God did not lead the people by the shorter road through Philistine land, saying that war might make them return to Egypt. Israel traveled by the wilderness toward the sea, and Moses carried Joseph’s bones. A pillar of cloud led them by day and a pillar of fire by night.
Pharaoh changed his mind when he heard the people had fled. He took chariots and horsemen after them. At the sea, Israel saw the Egyptian army approaching and cried that Moses had brought them out to die. Moses told them not to fear but to stand still and see the deliverance God would accomplish.
God told Moses to stretch out his hand over the sea. The cloud moved behind Israel, standing between them and Egypt. A strong east wind drove the sea back through the night and made dry ground. Israel entered the sea with water like walls on either side, and Egypt’s chariots followed.
At dawn God threw the Egyptian army into confusion and made its chariot wheels difficult to drive. The Egyptians said the LORD was fighting for Israel and tried to flee. Moses stretched out his hand again, and the sea returned over chariots and horsemen. Israel saw the Egyptians dead along the shore.
Seeing this great act, the people feared the LORD and believed in the LORD and in Moses. Moses and Israel sang. Miriam took a tambourine, and the women followed her with tambourines and dancing as she sang that horse and rider had been thrown into the sea.