Exodus 14

God Tells Moses the Plan

1 The Lord told Moses,

2 ‘Tell the people of Israel to camp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. Camp right by the sea across from Baal Zephon.’

3 ‘Pharaoh is going to think you all are lost, wandering around in the desert.’

4 ‘I am going to harden Pharaoh’s heart so he will chase after you. But I am doing this to flex My power and show Egypt that I am the Lord.’ So the Israelites did what God told them.

Pharaoh Changes His Mind

5 When the king of Egypt found out the Israelites had dipped, he and his officials were like, ‘What did we just do, We let our workforce go!’

6 So Pharaoh got his chariot ready and rallied his troops.

7 He took 600 of his best chariots, along with all the others, with officers in each one.

8 The Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he chased after the Israelites, who were boldly walking out of Egypt.

9 The Egyptians chased them with everything they had, chariots, horses, and troops. They caught up to the Israelites as they camped by the sea near Pi Hahiroth, across from Baal Zephon.

The Israelites Panic

10 When Pharaoh got close, the Israelites looked up and saw the Egyptians rolling up on them. They freaked out and cried out to the Lord.

11 They said to Moses, ‘Was there not enough graves in Egypt, Why did you bring us out here to die in the desert,’

12 ‘Did we not tell you in Egypt, Leave us alone; let us stay slaves, It would have been better to stay in Egypt than die out here!’

Moses Reassures the People

13 Moses told them, ‘Do not trip! Stand firm, and you will see how the Lord is about to save you all today. These Egyptians you see, You will never see them again.’

14 ‘The Lord is going to fight for you. All you must do is stay calm.’

God Gives Moses Instructions

15 The Lord said to Moses, ‘Why are you crying out to Me, Tell the people to move forward!’

16 ‘Raise your staff, stretch out your hand over the sea, and split it in two so the Israelites can walk through on dry ground.’

17 ‘I am going to harden the hearts of the Egyptians so they will chase after you, and I will show off My power through Pharaoh and his whole army, his chariots and horsemen.’

18 ‘Then Egypt will know I am the Lord when I flex My power on Pharaoh and his crew.’

God Protects the Israelites

19 The angel of God, who had been leading the Israelites, moved behind them. The pillar of cloud also shifted to the back.

20 It stood between the Egyptian army and the Israelites. On one side, it brought darkness; on the other, it brought light, so the two groups could not come near each other all night.

The Red Sea Is Parted

21 Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord sent a strong east wind all night, turning the sea into dry land. The waters split apart.

22 The Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on both sides.

23 The Egyptians chased after them, Pharaoh’s chariots, horsemen, and army followed them into the sea.

God Throws the Egyptians Into Chaos

24 During the last watch of the night, the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw them into confusion.

25 He jammed the wheels of their chariots, making it hard to drive. The Egyptians said, ‘Let us bounce! The Lord’s fighting for them against us!’

The Waters Collapse

26 The Lord told Moses, ‘Stretch out your hand over the sea so the waters will flow back and cover the Egyptians, their chariots, and horsemen.’

27 Moses stretched out his hand, and at daybreak, the sea went back to normal. The Egyptians tried to run, but the Lord swept them into the sea.

28 The water came crashing down, covering the entire Egyptian army that had chased the Israelites. Not a single one survived.

29 But the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on both sides.

The Lord Saves Israel

30 That day, the Lord saved Israel from the Egyptians, and the Israelites saw their enemies dead on the shore.

31 When the Israelites saw the Lord’s mighty power against the Egyptians, they feared Him and trusted in the Lord and in Moses, His servant.