Crossing the Red Sea

Exodus 13:17-22, 14

When Pharaoh let the people go, God didn't lead them on the road through Philistine territory, although that was the shortest route. God said, "If they see that they have to fight a war, they may change their minds and go back to Egypt." So God led the people around the other way, on the road through the desert toward the Red Sea. The Israelites were ready for battle when they left Egypt. Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, because Joseph had made the Israelites solemnly swear to do this. Joseph had said, "God will definitely come to help you. When he does, take my bones with you." They moved from Succoth and camped at Etham, on the edge of the desert. By day the Lord went ahead of them in a column of smoke to lead them on their way. By night He went ahead of them in a column of fire to give them light so that they could travel by day or by night. The column of smoke was always in front of the people during the day. The column of fire was always there at night.

Then the Lord said to Moses, "Tell the Israelites to go back and set up their camp facing Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. Set up your camp facing north--by the sea. Pharaoh will think, 'The Israelites are just wandering around. The desert is blocking their escape.' I will make Pharaoh so stubborn that he will pursue them. Then, because of what I do to Pharaoh and his entire army, I will receive honor, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord." So that is what the Israelites did. When Pharaoh was told that the people had fled, he and his officials changed their minds about them. They said, "What have we done? We've lost our slaves because we've let Israel go." So Pharaoh prepared his chariot and took his army with him. He took 600 of his best chariots as well as all the other chariots in Egypt, placing an officer in each of them. The Lord made Pharaoh so stubborn that he pursued the Israelites, who were boldly leaving Egypt. The Egyptians pursued the Israelites. Pharaoh's army, including all his horse-drawn chariots and cavalry, caught up with them as they were setting up their camp by the sea at Pi Hahiroth facing north.