This article will touch on the following:
EXODUS 14, 15: Parting of the Red Sea: Deliverance from persecutors
EXODUS 14 Check out Sonny Islas’ teaching on this chapter as presented at SHINE BRIGHT Church!
EXODUS 14:1-4
1 ¶ Now the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 2 "Speak to the children of Israel, that they turn and camp before Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, opposite Baal Zephon; you shall camp before it by the sea. 3 "For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, 'They are bewildered by the land; the wilderness has closed them in.' 4 "Then I will harden Pharaoh's heart, so that he will pursue them; and I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD." And they did so.
The children of Israel were delivered by GOD by astounding signs of judgment, ten in number against the ten primary false gods of Egypt. It all culminated in the death of the first born of Egypt. Pharaoh held his dead son in his arms, understanding perhaps that it was his own stubbornness in refusing to let Israel leave, that brought this terrible judgment upon his own child.
It was only then that he let Israel go. But after Israel left (with no small supply of Egyptian treasures thrown at them by the natives, imploring them to "take them and go!!") Pharaoh’s heart of pride stirred within him. He summoned his armies and chariots and they pursued the Hebrews, traveling on foot.
And to prevent Pharaoh from changing his mind, once he set his heart in this direction, GOD hardened his heart. The LORD ensured that since the king of Egypt had it in mind to slay all of His people, he would reap the consequences for his evil ambition.
EXODUS 14:10-14
10 And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So, they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the LORD. 11 Then they said to Moses, "Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt? 12 "Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, 'Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians?' For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness." 13 And Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. Standstill, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. 14 "The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace."
The Hebrews couldn’t just flee in every direction and hope to be among those that the Egyptian charioteers happened to miss. They were trapped with the Red Sea before them, and all the armies of Egypt behind. There was no means of escape!
The Hebrews were so despondent that essentially, they said, “We told you so! We knew this would end up badly! It would have been better if you never came and we stay enslaved in Egypt!" Because slavery in Egypt was what they knew. As bizarre as it sounds, the familiarity of a routine life has its own comfort due to its predictability.
But to cross a barren wilderness without any dependable source for food, water, shelter with absolutely no certainty what tomorrow would bring? When one would have to place their trust in GOD on a daily basis? Our flesh hates those conditions!
They expected to die in the wilderness and were blaming Moses for it! They knew they were doomed and that they were powerless to save themselves.
But GOD spoke to His people through His faithful prophet Moses:
“Do not be afraid. Standstill, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”
The LORD would provide the way of escape, though there was no rational, natural means for such. Here GOD was proving His faithfulness and testing Israel’s faith. They would need do nothing for their salvation; the LORD Himself would remove the threat and secure them!
That is the Gospel message! We are caught in the nets of time, each of us, spending our lives here on Earth and being inevitably dragged by those nets to the Day of Judgment in eternity – when all sin will be exposed, examined and by GOD’s just and holy Law, executed. We can’t avoid judgment; we can’t make time stand still any more than we could provide a life of moral purity that would prove acceptable to GOD!
But the LORD tells those who would trust in His Gospel: Don’t be afraid! Be still – none of your works will save you, but My one work of salvation on the Cross will be enough! And the terror of Judgment on sin, the very curse that is sin itself – you shall see no more once you cross the threshold of time, step into My eternal kingdom and be blessed forever more!
EXODUS 14:15-16
15 And the LORD said to Moses, "Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. 16 "But lift up your rod and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.
The Red Sea at its deepest is about 3,049 meters in depth (9,970’). The Grand Canyon measures 1,857 meters (6,093’) just for comparison. Now just imagine seeing that sea splitting down the middle creating two massive walls of water – and dry ground! – for you to walk through?
I wonder… did they see many schools of fish? Try to picture yourself there: you’re craning your neck to look up and see a narrow ribbon of sky between two massive walls of water! That had to be an awesome sight! I can well imagine the next generation of Hebrew children begging their parents to tell the story again and again about how GOD delivered His people through the Red Sea.
GOD tells Moses to “Lift up your rod” … the same rod that he used to perform many of the miracles in Egypt. That rod represents the power and authority of GOD. That was enough. Israel was saved, Egypt destroyed.
EXODUS 14:19-20
19 And the Angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them. 20 So it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. Thus, it was a cloud and darkness to the one, and it gave light by night to the other, so that the one did not come near the other all that night.
If there were no impediments in place, the Egyptians could have passed through the Red Sea in hot pursuit of Israel. That was why the LORD established the pillar of cloud to stand between the two – in order to give the Hebrews enough time to get across to safety. It also served as a divinely inspired ‘night light’ to give the Hebrews guidance as they made their journey.
EXODUS 14:21-22
21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided. 22 So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.
What ends up happening is yet another incidental miracle: GOD let’s the wheels of the chariots to loosen and fall off! Now the horses would have to drag those chariots like sleds, which would drastically reduce the time of their attack upon Israel. And at this point the Egyptians realized that they were outmatched, because they said, "Let us flee from the face of Israel, for the LORD fights for them against the Egyptians."
