Exodus 14

The Scriptures declare that God did this for four reasons. God despised Pharaoh and his army. Man that rejects God after God reveals Himself over and over and over is a pompous fool. (Psalm 14:1[notes1] ) That kind of a person delights in leading others to rebel against their Creator. Nothing can be done to turn them. God despises those given over to evil. (Psalm 7:12-13[notes2] )

God also did this because He loved Israel, even though they murmured and doubted. He set His love upon them because of Abraham and the promises He made to their forefathers. (Psalm 86:13[notes3] ; 136:13[notes4] ; Deuteronomy 7:7-8[notes5] ) Remember that you have been grafted into this tree and become a recipient of the promises because of your faith in Christ Jesus. (Romans 11:17[notes6] )

Probably the most important reason is that He was revealing His name. It was for His name’s sake. This event would shake the surrounding nations. The Egyptians will know He is the LORD. (Ezekiel 20:9[notes7] ) The Apostle Paul tells us God raised up Pharaoh so that the name of the LORD would be proclaimed in all the earth.

God also wanted the riches of His glory to be revealed to us. (Romans 9:23[notes8] ) That is difficult for us to understand, but think of it like this: glory is the revelation of the heart of God. In our passage today He showed His heart is to deliver those who cry out to Him, even when they aren’t perfect. His heart is to judge the arrogant oppressor. His heart is to show us His saving power that we might put our trust in Him. (Romans 10:13[notes9] )

One day over 1500 years later, the disciples of Jesus sailed into a storm. They had to wake Jesus up because they feared they might drown. Jesus rebuked the wind and the waves and there was a great calm. The disciples marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?” Matthew 8:27 (ESV) What sort of man? A man like Moses, only infinitely greater, who gives orders to the winds and the waves. A man to whom we are commanded to listen. (Deuteronomy 18:15[notes10] ) A man who leads the rebellious followers that He loves to the Promised Land and calls down the judgment of God on those who consistently resist Him.

Just as He led them out of their dilemma and saved them, so He will save us if we will cry out to Him. Just as He brought victory when they calmly obeyed and walked in faith with their eyes on Him, so will He bring us through to victory if we will do the same.

Just as the redemption from Egypt was followed by the victory over their enemies in the sea, sealing forever their deliverance, so the redemption of Jesus on the cross was followed by resurrection. Resurrection sealed forever the victory over the enemy of our soul. Our salvation has been by grace through faith and now our journey continues the same way. Every step is a step of faith by the grace of God.

1 TO THE CHOIRMASTER. OF DAVID. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good.

[notes2] Psalms 7:12-13 (ESV)

12 If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and readied his bow;

13 he has prepared for him his deadly weapons, making his arrows fiery shafts.

[notes3] Psalms 86:13 (ESV)

13 For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

[notes4] Psalms 136:13 (ESV)

13 to him who divided the Red Sea in two, for his steadfast love endures forever;

[notes5] Deuteronomy 7:7-8 (ESV)

7 It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples,

8 but it is because the LORD loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

[notes6] Romans 11:17 (ESV)

17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree,

[notes7] Ezekiel 20:9 (ESV)

9 But I acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among whom they lived, in whose sight I made myself known to them in bringing them out of the land of Egypt.

[notes8] Romans 9:23 (ESV)

23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—

[notes9] Romans 10:13 (ESV)

13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

[notes10] Deuteronomy 18:15 (ESV)

15 “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen—

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