Then the Lord told Moses to go back and camp in front of Pi Hahiroth so that the king would think that the Israelites were wandering in the desert. “I will make him stubborn, and he will pursue you; my victory over the king will bring me honor, then the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord.”
When the king of Egypt heard that the people had escaped, he and his officials changed their minds. The king of Egypt took his chariot and army with him. There were 600 choice chariots with the chariots of Egypt that he brought out. The Lord hardened the king’s heart and pursued the children of Israel, and they went out with boldness. When the Israelites saw the king and his army marching against them, they were afraid and cried out for the Lord’s help. They told Moses, “Did you have to bring us out into the desert to die?” Moses stated to the people, “Don’t be afraid. The Lord will fight for you. All you have to do is keep still.”
The Lord said to Moses, “Tell the people to move forward. Lift up your walking stick and hold it out over the sea. The water will divide, and the Israelites will be able to walk on dry ground. I will make the Egyptians go in after them. I will gain honor for My victory and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.”
The Angel of God moved and went to the rear. The pillar of cloud made it dark for the Egyptians, but gave light to the people of Israel, so the armies couldn’t come near each other all night.
Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord sent the sea back with a strong east wind, which blew the night and turned the sea into dry land. The water was divided on both sides of the walls, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground. The Egyptians went after them into the sea with all their horses, chariots and drivers, but they had great difficulty to move and were panicking.
Moses held out his hand over the sea, and the water came back over the Egyptians, their chariots and drivers, and it returned to normal at daybreak. All the Egyptian army followed the Israelites into the sea, but the Lord saved the people of Israel from the Egyptians. When the Israelites saw the Lord’s great power, they had faith in the Lord and in His servant Moses.