Exodus 14: Crossing the Red Sea
Exodus 14: Crossing the Red Sea
Last week we talked about the Passover—how God proved his power over the Egyptian gods and saved his people from slavery.
In Exodus 14, we read about how Pharaoh changed his mind about letting the people of Israel leave Egypt. As the Hebrews were leaving the land, he ordered his men to bring the Hebrew people back. The story comes to a climax when Moses and the people stand stranded between the Egyptian guards and the unforgiving Red Sea.
The people grumbled. Moses begged. And the Lord answered. He parts Red Sea for the people to walk on dry land. With the Israelites safely on the other side, the sea closes again killing the Egyptian armies.
This Exodus moment is the defining story in the emerging Israelite national history. It’s the moment where God remembered His promises to save them, make them a nation, and give them the land promised to Abraham. It’s the moment the Israelites will look back on as proof of God’s faithfulness, even when they struggle to see his work in the present.
Now that you’ve read the story, you might also read Exodus 15:1-18. I love how the people take this momentous occasion to recount what God has done and praise him for it through song. It’s likely that this is the oldest part of scripture, which shows the enduring power of song in the life of faith. “With your unfailing love you lead the people you have redeemed. In your might, you guide them to your sacred home.”
Lord, as we each meet in our own homes, guide us with your unfailing love into your sacred home. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
What do you think the people were feeling when they saw the Egyptians coming?
What do you think the people felt when God split the Red sea?
What have been the “exodus moments” in your life? How have you seen God work in the past?
How has song and poetry connected you with God? How have they reminded you of the truth in difficult times?
Where do you need God’s salvation in your life now?
Final Thoughts:
As Christians, Jesus’ incarnation, death, burial, and resurrection is our new and greater exodus. It’s when Jesus created for himself a new people, under a new King, awaiting a new promised land. Spend some time in prayer, worship, and communion reflecting on this!