Pharaoh was not to be denied – he would have his vengeance. So once the pillar of the LORD was gone, the Egyptian chariots charged after Israel – rather slowly without their wheels, that is…
EXODUS 14:26-28
26 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the waters may come back upon the Egyptians, on their chariots, and on their horsemen." 27 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and when the morning appeared, the sea returned to its full depth, while the Egyptians were fleeing into it. So, the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. 28 Then the waters returned and covered the chariots, the horsemen, and all the army of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them. Not so much as one of them remained.
Now that’s one kind of baptism I would never want to submit myself to! But all the while Israel doubted and fretted, GOD had a plan – He knew how it would turn out: there was never any doubt, not in His mind anyway. If only Israel had no doubts! But lesson learned (for a while at least) because…
31 …Israel saw the great work which the LORD had done in Egypt; so, the people feared the LORD and believed the LORD and His servant Moses.
Just as Moses delivered the Hebrew nation from the Egyptian Pharaoh, saving them from sure destruction – likewise the LORD Jesus Christ leads His people in the church from their enslavement to the god (ruler) of this world (Satan) and sin, into His eternal kingdom.
Incidentally, there has been an interesting archeological find in the Red Sea; apparently there were found some wagon wheels and remnants of Egyptian chariots.
EXODUS 15 Check out Albert Lopez’ teaching on this chapter as presented at SHINE BRIGHT Church!
EXODUS 15:1-2
1 Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the LORD, and spoke, saying: "I will sing to the LORD, For He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea! 2 The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; My father's God, and I will exalt Him.
Spiritual warfare is actually an integral part of the Gospel of our salvation, and this warfare is something that happens when the Gospel shines in this dark world. Pharaoh and Egypt as types for Satan and this world that he rules over (2 COR 4:4) had as their objective the annihilation of Israel. Behind the scenes, Satan was operating because he knew the plan of GOD was to get His people to Canaan where they would destroy the Canaanite idolators. And as we know, the idol itself is nothing, but behind it, a demon spirit receives the worship of the idolators.
1 CORINTHIANS 10:19-20It was in Satan’s best interest to destroy Israel before GOD used them to destroy his worshippers! Likewise, any time the Gospel is preached, heard, believed and acted upon by repentant sinners, the tally of Satan’s POW’s goes down by one! Being the proud creature that he is, that is something he can’t tolerate and will fight long and hard to prevent!
19 What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? 20 Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons (see also 1 COR 8:4-6).
So if you’re praying for a lost loved one, DON’T LOSE HEART! Be the warrior that GOD has called you to be and fight, Fight, FIGHT by prayer for these precious souls that the LORD wants to redeem.
So what if Satan has his proverbial chariots and horses coming after you? GOD has reserved a RED SEA for them! And He will see to it you get to those lost and share the life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ!
And as we who have already received the Gospel, have been redeemed, and have been transformed into the children of GOD, we are singing the victory just like Miriam, her sister saints, Moses and all Israel did!
REVELATION 5:11-13The LORD is victorious over sin (ROM 6:15-17), and death (ROM 6:9; 1 COR 15:55), and hell (REV 1:18), and over all the power of the enemy (GEN 3:15; COL 2:15; HEB 2:14; 1 JOHN 3:8)! His triumph is total, His victory is vital, His salvation is secure, His reign is righteous! And He as the embodiment of truth and grace will forever and ever be glorified of heaven and earth, long, long after Satan is banished and forgotten! AMEN!
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!" 13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: "Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!"
EXODUS 15:3-8
3 The LORD is a man of war; The LORD is His name. 4 Pharaoh's chariots and his army He has cast into the sea; His chosen captains also are drowned in the Red Sea. 5 The depths have covered them; They sank to the bottom like a stone. 6 "Your right hand, O LORD, has become glorious in power; Your right hand, O LORD, has dashed the enemy in pieces. 7 And in the greatness of Your excellence You have overthrown those who rose against You; You sent forth Your wrath; It consumed them like stubble. 8 And with the blast of Your nostrils the waters were gathered together; The floods stood upright like a heap; The depths congealed in the heart of the sea.
Those in the so-called “Progressive Christianity” movement as well as New Age-style religious spirituality adherents disdain the idea of GOD being a Judge or the Almighty being engaged in war. They think such an idea is far beneath the God of their own imagination.
But the fact of the matter is, just as much as GOD is full of grace and truth (JOHN 1:14, 17). He is also holy and righteous (REV 3:7; 6:10; 16:5; PSA 119:137). And as He fully fills the job description of “the Judge of the whole earth” (GEN 18:25) He is bound by His own eternally moral character to judge sin, bound ever more so than any earthly judge.
How would we feel if a judge dismissed a serial killer by saying, “just don’t do it again.” Would we fault that judge for being unjust? How much more so that GOD must – it’s an imperative – judge all and any sin, from the least to the greatest, not overlooking one incident!
