It was a hard life, but it was a life they knew. Now they have left it all behind for the promise of something better, following God’s word. But now the first sign of opposition appears ready to stop them. They fear for their life. Suddenly the promised land doesn’t look so promising.
Then they said to Moses, “Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us in this way, bringing us out of Egypt (Exodus 14:11, NASB)?”
Seeing Pharaoh’s army pursuing them gives them second thoughts about leaving Egypt. Isn’t that like us sometimes? We follow God’s lead and His promises and all seems good at first until we face powerful opposition. Things look desperate and it seems there is no way out.
“Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness (Exodus 14:12).”
They want to go back to the way things were, the life they knew, not the dangers of the unknown. Ever felt like that? You wish you could go back to the life you had before you decided to follow Jesus. The harassment, the people standing in your way. Life seemed simpler before you faced all this opposition.
It reminds me of Peter after Jesus was killed on the cross. He and some other disciples go back to what they knew before they met Jesus—fishing (John 21). Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will also come with you.” They went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing (John 21:3).”
They caught nothing. Their old life was empty without Jesus. Without God, the Israelites had nothing. They were defenseless and would’ve remained in Egypt, but God had something much better in mind for them. They only had to stand back and watch him.
But Moses said to the people, “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the LORD which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. 14 The LORD will fight for you while you keep silent (Exodus 14:13-14).”
When you feel overwhelmed in your pursuit of the life God has for you, trust Him. When you wish you could go back to your quiet life before Jesus, do not fear. The Lord will fight for you for His purposes. God will make a way.
Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD swept the sea back by a strong east wind all night and turned the sea into dry land, so the waters were divided. – Exodus 14:21, NASB
