Exodus 14:15

Parting the Red Sea

15 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the Israelites to go forward.

Exodus 14:15 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 14:15

And the Lord said unto Moses, wherefore criest thou unto me?
&c.] The Targum of Jonathan is,

``why standest thou and prayest before me?''

and no doubt this crying is to be understood of prayer, of mental prayer, of secret ejaculations put up by Moses to the Lord without a voice, for no mention is made of any: this shows, that though Moses most firmly believed that God would work salvation for them, yet he did not neglect the use of means, prayer to God for it; nor was the Lord displeased with him on that account, only he had other work for him to do, and he had no need to pray any longer, God had heard him, and would save him and his people:

speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward;
a little further, as Aben Ezra observes, until they were come to the sea shore, near to which they now were; and thither they were to move in an orderly composed manner, as unconcerned and fearless of their enemies.

Exodus 14:15 In-Context

13 But Moses told the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the LORD’s salvation, which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again.

14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

15 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the Israelites to go forward.

16 And as for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.

17 And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. Then I will gain honor by means of Pharaoh and all his army and chariots and horsemen.