Why were the Israelites in a hopeless situation at the Red Sea?
The Israelites were trapped between the Egyptian army behind them, populated areas to the left, mountains to the right, and the Red Sea in front. With no escape route and no human means of deliverance, they were locked in and completely dependent on God's mercy.
Les explains that the children of Israel on the shores of the Red Sea were in a hopeless situation. The Egyptian army was behind them, populated areas were to the left, mountains to the right, and the Red Sea was out in front. They were locked in and at God's mercy. God did not tell them to build bridges or find something that would float; He said, "Stand still," meaning there was nothing they could do. Then God's mercy opened the Red Sea, which is a picture of salvation. Les uses this to show that people must realize they are in that hopeless situation and rely on God's mercy.