Charles Ellicott Commentary Exodus 14:13-14

"And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of Jehovah, which he will work for you to-day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to-day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. Jehovah will fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace." — Exodus 14:13-14 (ASV)

Fear ye not, stand still. —There are times when all our strength must be in quietness and confidence (Isaiah 30:15). So long as we have means of resistance put in our power, with a reasonable prospect of success, it is our duty to use them—to exert ourselves to the uttermost, to make all possible efforts. God, for the most part, “helps those who help themselves.” But there are occasions when we can do nothing—when all must be left to Him (Compare to 2 Chronicles 20:17). Under these circumstances, our duty and our true wisdom is to wait patiently, quietly, courageously. Moses, probably, did not yet know how God would effect Israel’s deliverance, but he was confident that, in one way or another, it would be effected.

The Egyptians whom ye have seen ... — Heb., As ye have seen the Egyptians to-day, ye shall see them no more for ever: that is, never again shall you see them in the pride of power, haughty, menacing, terrible. When next you behold them they will be stiff and lifeless—pale corpses strewing the Red Sea shore . The reference is to the present time only, not to the future relations of the two peoples.