Crossing the Red Sea
Exodus 14:13-31
July 31, 2022
Things we see or hear have such a profound ability to move us in one direction or another. It
would be hard for any of us to imagine seeing the atrocities of 9/11 and not to have our emotions
stirred. To hear of the unexpected death of a loved one stirs our emotions. To hear the medical
report that your loved one, who you feared had a dreaded disease, in fact does not, moves our
emotions.
Likewise, when God does something big in our lives, fear seems to be all around us. At the point
in the Exodus story of tonight’s reading, God was about to part the Red Sea. No one who
was watching this happen would remain unmoved by what they see. Fear, doubt,
discouragement, and probably a bunch of other emotions were going to show up in such force
that God will have to remind Israel to stand still and remain calm.
As we explode this part of Israel’s journey, let’s remember that God is not doing anything to
cause Pharaoh to do something Pharaoh doesn’t already want to do. Pharaoh was not happy
about what was going on in Egypt, and he decided to settle the score with Israel, once and for
all. Pharaoh was not chasing Israel to wish them a safe trip. He didn’t send a welcoming
committee after them, he sent the army.
This encounter teaches us that we are so much in need of placing our faith in God and in knowing
who God really is, what He can do, and what He really cares about in our lives.
We need to know Who God is. We need to know how big God is. We need to know what God
wants from us and for us.
13 But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the LORD
rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. 14 The LORD
himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” 15 ¶ Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why
are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving! 16 Pick up your staff and
raise your hand over the sea. Divide the water so the Israelites can walk through the
middle of the sea on dry ground. 17 And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and
they will charge in after the Israelites. My great glory will be displayed through
Pharaoh and his troops, his chariots, and his charioteers. 18 When my glory is
displayed through them, all Egypt will see my glory and know that I am the LORD!”
19 Then the angel of God, who had been leading the people of Israel, moved to the
rear of the camp. The pillar of cloud also moved from the front and stood behind them.
20 The cloud settled between the Egyptian and Israelite camps. As darkness fell, the
cloud turned to fire, lighting up the night. But the Egyptians and Israelites did not
approach each other all night. 21 ¶ Then Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the
LORD opened up a path through the water with a strong east wind. The wind blew all
that night, turning the seabed into dry land. 22 So the people of Israel walked
through the middle of the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on each side!
23 Then the Egyptians — all of Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and charioteers — chased
them into the middle of the sea. 24 But just before dawn the LORD looked down on
the Egyptian army from the pillar of fire and cloud, and he threw their forces into total
confusion. 25 He twisted their chariot wheels, making their chariots difficult to drive.
“Let’s get out of here — away from these Israelites!” the Egyptians shouted. “The
LORD is fighting for them against Egypt!” 26 When all the Israelites had reached the
other side, the LORD said to Moses, “Raise your hand over the sea again. Then the
waters will rush back and cover the Egyptians and their chariots and charioteers.”
27 So as the sun began to rise, Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the water
rushed back into its usual place. The Egyptians tried to escape, but the LORD swept
them into the sea. 28 Then the waters returned and covered all the chariots and
charioteers — the entire army of Pharaoh. Of all the Egyptians who had chased the
Israelites into the sea, not a single one survived. 29 But the people of Israel had
walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, as the water stood up like a wall
on both sides. 30 That is how the LORD rescued Israel from the hand of the Egyptians
that day. And the Israelites saw the bodies of the Egyptians washed up on the
seashore. 31 When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the LORD had
unleashed against the Egyptians, they were filled with awe before him. They put their
faith in the LORD and in his servant Moses.
- How do you hope you would have responded to Moses’ instructions be calm and watch what
God will do? (14:13-14) What should we do when we are having trouble remaining calm in a
difficult situation?
13 But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the LORD
rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. 14 The LORD
himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”
(Thirty plus years ago, my family was driving past Burger King…) I hope I would have been as
eager to see what God was going to do as I was to see the truck hit the overhang.
I hope my faith would have had such an impact on my actions that I would have just stood there
and watched what God was doing with eager anticipation. I suspect a few calming or
breathing techniques would have been in order. No one is likely to argue that standing still and
remaining calm would have been without challenges, but the experience would have been. worth
it Reflection on our interaction with God helps us to remember that we really can trust Him. He
will do what He says He will do. I used to fly quite a bit in ministry. Flying is not enjoyable for
me. One rough experience almost turned me into a non-flyer. But when I must fly, I pray more.
I remember where I will “fly away” to should my present flight not go as planned. I think
about how my reaction in a rough flight will impact my fellow travelers. Thinking about what
the Bible says, what other believers have experienced and how God has delivered me in
the past. This helps me to trust God in a present situation. - What lessons can we learn from God’s instructions to have the people “get moving?” (14:15-
16) 15 ¶ Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people
to get moving! 16 Pick up your staff and raise your hand over the sea. Divide the
water so the Israelites can walk through the middle of the sea on dry ground.
Often we are tempted to keep trying to decide, continue to discuss, and even keep praying about
something when God has made it clear what we are to do. 1Ki 18:21 ¶ Then Elijah stood in
front of them and said, “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two
opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” But the
people were completely silent.
When God’s direction is clear, it is time to get moving. In fairness to Moses, I can imagine
him standing on the shore of the sea looking at the water and then looking back toward the
Egyptians and then looking back at the sea wondering and praying, “Lord, what in the world I am
going to do?” In times like these it seems easy to forget the power and reach of God. - In what ways was God about to display His great glory through Pharaoh and his troops?
