9 Crossing the Red Sea [Exodus 13:17–14:31]
The Bible passage: [Exodus 13:17–14:31]
The Story:
When Pharaoh let the people go, Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, because Joseph made his family swear that his bones would not stay in Egypt.
During the day, God led the people of Israel with a pillar of cloud during the day and with a pillar of fire at night. God led them along the wilderness road toward the Red Sea. The pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire were always there, day and night.
God told Moses that they would wander in the wilderness so Pharaoh would think they were lost and confused.
Pharaoh took his army out and pursued Israel into the wilderness. All of Pharaoh’s horses and chariots, his horsemen, and his army chased after them and caught up with them as they camped beside the Red Sea.
As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked and saw the Egyptians coming after them. The Israelites were terrified, and they called to God for help. They told Moses that it would have been better for them to be enslaved in Egypt than to die in the wilderness.
Moses told the people not to be afraid. He told them to stand firm and watch what God would do to save them.
At God’s direction, Moses told the people to break camp. He then held his staff out over the Red Sea and the sea split open so the people could cross through the sea. They walked across the sea on dry ground. The Angel of the Lord moved the pillar of cloud from in front of the people and put it between the Israelites and the Egyptian army.
As the people of Israel were crossing, the Egyptian army and chariots chased them into the opening in the sea. God threw the army into confusion. Their chariot wheels swerved and became difficult to drive.
Once the Israelites were across the sea, the Lord told Moses to stretch his hand out over the sea. The sea returned to its normal depth and the entire Egyptian army was drowned in the sea.
When Israel saw the power that God used to defeat the Egyptians, they feared God and believed in Him and Moses.
The Lessons:
- When the people were getting in a panic, Moses told them to stand firm and watch God work. This is similarly said in [Psalm 46:10], where God says, “Be still and know that I am God.” The context is the same: “Quit struggling and watch Me be God.”
- Once again, God protected His people. Not only that, but when God pulled the water back to give them a path through the sea, he gave them dry ground to walk on.
- We also see the people fearing God after seeing His power one more time. They saw his power so many times, but they still often drifted away from Him.
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