By the same token, as the LORD over all creation, He is the sovereign ruler – and as any king is obligated by their right of rule to protect his subjects, so too must the LORD GOD protect those who are His (and that CAN include you, if you’re not saved already! Believe the Gospel, surrender to Christ and you’re in!).
Any who consciously, knowingly rise up in rebellion against the LORD and resist His authority – they make themselves His enemy. He doesn’t want them for His enemy, but if they refuse Him, and won’t acknowledge and surrender to His Lordship, then they remain at enmity with GOD – even though He died for their sins!
ROMANS 5:8The wars of Joshua in the Old Testament were righteous wars only because GOD was using His nation Israel as the hammer to strike the rebellious Canaanites who were given over to blatant idolatry, paganism, occultism, sacrificing their children, being involved in perverse sexual sin, bestiality and what else?
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (see also 1 PET 3:18; 1 JOHN 3:16; 4:9-10).
GOD gave them four hundred years to repent, they didn’t, they got judged as He authorized Israel to go to war against them.
Likewise the LORD “is a man of war…”
REVELATION 19:11-15GOD holds Four Primary Roles: He is the Creator GOD, He is the LORD GOD over all, He is the Holy Judge of all the Earth, and also the Redeemer of lost souls.
11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it, He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
When I think about how Satan has been in rebellion against GOD since the beginning, probably something in excess of six thousand years, continually rebellious, maliciously adversarial, stubbornly sinful in his plots and plans to interfere with the salvation of souls, with the lives of Christians, promoting evil in the world – his judgment is going to be scary! In fact, I have a hunch he might be the very last to be judged: so when he sees how bad those who followed him will get it (angels and humans), he’ll know his punishment will be way worse! That’ll make him sweat, I’m sure!
But finally, GOD’s primary enemy will be thrown not into the Red Sea, but into the lake of fire (REV 20:10)!
EXODUS 15:9-12
The enemy said, 'I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; My desire shall be satisfied on them. I will draw my sword, My hand shall destroy them.' 10 You blew with Your wind, The sea covered them; They sank like lead in the mighty waters. 11 "Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders? 12 You stretched out Your right hand; The earth swallowed them. 13 You in Your mercy have led forth The people whom You have redeemed; You have guided them in Your strength To Your holy habitation.
The LORD will judge all sin and rebellion wherever it may be found – whether among Gentile people like these Egyptians, or even those Jews among the tribes of Israel. Look at this account when there were some Israelites who challenged the authority of Moses who himself was chosen of GOD (thus they were really challenging GOD Himself!):
NUMBERS 16:12-33
12 And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, but they said, "We will not come up! 13 "Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, that you should keep acting like a prince over us? 14 "Moreover you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you put out the eyes of these men? We will not come up!" 15 Then Moses was very angry, and said to the LORD, "Do not respect their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them, nor have I hurt one of them." 16 And Moses said to Korah, "Tomorrow, you and all your company be present before the LORD-you and they, as well as Aaron.
17 "Let each take his censer and put incense in it, and each of you bring his censer before the LORD, two hundred and fifty censers; both you and Aaron, each with his censer." 18 So every man took his censer, put fire in it, laid incense on it, and stood at the door of the tabernacle of meeting with Moses and Aaron. 19 And Korah gathered all the congregation against them at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. Then the glory of the LORD appeared to all the congregation. 20 And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 21 "Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment." 22 Then they fell on their faces, and said, "O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and You be angry with all the congregation?"The GOSPEL of Jesus Christ is truly a blessing; similarly the inheritance of the land of Canaan was to be a blessing for all Israel (all they had to do was believe GOD through faith – and because almost all the first generation refused to do so, they were judged and perished; HEB 3:19). The faithful among all those in Israel would not suffer any of the calamities’ that came upon Egypt, but healing and wholeness.
23 So the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 24 "Speak to the congregation, saying, 'Get away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.'" 25 Then Moses rose and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him. 26 And he spoke to the congregation, saying, "Depart now from the tents of these wicked men! Touch nothing of theirs, lest you be consumed in all their sins." 27 So they got away from around the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram; and Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the door of their tents, with their wives, their sons, and their little children. 28 And Moses said: "By this you shall know that the LORD has sent me to do all these works, for I have not done them of my own will.
29 "If these men die naturally like all men, or if they are visited by the common fate of all men, then the LORD has not sent me. 30 "But if the LORD creates a new thing, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the pit, then you will understand that these men have rejected the LORD." 31 Now it came to pass, as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apart under them. 32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all their goods. 33 So they and all those with them went down alive into the pit; the earth closed over them, and they perished from among the assembly.
There are those who are genuinely saved because they’ve believed the Gospel, but like Dathan and those other Israelites – those who rebel and harbor unbelief in the GOD of Truth and thereby refuse to obey the Gospel, they likewise will be destroyed!
2 THESSALONIANS 1:8-9EXODUS 15:26-27
8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
26 and said, "If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you." 27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees; so they camped there by the waters.
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