pursued and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. 24 And in the morning watch the Lord in the pillar of fire and of cloud looked down on the Egyptian forces and threw the Egyptian forces into a panic, 25 clogging their chariot wheels so that they drove heavily. And the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from before Israel, for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians.”

26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.” 27 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal course when the morning appeared. And as the Egyptians fled into it, the Lord threw the Egyptians into the midst of the sea. 28 The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen; of all the host of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea, not one of them remained. 29 But the people of Israel walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.

30 Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses.

 

NOTE: This is an incredible miracle. Because of the amazing things that happen, many would like to dismiss it or call it the Reed sea with two inches of water. Of course, that would make it even more amazing for God to drown the Egyptian Army in two inches of water. I think the movies get it right. They may have an awful young Charleton Heston or an equally too young Yul Brunner (supposed brothers by Moses adoption) which is not supported by the text, but they do get the graphics of what a wall of water looks like. They do represent well the Chariots getting stuck, the fear, the panic, and then the deluge that falls upon the Egyptians. Personally, I think the Egyptian historical timeline is mis-dated, because Egypt chose to forget, not to record, the events of the Exodus. It is an embarrassing side story of the most powerful nation of the world at the time and also for a good part of ancient history. The passage says that Israel saw the dead on the seashore. My guess is that they could not see the other seashore, but they saw enough of the dead that floated to the shore where they departed the sea. The lesson is don't even think of trying to play games with God. You are not wise. You are stupid. You have no rights. You were created. You are not independent, you are owned by God whether you choose to recognize the fact or not. If you don't like that, then you are graciously given the choice to spend eternity in hell (that is the only option for those who choose to continue the rebellion against God).

 

PONDER:

1. Why do we consider ourselves, at times, on par with God, in the sense that we might argue and win our case?
2. Believe or not, but there is no arguing.

 

PRAYER: Father, I'm not much different from the atheist in terms of my own stupidity. But thankfully, you saved me. I responded to your gracious gift of eternity in your kingdom. I look forward to that day. In the meantime, give me the words and wisdom to challenge those who refuse to bend the knee to you.