Exodus 14

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

“Speak to the children of Israel, that they turn back and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, before Baal Zephon. You shall encamp opposite it by the sea.

Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, ‘They are entangled in the land. The wilderness has shut them in.’

I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will follow after them; and I will get honor over Pharaoh, and over all his armies; and the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD.” They did so.

The king of Egypt was told that the people had fled; and the heart of Pharaoh and of 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?”

He prepared his chariot, and took his army with him;

and he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, with captains over all of them.

The LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the children of Israel; for the children of Israel went out with a high hand.

The Egyptians pursued them. All the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen, and his army overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baal Zephon.

When Pharaoh came near, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them; and they were very afraid. The children of Israel cried out to the LORD.

They said to Moses, “Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you treated us this way, to bring us out of Egypt?

Isn’t this the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘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.”

Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today; for you will never again see the Egyptians whom you have seen today.

The LORD will fight for you, and you shall be still.”

The LORD said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Speak to the children of Israel, that they go forward.

Lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. Then the children of Israel shall go into the middle of the sea on dry ground.

Behold, I myself will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they will go in after them. I will get myself honor over Pharaoh, and over all his armies, over his chariots, and over his horsemen.

The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD when I have gotten myself honor over Pharaoh, over his chariots, and over his horsemen.”

The angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from before them, and stood behind them.

It came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel. There was the cloud and the darkness, yet it gave light by night. One didn’t come near the other all night.

Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.

The children of Israel went into the middle of the sea on the dry ground; and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.

The Egyptians pursued, and went in after them into the middle of the sea: all of Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.

In the morning watch, the LORD looked out on the Egyptian army through the pillar of fire and of cloud, and confused the Egyptian army.

He took off their chariot wheels, and they drove them heavily; so that the Egyptians said, “Let’s flee from the face of Israel, for the LORD fights for them against the Egyptians!”

The LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the waters may come again on the Egyptians, on their chariots, and on their horsemen.”

Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it. The LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the middle of the sea.

The waters returned, and covered the chariots and the horsemen, even all Pharaoh’s army that went in after them into the sea. There remained not so much as one of them.

But the children of Israel walked on dry land in the middle of the sea, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.

Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.

Israel saw the great work which the LORD did to the Egyptians, and the people feared the LORD; and they believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses.

Chapter overviewAI-generated

Overview.
This chapter recounts the dramatic deliverance of Israel at the Red Sea, where God rescues His people from Pharaoh’s pursuing army by parting the waters and overthrowing the Egyptians. It stands at the climax of Israel’s liberation, demonstrating the LORD’s sovereign power over creation and the nations, and fulfilling His word to gain glory over the oppressor. The event underscores Israel’s utter dependence on divine intervention and marks a decisive break with their life of bondage.

Flow.

The LORD instructs Moses to lead Israel to a seemingly vulnerable position by the sea, knowing Pharaoh will be provoked to pursue them.
As expected, Pharaoh chases after Israel with a mighty army, and the people panic, accusing Moses of leading them to die in the wilderness.
Moses reassures them that the LORD will fight for them, and God commands him to raise his rod and divide the sea.
Israel passes through on dry ground, while the Egyptians follow but are thrown into confusion, overtaken by the returning waters, and completely destroyed.

Connections.
Following chapter 13, where Israel is led by the pillar of cloud and fire and where the LORD consecrates the firstborn as a sign of deliverance, chapter 14 brings the journey to a crisis point at the sea. The same divine presence that guided them now stands between them and destruction. This act of salvation becomes the foundation for Israel’s faith and worship, which chapter 15 takes up in song, celebrating the LORD’s triumph as unparalleled among the gods and affirming His kingship over His redeemed people.

What it teaches.
The chapter reveals God’s absolute sovereignty in salvation: He orchestrates circumstances, directs human actions (WCF 3.1), and displays His power both in judgment and redemption. The hardening of Pharaoh’s heart (WCF 3.7) serves the larger purpose of revealing His name and glory to all nations. The miraculous parting of the sea shows that creation obeys its Maker (WCF 4.1), while Israel’s deliverance illustrates salvation by divine act alone, received through faith (HC LD 1). The people’s belief in the LORD and His servant (v. 31) points forward to the necessity of trusting God’s appointed mediator (BC Art. 24), prefiguring the work of Christ who delivers from greater bondage.

Apply.
God brings His people to the edge of despair to show that their rescue is entirely His work.

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