Exodus 14 God looked down from the pillar

[seekeroftruth]

Exodus 14:23 The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea. 24 During the last watch of the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. 25 He jammed(b) the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt.”

Exodus 14:25 See Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint and Syriac; Masoretic Text removed

Back a few verses, the commentaries were at odds about the Angel of the Lord and the Pillar. Here the Lord is looking down from the pillar of fire. GodVine describes it this way.

This probably means that the cloud suddenly assumed a fiery appearance where it had been dark before; or they were appalled by violent thunders and lightning, which we are assured by the psalmist did actually take place, together with great inundations of rain, etc.: The clouds Poured Out Water; the skies sent out a Sound: thine Arrows also went abroad. The Voice of thy Thunder was in the heaven; the Lightnings Lightened the world; the earth Trembled and Shook. Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters. Thou leddest thy people like a flock, by the hand of Moses and Aaron; Psalm 77:17-20. Such tempests as these would necessarily terrify the Egyptian horses, and produce general confusion. By their dashing hither and thither the wheels must be destroyed, and the chariots broken; and foot and horse must be mingled together in one universal ruin. During the time that this state of horror and confusion was at its summit the Israelites had safely passed over; and then Moses, at the command of God, (Exodus 14:26), having stretched out his rod over the waters, the sea returned to its strength; (Exodus 14:27); i.e., the waters by their natural gravity resumed their level, and the whole Egyptian host were completely overwhelmed, Exodus 14:28. But as to the Israelites, the waters had been a wall unto them on the right hand and on the left, Exodus 14:29. This the waters could not have been, unless they had been supernaturally supported; as their own gravity would necessarily have occasioned them to have kept their level, or, if raised beyond it, to have regained it if left to their natural law, to which they are ever subject, unless in cases of miraculous interference. Thus the enemies of the Lord perished; and that people who decreed that the male children of the Hebrews should be drowned, were themselves destroyed in the pit which they had destined for others. God's ways are all equal; and he renders to every man according to his works.​

Pharaoh started out with 600 chariots. I read where the chariot was the ultimate fighting machine of the day. I'm sure Pharaoh felt totally dominant, unstoppable, and in control with that ultimate weapon at his disposal. God showed him.

In verse 25, the Egyptians got it.... "God is fighting for the Israelites". The people got it and that bumped Pharaoh off his top spot....





I'm moving yet again. So I might not have internet service until Tuesday evening. I'm hoping that's not the case.... but oh well... plan for the worst and hope for the best.... I'm working ahead so I don't miss my daily reading.