Seeing war was enough to throw our sense of security off. Hashem gave us a cloud to lead the way by day. At night, He provided us with a fire which also illuminated the path. Hashem leads us back to the direction of Mitzraim to make Paroh think we were lost in the wilderness. Paroh once again desires to destroy us and convinces his people to go along with him.
Pride overshadows logic.
It was so important to Paroh to triumph over us, he was willing to destroy himself for the purpose of destroying us. The lost their empires they created for their attempt to make the world realize their power. Hitler withdrew his troops from the war front to exterminate Jews Through this he lost it all. Paroh shows his nation how he was willing to participate in chasing after us, by harnessing his chariot himself. People learn by example.