What is the meaning of Exodus 14:26? Then the LORD said to Moses • God speaks first, underlining that the rescue plan originates with Him, not Moses (cf. Exodus 14:15; Psalm 33:9). • His word is authoritative and unfailing—what He commands will happen (Isaiah 55:11). • The scene recalls earlier moments when the LORD directed Moses step-by-step (Exodus 3:10-12; 7:1-2), emphasizing consistent divine leadership. Stretch out your hand over the sea • Moses’ staff-raised hand is a visible act of faith and obedience (Exodus 4:2-4; 17:11-13). • Though God alone holds the power, He invites human participation, teaching Israel—and us—that obedience is the channel through which His power flows (Joshua 3:13-16; John 2:5). • The same gesture that opened the waters now prepares to close them, illustrating that the LORD controls both deliverance and judgment (Job 12:14-15). so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians • God turns the pathway of salvation for Israel into a pathway of judgment for Egypt (Exodus 14:21-23 vs. 14:27-28). • This fulfills His prior warning: “I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army” (Exodus 14:17-18). • The reversal of the sea prefigures later divine reversals—Haman’s gallows (Esther 7:9-10) and the cross, where what seemed defeat became victory (Colossians 2:14-15). and their chariots and horsemen. • Egypt’s greatest military assets are singled out; God topples the very symbols of human power (Psalm 20:7; Proverbs 21:31). • The destruction is total—no partial judgment—highlighting God’s complete deliverance for His people (Exodus 14:28-30). • Israel will never again face this army (Deuteronomy 11:4), underscoring that when God saves, He does so decisively. summary Exodus 14:26 shows the LORD initiating, directing, and completing Israel’s rescue while simultaneously judging their oppressors. Moses’ simple act of obedience becomes the instrument through which God displays absolute power, turning the sea from a wall of protection into a flood of judgment. The verse assures believers that the Word of God is sufficient, His deliverance thorough, and His sovereignty unmatched over every force arrayed against His people. |
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