Then the LORD said to Moses, “Tell the people of Israel to turn back and encamp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, in front of Baal-zephon; you shall encamp facing it, by the sea. For Pharaoh will say of the people of Israel, ‘They are wandering in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.’ And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD.” And they did so.
When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the mind of Pharaoh and his servants was changed toward the people, and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” So he made ready his chariot and took his army with him, and took six hundred chosen chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them. And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the people of Israel while the people of Israel were going out defiantly. The Egyptians pursued them, all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and his horsemen and his army, and overtook them encamped at the sea, by Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon.
When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the LORD.
Comment: Baal-zephon was one of the gods that the Egyptians worshipped. He was a storm god and in particular he was supposed to have watched over the seas. With Pharaoh and his army following the Israelis, God by ‘the pillar’ led them to a place where they were ‘trapped’ between the Red Sea and the heavily fortified tower of ‘Migdon’. Pharaoh and the Egyptians thinking again, and it seems as if closing their minds to how Jehovah God had set the Israelites free, suddenly decide that they will bring them back. It seems as if God was looking for another place to show His Power and Supremacy when He led them to a place where the Egyptian army had all the advantages! (if you look at the map they are at point 3).
Prayer: Thank You Father that You lead us to where we are out of control and need to trust You. Thank You that You never desert us!
As I read it! 