Chapter 14
After my wife and I got married, we combined all our belongings. As you can imagine, we had some duplicate items, one of which was two dining room tables. Both were made of cherry wood, and both had a china cabinet. Her set included a couple more pieces, so we agreed that hers would be the set we put in the dining room. I then moved my large, beautiful cherry table upstairs. I covered it and used it as a desk in my “computer room.” The eight chairs that came with it were placed throughout the house in various spots. And so, it sat for nearly 15 years.
Finally, one summer, we decided to get rid of the set. But how? I found an app where you could advertise garage sale items locally. I put it up for sale for $75.00. After all, we just wanted to get it out of the house quickly, without the hassle of moving it somewhere else. As you can imagine, we got an immediate response. The next day, a young couple came to load it up. It felt good knowing it was going to a fairly large family to enjoy.
When the next holiday season approached, we started planning our family gathering. I couldn’t help but think of my table set. I even felt sorry for letting that gorgeous set go for just $75.00. I was experiencing “seller’s remorse.”
Seller’s remorse refers to the feeling of regret or second thoughts a person experiences after selling something, such as an item, property, or business. This emotion can arise in various situations, like selling a house, a car, or even a business, when the seller realizes they might have made a mistake or could have gotten a better deal.
Egypt was about to experience the same feeling. Even after all their struggles, they refocused on what they lost instead of the lessons they learned. This selfish desire led them into an even bigger lesson, as we will see.
There’s also a counter-lesson here: buyer’s remorse. Israel had just gained their freedom, something they had desired for centuries. But as soon as trouble appeared, they forgot their joy, looked inward, and started nostalgically glorifying the days of their slavery.
I’m not going to say how many times I’ve been in Egypt and Israel, but it’s been way too many. This chapter offers a good lesson, no matter which side of the pillar you’re on today.
Pharaoh in Pursuit
1 And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, that they turn back and camp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, before Baal-zephon. Over against it shall you camp by the sea. 3 And Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, ‘They are wandering confused in the land, the wilderness has shut them in.’ 4 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he shall follow after them. I will get honor upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host. The Egyptians shall know that I am Jehovah.” And they did so.
5 And it was told to the king of Egypt that Israel had fled. The heart of Pharaoh and of his servants changed towards the people, and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” [once the cures died down, and they people looked around, they saw the devastation and the spoils they willingly gave to Israel. All of a sudden, they started regretting their choice to release them. When we are led by the material world, we can quickly start claiming “victim” status and forget the lessons we just experienced because of our choices.] 6 Pharoah made ready his chariots, and took his people with him. 7 He took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over all of them. 8 And Jehovah hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel. The children of Israel went out marching boldly. 9 And the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them camping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baal-zephon.
10 And when Pharaoh drew close, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians were marching after them. The Israelites were very afraid and the children of Israel cried out unto Jehovah. 11 And they said to Moses, “Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dwelt with us like this to bring us forth out of Egypt? 12 Is not this the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians?’ For it were better for us to serve the Egyptians than we should die in the wilderness.” [It is ignorance that shows our immaturity to think that when we have a Godly victory against the world system, that Satan will not counter-attack. Until Jesus is fully established the enemy will always try to strike back. He wants us to have short memory of God’s power in our life by trying to steal, kill, and destroy the peace we have in God.]
The Sea Divided
13 Moses said to the people, “Fear not, [Trust in faith with peace and assurance] stand still, [there is nothing you can do by your own power, intellect, or merit.] and see the salvation [literal meaning: “life saving”] of Jehovah, which he will work for you today. The Egyptians whom you have seen today, you shall see them again no more forever. 14 Jehovah will fight for you, and you shall hold on to your peace.” [This also is also a shadow of the path to salvation through Jesus our Lord.]
15 And Jehovah said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Speak to the children of Israel, that they go forward. 16 And lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea, and divide it. The children of Israel shall go into the midst of the sea on dry ground. 17 Behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall go in after them. I will gain honor on Pharaoh, and on all his host, on his chariots, and on his horsemen. 18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am Jehovah, when I have gotten my honor on Pharaoh, on his chariots, and on his horsemen.”
19 And the angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them. The pillar of cloud moved from before them, and stood behind them. 20 It came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel. There was the cloud of light on one side and the darkness on the other side. So the one [group] came not near the other [group] all the night. [This demonstrated how the work of God may be enlighten to some, but foolishness/darkness to others.]
21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea and Jehovah caused the sea to drove back by a strong east wind all the night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. 22 And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground. The waters were a wall to them on their right hand, and on their left.
23 And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. 24 And it came to pass in the morning watch, that Jehovah looked forth on the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of cloud, and confused the host of the Egyptians. 25 He [God] took off their chariot wheels, and they drove with difficulty, so that the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from the face of Israel for Jehovah fights for them against the Egyptians.”
26 Jehovah said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.” 27 And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its strength when the morning appeared. The Egyptians fled against it. Jehovah overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. 28 The waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, even all the host of Pharaoh that went in after them into the sea. There remained not so much as one of them.
29 But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea. The waters were a wall to them on their right hand, and on their left. 30 Thus Jehovah saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea-shore. 31 And Israel saw the great work which Jehovah did upon the Egyptians, and the people feared Jehovah. They believed in Jehovah, and in his servant Moses.
