What is the meaning of Exodus 14:27? So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea – This act is Moses’ obedient response to God’s direct command (Exodus 14:16). – The gesture mirrors the earlier moment when Moses lifted his staff and the waters parted (Exodus 14:21), showing that the same power that opened the path now closes it. – It highlights the recurring biblical pattern: God works through human faith and obedience—see Joshua 3:13, where priests step into the Jordan before it parts. – Moses’ hand serves as a visible sign to Israel that the LORD, not mere circumstance, governs creation (Psalm 77:19). and at daybreak the sea returned to its normal state – Dawn signifies a fresh start for Israel—new mercies (Lamentations 3:22-23) after a night of terror. – The waters “returned” exactly as designed, underscoring God’s precise control over nature (Psalm 104:6-9). – “Normal state” reminds readers this was not a freak tide but a supernatural event bounded by God’s timing; the same waters that stood like walls (Exodus 14:22) now resume their ordained boundaries. – Similar transitions appear when the Jordan resumes its flow once Israel crosses (Joshua 4:18). As the Egyptians were retreating, the LORD swept them into the sea – The pursuing army finally recognizes danger, but their realization comes too late (Exodus 14:25); divine judgment is already in motion. – The verb “swept” pictures irresistible force, echoing Psalm 136:15: “but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea; His loving devotion endures forever.” – God defends His covenant people and simultaneously judges persistent rebellion (Exodus 9:13-14). – This moment fulfills the promise of Exodus 14:4, where God declared He would gain glory over Pharaoh. – The scene foreshadows ultimate deliverance and judgment themes later echoed in Revelation 19:11-21. summary Exodus 14:27 portrays the climactic reversal in Israel’s exodus: obedient faith by Moses, the sea’s divinely timed restoration, and God’s decisive judgment on Egypt. The verse assures readers that the LORD commands nature, keeps His promises, delivers His people at the break of a new day, and brings final justice on unrepentant oppressors. |
    |