Exodus 14:5-14--The Egyptians Pursue Israel

Exodus 14:5-14
World English Bible
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5 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?” 6 He prepared his chariot, and took his army with him; 7 and he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, with captains over all of them. 8 Yahweh 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. 9 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.

10 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 Yahweh. 11 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? 12 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.”

13 Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of Yahweh, which he will work for you today; for you will never again see the Egyptians whom you have seen today. 14 Yahweh will fight for you, and you shall be still.”

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Pharaoh was told that all the children of Israel had left Egypt and taken everything and everyone with them.  He decided to gather what semblance of an army he had left including all of his foot soldiers, horses and chariots to charged after the children of Israel to try to enslave them once again.  He took 600 chariots (all the chariots of Egypt with him) and his own chariot and he put captains over all the chariots (high-ranking officers).  He pursued the children of Israel who had been leaving defiantly ("with a high hand" is an idiom or expression of open rebellion--the Law will talk about "high-handed" sins later that are sins of open rebellion).  The Egyptian army caught up with them at the place where the LORD had told them to make camp (remember that the LORD led them that to very place).

The Israelites realize they are trapped on every side.  There appears to be no escape as they are boxed in by the Egyptian army, the natural terrain, and the Red Sea.  They cried out against the LORD and Moses claiming that they were brought out of Egypt simply to be slaughtered at the edge of the wilderness.  They were ready to surrender and go back to being slaves and believe in their hearts that it is better to be a living slave than to be free and die.  They were truly not ready to fight, just as the LORD said about them.

Moses essentially tells them to shut their mouths and open their eyes and see the great salvation that the LORD is going to provide for them--a salvation they just said they didn't want, but He is going to give them anyways.  "The LORD will fight for you, and you will be still [and know that He is God]."