God’s Justice

Exodus 14:1–9 (NASB95)

1Now the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2“Tell the sons of Israel to turn back and camp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea; you shall camp in front of Baal-zephon, opposite it, by the sea.3“For Pharaoh will say of the sons of Israel, ‘They are wandering aimlessly in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.’ 4“Thus I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will chase after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.” And they did so. 5When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his servants had a change of heart toward the people, and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” 6So he made his chariot ready and took his people with him; 7and he took six hundred select chariots, and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them. 8The LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he chased after the sons of Israel as the sons of Israel were going out boldly. 9Then the Egyptians chased after them with all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen and his army, and they overtook them camping by the sea, beside Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon.

Commentary - God’s Justice

God led the Israelites out of Egypt, but instead of taking them straight to freedom, He gave Moses a surprising command. The people were to turn back and camp near Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, directly opposite Baal-zephon. This move looked like confusion. The Israelites had been heading away from Egypt, but now they reversed course and camped in a place that seemed to trap them between the sea and the wilderness. These locations are uncertain today, but they were likely small, out-of-the-way places, perfect for God’s plan. God wanted Pharaoh to see the Israelites and think they were lost and vulnerable. 

  God’s strategy was clear. He told Moses that Pharaoh would believe the Israelites were wandering aimlessly, shut in by the wilderness. God said, “I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will chase after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.” God was not just setting a trap for Pharaoh. He was addressing the deep injustice that Pharaoh had inflicted on His people. For years, Pharaoh had oppressed the Israelites, treating them as property and forcing them into hard labor. God’s plan was to show that He rewards those who trust Him and punishes those who do evil. By drawing Pharaoh out, God would display His justice for all to see. The Egyptians would learn that the LORD alone is God, and that He does not ignore the suffering of the oppressed. 

  The Egyptians pursued the Israelites and overtook them as they camped by the sea. Everything was unfolding exactly as God had planned. The Israelites appeared trapped, but God was setting the stage for a display of His power and justice. 

  For the church today, these verses offer a powerful reminder. God sometimes leads His people into situations that seem confusing or even hopeless. What looks like a setback may be part of His greater plan. God is never caught off guard. He uses even the most difficult circumstances to reveal His justice and His glory. He sees every act of injustice and promises to set things right. As a church, we are called to trust Him, to walk boldly in faith, and to stand firm even when the odds seem stacked against us. 

In His Service,  

Ryan Goodnight