That’s kind of what the Israelites were facing as they fled Egypt.
Pharaoh, that stubborn ruler, wasn't about to let them go easily. After the plagues, after the death of the firstborn, he finally relented… but then, of course, he changed his mind. And he wasn’t just annoyed; he was furious. As the Israelites made their escape, Pharaoh was comforted by the sole Egyptian idol that had remained intact, Baal-zephon.
The text tells us that when Pharaoh reached the sanctuary of Baal-zephon, he rejoiced that at least this idol had been spared from annihilation, unlike the others in Egypt. He immediately offered sacrifices, finding solace in the belief that Baal-zephon approved of his plan: to drown the children of Israel in the sea.
So, picture this: The Israelites are on the run, finally free after generations of slavery. They look behind them, and what do they see? Not just Pharaoh, not just his army, but huge detachments of Egyptian soldiers bearing down on them. And, as if that weren’t enough, they realize they're boxed in. According to the text, in Migdol there were other troops stationed, even more than their own numbers, counting men, women, and children.
Talk about panic setting in!
But that's not all. The sight that terrified them most, we’re told, was the Angel of Egypt. Can you imagine? The angel, a powerful, supernatural being, was darting through the air to assist the Egyptians.
It’s no wonder the Israelites freaked out. And who did they turn to in their fear? Moses, of course.
"What have you done to us?" they cried. "Now they will punish us for everything: for the death of their firstborn, for running off with their money! It was your fault, Moses! You told us to borrow gold and silver from our Egyptian neighbors and leave with their property!"
Imagine being Moses in that moment. You’ve led your people out of slavery, you've witnessed miracles, and now they're blaming you for everything! It just goes to show you, even after experiencing the extraordinary, human nature remains… well, human. What do you think Moses did next? How did he calm their fears and lead them forward? We'll just have to wait and see.