(14:17-18)
17 And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they will charge in after the
Israelites. My great glory will be displayed through Pharaoh and his troops, his
chariots, and his charioteers. 18 When my glory is displayed through them, all Egypt
will see my glory and know that I am the LORD!”
In the loving kindness of our Heavenly Father, God gives Moses a little encouragement by
explaining more about what was about to happen. It was like God was saying to Moses,
“Look, Moses, you are not the one with the problem here. The Egyptians are about to get
what they have coming.” God is about to let the Egyptians have what they are asking for.
There is an idiomatic expression, “Give a horse his head.” I am no cowboy, but I think this
means to loosen up on the reins and let the horse go like he wants to go. I think God is doing
exactly that with the Egyptians. They wanted to chase Israel, so God will use this desire to display
His glory. Something would happen on that day that would send a clear message to all of Egypt.
They would know that God is the Lord! - Why do you think God moved the pillar of cloud behind the Israelites? (14:19-20) How does it
impact us when we are looking at what God is doing instead of worrying about what might
happen?
19 Then the angel of God, who had been leading the people of Israel, moved to the
rear of the camp. The pillar of cloud also moved from the front and stood behind them.
20 The cloud settled between the Egyptian and Israelite camps. As darkness fell, the
cloud turned to fire, lighting up the night. But the Egyptians and Israelites did not
approach each other all night.
I think God wanted Israel looking ahead and not looking behind them. I think He wanted
them to see what He was doing and not be so concerned with what the Egyptians might do.
God is blocking their vision of what they feared so that the only thing they can see is what God
does for them.
When we are focusing on what God is doing, we move toward Him. We go where we
look. - What do you think the Egyptians were thinking when they saw Moses raise his hand over the
sea? What thoughts might have gone through the minds of the Israelites as they walked through
the sea on dry ground?
21 ¶ Then Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the LORD opened up a path
through the water with a strong east wind. The wind blew all that night, turning the
seabed into dry land. 22 So the people of Israel walked through the middle of the sea
on dry ground, with walls of water on each side!
If they had been paying close attention when Moses raised his hand, they would have known
that God was about to doing something amazing once again. I think the walk through the
sea would have been a wonderful opportunity for the travelers to remind themselves that God
has had their best interest at heart for the whole time. He had been working things out for
their deliverance. He had been providing for them. He had been giving them godly
leadership. His plan was moving them into the future he had for them in which they would
impact other nations. - What happened when God threw the forces of Egypt into total confusion? (14:23-25) What
evil desires in the lives of people today does God use to throw them (and us) into confusion?
23 Then the Egyptians — all of Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and charioteers — chased
them into the middle of the sea. 24 But just before dawn the LORD looked down on
the Egyptian army from the pillar of fire and cloud, and he threw their forces into total
confusion. 25 He twisted their chariot wheels, making their chariots difficult to drive.
“Let’s get out of here — away from these Israelites!” the Egyptians shouted. “The
LORD is fighting for them against Egypt!”
Under Pharaoh’s direction, the Egyptians were so eager to chase and catch the Israelites that
they focused on nothing else. The sea parted, Israel went in, and the Egyptians went in
right behind them. Apparently no thought was given to the walls of water on each side of
them. Sometimes we see people so set on revenge or so filled with hate that they charge
ahead eager to get even without ever stopping to think about the harm that will result from their
actions. Not only will the lure of revenge lead us into confusion, but so will lust, addiction,
hatred, stubbornness, and a whole list of other actions. - What significance do you see in the fact that this action happened as the sun began to rise?
(14:26-27)
26 When all the Israelites had reached the other side, the LORD said to Moses, “Raise
your hand over the sea again. Then the waters will rush back and cover the Egyptians
and their chariots and charioteers.” 27 So as the sun began to rise, Moses raised his
hand over the sea, and the water rushed back into its usual place. The Egyptians tried
to escape, but the LORD swept them into the sea.
When we come out of the darkness, we can more easily see what is really going on
around us.
The Israelites could see the army of Egypt behind them who were still in the sea bed. Then the
Lord instructed Moses to raise his hand again over the sea. The water returned to its usual place.
No one escaped. - What do these verses teach us about God righting things that are wrong? (14:28-31) Why are
we not filled with awe before God more often? What was the result for Israel?
28 Then the waters returned and covered all the chariots and charioteers — the entire
army of Pharaoh. Of all the Egyptians who had chased the Israelites into the sea, not a
single one survived. 29 But the people of Israel had walked through the middle of the
sea on dry ground, as the water stood up like a wall on both sides. 30 That is how the
LORD rescued Israel from the hand of the Egyptians that day. And the Israelites saw
the bodies of the Egyptians washed up on the seashore. 31 When the people of Israel
saw the mighty power that the LORD had unleashed against the Egyptians, they were
filled with awe before him. They put their faith in the LORD and in his servant Moses.
The Bible teaches us that God will right the wrongs in life. 1 Peter teaches us that it is a
gracious thing when one endures sorrows while they are suffering unjustly (2:18-20). 18 You who
are slaves must accept the authority of your masters with all respect. Do what they tell you — not only if they are kind
and reasonable, but even if they are cruel. 19 For God is pleased with you when you do what you know is right and
patiently endure unfair treatment.20 Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong.
But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently,
One reason we are not more often filled with awe about what God is doing, is that we are too
focused on what we are doing. We are not looking for God at work. We are not listening to Him
clearly. The result of God righting the wrong done to Israel was that their enemies were defeated
while Israel was traveling on their way to the Promised Land.