Matthew Henry’s Modern English CommentaryExodus 14

Exodus 14:1-9: The Israelites Pursued by Pharaoh This passage describes how God gave Moses special instructions about the Israelites’ journey after leaving Egypt. God directed them to camp in a spot that seemed dangerous, close to the Red Sea. God planned this so Pharaoh would think the Israelites were trapped and would chase after them. Even though this seemed risky, God wanted to show his power by defeating Pharaoh and rescuing Israel. Pharaoh and his army soon regretted letting the Israelites go and decided to pursue them with all their strength, but God was still in control (Exodus 14:1-9).v. 1-2: God told Moses exactly where the Israelites should camp, near Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, facing Baal-zephon. This seemed like a strange choice because it put them in a difficult place, but God had a purpose (Exodus 14:1-2).

v. 3: God explained that Pharaoh would think the Israelites were confused and trapped by the desert. Pharaoh would believe this was his chance to catch them (Exodus 14:3).

v. 4: God said he would harden Pharaoh’s heart so that Pharaoh would chase after the Israelites. God’s plan was to show his power again by defeating Pharaoh and his army, so that all the Egyptians would know he is the Lord

v. 5: When Pharaoh heard that the Israelites had left, he and his officials changed their minds. They wondered why they had let Israel go, since it meant losing all their slaves and workers. This shows how quickly people can regret doing the right thing when they do it unwillingly (Esther 5:12-13; Acts 5:17,33; Psalm 112:10; Jeremiah 34:10-11).

v. 6-7: Pharaoh prepared his chariot and gathered his army, including 600 of his best chariots and many more, each with its captain. He wanted to bring Israel back, using all his power (Exodus 14:6-7; Exodus 14:17-18).

v. 8: The Lord

v. 9: Pharaoh’s army, with all their horses, chariots, and horsemen, caught up with the Israelites as they camped by the sea. Even though God had delivered them, Israel’s enemies were still determined to get them back. In the same way, people who follow God should expect opposition and difficulties (Mark 9:26).

Exodus 14:10-14: The Israelites’ Fear and Moses’ Encouragement This section describes what happened when Pharaoh and his army caught up with the Israelites at the Red Sea. The Israelites became very afraid when they saw the Egyptians coming after them. Some prayed to God, while others complained to Moses, even wishing they had stayed in Egypt as slaves. Moses answered their fear with strong words of encouragement, telling them to trust in God and wait for his help. Moses assured them that God would fight for them and that they only needed to stay calm and watch what God would do (Exodus 14:10-14).v. 10: When the Israelites saw the Egyptian army coming, they became very afraid. They knew they were weak and could not escape. Some of them prayed to the Lord

v. 11-12: Others complained to Moses, blaming him for bringing them out of Egypt. They said it would have been better to stay as slaves than to die in the wilderness. This showed a lack of trust in God, even after all the miracles they had seen. They quickly forgot God’s power and were ungrateful for their freedom (Numbers 14:22).

v. 13: Moses told the people not to be afraid. He urged them to stand still and watch how God would save them. Moses promised that God would destroy the Egyptian army and that the Israelites would never see them again. He encouraged the people to trust God, even when things looked impossible (Exodus 14:13).

v. 14: Moses said, “The Lord

Exodus 14:15-20: The Pillar of Cloud This passage describes how God guided and protected the Israelites as they faced the Red Sea with the Egyptians behind them. God gave Moses specific instructions about what to do next. He also made it clear that this event would show His power both in saving Israel and in defeating the Egyptians. By using the pillar of cloud, God made a visible separation between His people and their enemies, giving light to Israel while keeping the Egyptians in darkness (Exodus 14:15-20 ).v. 15: God told Moses to stop praying and take action. While Moses had confidence that God would save them, he still prayed silently. Sometimes, silent prayers of faith are more powerful than loud cries of fear. However, there is also a time to act. God told Moses to lead the people forward and to get ready for action by doing what God said. Moses needed to focus on leading the people and showing faith that God would make a way through the sea .

v. 16: Moses was told to lift up his rod and stretch out his hand over the sea to divide it. God would make a path for the Israelites through the sea on dry ground. This miracle would show God’s power. God chose to save His people in a way that was humbling and unforgettable, leading them through the deep waters instead of around or over them (Exodus 14:16; Isaiah 63:13-14 ).

v. 17: God said He would harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they would chase after Israel. This was part of God’s plan to show His justice and power. God explained that He is in control of people’s hearts, and that He would use this situation to bring honor to Himself by defeating Pharaoh and his army (Exodus 14:17; Job 23:16 ; Romans 9:18 ).

v. 18: God said that when He gained honor by defeating Pharaoh, the Egyptians would know that He is the Lord

v. 19: The angel of God and the pillar of cloud that had been guiding Israel moved from in front of them to behind them. Instead of leading the way, the pillar acted as a guard, protecting the Israelites from the Egyptians who were coming up from the rear. This shows that God’s presence can guide and protect His people at the same time .

v. 20: The pillar of cloud came between the Egyptian and Israelite camps. It was dark for the Egyptians but gave light to the Israelites. Because of this, the Egyptians could not reach the Israelites all night. This showed how God can use the same thing to help some people and hinder others. God separates and protects His people, just as He separated light from darkness at creation (Exodus 14:20; Genesis 1:4 ; Isaiah 45:7 ).

Exodus 14:21-31: The Crossing of the Red Sea This passage tells the story of one of the greatest miracles in the Bible: the parting of the Red Sea. God showed His power by making a path through the sea for the Israelites to escape from the Egyptians. This event became famous throughout the Old and New Testaments as a sign of God’s ability to save His people and defeat their enemies (Joshua 2:9-10; Psalm 114:3 ; 1 Corinthians 10:1-2 ). The crossing of the Red Sea is also a picture of how God saves people from sin and brings them to new life (Isaiah 11:15; Revelation 20:14 ).v. 21: Moses stretched out his hand over the sea as God commanded. God used a strong east wind all night to push back the waters and make the sea dry land. The waters were divided, showing God’s power over nature. God is not limited by natural laws; He can do miracles whenever He chooses (Exodus 14:21; Job 26:12 ).

v. 22: The Israelites walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground. The water stood like walls on both sides of them. God’s presence, shown by the pillar of cloud, protected them from danger. This journey through the sea would help them trust God in future challenges (Exodus 14:22; Isaiah 58:8 ).

v. 23: The Egyptians chased after the Israelites and followed them into the sea. They thought they could do what Israel did, but they were blinded by pride and anger. Their hearts were hardened, and they did not see the danger ahead (Exodus 14:23; Proverbs 1:17 ).

v. 24: During the morning watch, God looked down on the Egyptian army through the pillar of fire and cloud. He caused confusion and fear among them. The Egyptians realized they were in trouble and began to panic .

v. 25: God made the Egyptians’ chariot wheels come off, so they had trouble driving. The Egyptians said, “Let us flee from the face of Israel, for the Lord

v. 26: God told Moses to stretch out his hand over the sea again so that the waters would return and cover the Egyptians, their chariots, and their horsemen .

v. 27: Moses obeyed, and as morning came, the sea returned to its normal state. The Egyptians tried to run away, but the Lord

v. 28: The water covered all the Egyptian army that had followed Israel into the sea. Not one of them survived. This was God’s judgment on Pharaoh and his people for their pride and cruelty (Exodus 14:28; Job 40:12 ; Ezekiel 31:18 ).

v. 29: The Israelites, however, walked safely on dry ground in the middle of the sea, with the water like walls on both sides. God protected them completely .

v. 30: That day, the Lord

v. 31: When the Israelites saw the great miracle God had done, they feared the Lord