And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. The Egyptians pursued and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. (Exodus 14:22,23 ESV)
Weak Strength
The Egyptian army was mighty, it kept an empire in Pharaoh’s control. The Egyptians had the best technology, vast numbers, and the will to subdue all enemies. Some have said that until Pharaoh encountered God on the shores of the Red Sea, Pharaoh’s dynasty had never faced a defeat.
The winning streak of Egyptian seemed to be continuing. A large rabble of slaves had left Egypt heading off to the Northeast. Egypt’s natural border, the Red Sea was an unbreachable wall. So Pharaoh sent his army, complete with chariots, cavalry, and soldiers, to press the rabble against it.
Pharaoh’s confidence is shown in the word ‘pursue.’ Pharah did not merely move against the people of God… Pharaoh pressed, Pharaoh raced, Pharaoh pursued.
No one would have expected the rabble to survive.
But God took the strength of Egypt and used it against the Egyptians.
First, God brought the Israelites through the impenetrable Red Sea border. He did not provide rafts. He did not let them walk on top. He did not change their solidity and allow them to walk through the water unwet.
He opened a path, a firm hard path, and the Israelites walked through the Sea wall. What was strong, in God’s hands, became meaningless and weak.
And that act pulled the Egyptians right along the path behind Israel.
And then God released HIS wall of water and crushed the mighty Egyptian army.
If the Egyptians had been patient, Israel might have escaped but Egypt would have remained a world power. If the Egyptians had been a walking army, when the water crashed down, they could have swum. If the Egyptians were not tech-heavy, the army could have easily survived.
But God used what Egypt thought was strength into the means of their demise.
God often works that way.
Our pride makes us fall. Our favored sins wreck our lives. God brings down civilizations that have built themselves up with rebellious worldviews.
And Satan thought he had won when the Messiah was killed on a cursed cross. But that death… that apparent Satanic victory… was like chariots in the Red Sea.
It was no defeat for God. It was the necessary glorious Victory over God’s enemies. He, taking the manipulative strength of Satan, turned it into the absolute Victory God was enacting all along.
So relax… God turns His enemies’ strengths into weakness!