Exodus 14:11Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Just as children, after dedicating a period to learning, seek to depart, so too did the Israelites, in their time of distress in Egypt, lament and cry out, stating, we are lost, we have bid farewell, we are perishing.

Moses then led them from Egypt into the barren wilderness, where they questioned him, saying, Are there no graves in Egypt that you have brought us to die in this desolate place? Did we not enjoy better circumstances in Egypt when we savored cucumbers, melons, onions, and garlic (Num. 11:5)? Observe their ungratefulness. They had addressed God directly, pleading, Bring us out of the land of Egypt, yet upon entering the wilderness, they displayed a lack of gratitude. Have you noticed their lack of appreciation?

When the Israelites observed the chariots prepared for battle and the vast array of weapons, their inexperience in warfare and lack of readiness for such extraordinary circumstances quickly filled them with fear, prompting them to rise up against Moses.

We must revisit our starting point. Those who have turned their gaze toward righteousness and aim to follow the lawgiver in their lives, as they depart from Egyptian bondage, encounter a series of temptations that bring forth challenges, uncertainties, and grave threats. As a result, the anxious hearts of those who have yet to be rooted in their faith find themselves spiraling into despair regarding the attainment of promised blessings.

As the Israelites were to be freed from their enslavement in Egypt, they faced immense suffering and adversity, caught between the sea and the hostile hands of their pursuers. Despite witnessing the miraculous signs and wonders performed against the Egyptians and throughout the land, they quickly forgot the God who had accomplished these feats, almost losing hope for their deliverance as they saw Pharaoh and his might ready to assault them.

The dissatisfaction directed towards God transformed into complaints against His messenger. The Israelites lamented that life in Egypt was not favorable, expressing a preference for death in Egypt over succumbing to the sword of Pharaoh in the wilderness. They deemed this latter fate as more dire than the former.

These verses reveal the immense challenge that Moses faced in Egypt, not just from Pharaoh but also from his own people, as he sought to guide them toward their salvation. The deterioration of the Israelites' faith, despite witnessing numerous miracles, is quite striking. Their complaints are filled with both ingratitude and bitter accusations; they quickly waver in their trust toward Moses and their faith in God. However, the Lord, understanding the frailty of a people oppressed by slavery, does not hold their criticism against them. It is only after their national spirit is uplifted and solidified that their grudges and accusations are addressed during their journey through the wilderness. It is noteworthy, as Cook points out, that the remark, "are there no coffins in Egypt," encapsulates their attitude well. The origin of such lament could indeed stem from Egypt, a place filled with graves.