What was Israel's situation at the Red Sea when God told them to stand still?
Israel was trapped at the Red Sea: the water was in front, forbidding mountains on one side and almost the same on the left, with the Egyptian army behind them. They had no place to go. God told them to stand still so He would evidence His power and open the sea by grace.
Les explains that Israel was on the shores of the Red Sea with the sea in front of them, forbidding mountains on this side and almost the same on the left, and the Egyptian army behind them. They were trapped with no place to go. God did not scream at Moses to tell the people to do something; He said, “Stand still.” Why? God would evidence His power. As Israel by faith stood still and did not frantically try to find driftwood to float across, they waited for the grace of God to open the Red Sea. Les ties this to grace: grace says there is nothing I merit and nothing I can do; we simply throw ourselves at His feet, and that is where we are today.
But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon.