Exodus 14 - Parting of the Red Sea

The Lord Delivers Israel at the Red Sea

All right, well let's open to Exodus chapter 14. We'll pray and then we will begin. Lord, we thank you again for another evening in your Word. We just pray that you would teach us. And Father, we thank you for all that you do and that we have miracles.

If we've never witnessed them in our own lives, we do have miracles here in the Scripture to testify to your great power. So Lord, increase our faith as we read this passage. We pray it all in Jesus' name.

Amen. Exodus chapter 14.

The wilderness has closed them in. 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. Now it was told the king of Egypt that the people had fled, and the heart of Pharaoh and his servants was turned against the people. And they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?

So he made ready his chariot and took his people with him. He took 600 choice chariots and all the chariots in Egypt with captains over every one of them. And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he pursued the children of Israel.

And the children of Israel went out with bones. So the Egyptians pursued them. All the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen and his army, and overtook them in camping by the sea beside Piraeus, before Baal-Zephiel.

And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very afraid. The children of Israel cried out to the Lord. 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? 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, and that we should die in the wilderness.

Do not be afraid. Stand still 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 said to Moses, Why do you cry to me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward, 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.

And I indeed will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them. So I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, his chariots, and his horsemen. Then the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gained honor for myself over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.

And the Son of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them. And the pillar of cloud went from the form and stood behind them. 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. And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and into dry land were divided.

And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a water on their right hand and on their left. And the Egyptians pursued and went after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.

But it came to pass in the morning watch that the Lord looked down from the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud, and He troubled the army of the Egyptians, who took off their chariots, so that they drove them with difficulty.

And the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel, for the Lord fights all of them against the Egyptians.

And 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.

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. The Egyptians in the midst of the sea 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 in the midst of the sea, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. So the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.

Thus 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.

I just had to remember, don't shut the TV off. So here in Exodus chapter 14, we see one of the most well-known stories, certainly one of the most well-known miracles in all of the scripture, the parting of the Red Sea.

And before I begin, I want to stress the importance of this event, just skip down to verse 13. It says, and Moses said to the people, do not be afraid, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. So as we've kind of hinted at, Bible stories like this have really been criticized and attacked and assaulted by liberal pastors and seminaries within the historic mainline Christian denomination.

So much so, I think, that if you were to go into the average, just randomly pick a church in New England, there would be a 50 -50 chance of whether or not they even believed that this happened. So what does he say?

Moses says, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. This is why many churches no longer preach the gospel. It starts with denying things like this. This is so incredible. How can a man stretch out his hand in the Red Sea?

It starts with things like that, denying the parting of the Red Sea. It ends with denying the gospel. So if one does not believe that the Lord delivered Israel from bondage in Egypt, are they really going to believe that the Lord delivers his people from the bondage of sin?

Here's the point. A God who cannot part the Red Sea is a God that cannot raise Jesus from the dead. Or a Bible that is untrustworthy in the second book of the Old Testament isn't really trustworthy in the first, second, or third book of the New Testament.

You see, the Bible is a package deal.

Amen.

Faith is believing what cannot be seen. We're believing what God says. And God speaks from Genesis to Revelation. So again, it's a package deal. Look at Exodus 14, starting in verse 1. It says, Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, that they turn and camp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdal and the sea, opposite Baal-ziphon.

You shall camp before it by the sea. For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are bewildered by the land. The wilderness has closed them in. Now, let's not forget how the last chapter ended.

Go ahead and look at chapter 13, the last verse. Remember, it ended with talking about the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. Chapter 13 ended. Verse 22, it said, And he that is God did not take away.

He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people. So the Lord used the pillar of cloud and the fire to guide the children of Israel. But now what has happened?

They're basically trapped. Right. So the Lord put them there. And basically, if I can put it this way, the Lord has led the children of Israel into dire straits. God did that. God put them into this position.

So now the children of Israel are vulnerable. So Pharaoh, he's obviously keeping tabs on their movement. So Pharaoh realizes that Israel is now easy prey, or so he thinks. That's the way it looks. And the Lord is arranging all of this for what purpose?

Well, it tells us in the end of verse four, so that the Egyptians may know that I am the Lord. Of course, he's doing this to impress this upon the children of Israel, that I am the Lord. And he's going to make this clear to all of the world.

To all generations, this event testifies that the Lord is God. Now let's turn to Joshua chapter two for a moment. Joshua chapter two. The Lord will use this event so that not only the Egyptians know the Lord and his great power, that the Israelites know, but that all peoples of the earth shall know.

And we're going to watch this in a few moments, but I think of this movie, The Ten Commandments. Has anyone not seen this with Charlton Heston, the old movie from the, what, 1950s? Well, I just think of this film and how many people have seen it.

Millions, tens of millions, hundreds of millions, maybe. And to me, the most memorable part of the film was the parting of the Red Sea, I think, in my opinion. But for 3 ,500 years, so whether it's somebody watching this movie that wasn't even a believer, a lot of unbelievers, I'm sure, have watched that film.

Or just hearing about this for 3 ,500 years, this event has testified of the Lord and his strength and his mercy in delivering the children of Israel. So here in the book of Joshua, you remember what's happening here.

Before they enter into the promised land, the children of Israel have to defeat the men of the city of Jericho. So the spies are sent out. They encounter Rahab the harlot. Look at Joshua 2, verse 10. Joshua 2, 10.

Rahab says to the spies, For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt.

Verse 11.

And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted. Neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you. For the Lord your God, he is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath. So even back then, the word of this event, parting the Red Sea, had spread all throughout the known world, at least in that region.

So you can see that this event has brought great glory to God.

Yes, Larry.

This was at least when the Rahab was at least 40 years later.

Right. So they're still talking about it. And so are we. Because it's an amazing thing. So while we usually praise God for his mercy, God is glorified even in judgment. And really, we see both here. We see redemption or salvation, deliverance, and we see judgment.

Salvation for Israel. Judgment for Egypt. And of course, salvation or deliverance can't even exist unless there's something to be saved or delivered from. So Israel is in this seemingly impossible situation, and it was the Lord.

And again, I really want to stress this. It's the Lord who put them in this predicament. And it's going to require a miracle to get them out. So you see what God is doing, hopefully. And I believe the Lord does this kind of a thing.

He will put his children. He may even put you in what seems to be impossible situation. So you can just stand back and watch what he's going to do.

Jim.

In verse 4. And then he uses the same term in verse 17. So I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, his chariots and his horsemen. I don't think he was looking to get honor from Pharaoh. I think this is honor that the Israelites would have recognized.

And that he would gain their honor, pretty much.

Okay.

Very good. So yeah, have you ever been in a situation where you feel like the Lord kind of put you into a jam and then he's the one who got you out of it? So sometimes he'll do things to take us out of our comfort zone.

I really believe that. And I want to point out this with the Hebrews. The thing that stands out to me is that the Lord delivers them. Not because they're so godly. Not because they have such great faith.

I'm going through what we heard and their response. Obviously they were not like that all the time. But the Lord delivered them because, not so much about them, to show his great mercy. Look at verse 5.

Now it was told the king of Egypt that the people had fled. And the heart of Pharaoh and his servants was turned against the people. And they said, why have we done this? Pharaoh never learns. That's one thing we learned about him.

Why have we done this? That we have let Israel go from serving us. So he made ready his chariot and took his people with him. Also he took 600 choice chariots. And all the chariots of Egypt with captains over each one of them.

And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. And he pursued the children of Israel. And the children of Israel went out with what? Boldness. The King James Version puts it this way. They went out with a high hand.

That's an interesting phrase. What does that mean? Basically when they're exiting Egypt. I mean they're feeling pretty good. They're feeling pretty confident. I mean they're going out with boldness. They have just been exalted over the most powerful nation on earth.

And to boot, the people, the Egyptians gave them here. Take our silver and gold with you.

Just go, go.

So they're feeling really, really good about all of this. However, one of the problems with the children of Israel. That kind of thing never really lasted. They were hot one moment and cold the next. And of course that's the way believers often are today.

We're on fire for the Lord one moment. Great faith in him one moment. And then kind of down and doubting and questioning things the next. So the Lord wants a little more stability from us. Paul in Colossians 10, as I pointed out many times.

I'm sure I will again. These things are written for what? Our admonition. This is a lesson for us. Kind of what not to do. Okay, so we'll have a little more stability. Not being so fickle. But at least with the Israelites at this moment.

They are having one of those mountain top spiritual experiences. And I'd like to read what Matthew Henry says about this section. He's a well-known commentator. Because he really makes some, I think, some great applications for the New Testament church.

So here's what Matthew Henry writes. He writes, Pharaoh would think that all Israel was entangled in the wilderness. And so would become an easy prey. But God says, I will be honored upon Pharaoh. All men being made for the honor of their maker.

Those whom he is not honored by, he will be honored upon. Okay, so either you're going to honor your maker or he will be honored upon. So here's the application for us. What seems to tend to the church's ruin is often overruled to the ruin of the church's enemies.

So in other words here, all of this, Pharaoh thinks he's got them now. And he's in the driver's seat. But it's all going to backfire. And I believe this happens today. When the world thinks they have the church on the run.

When the devil thinks he has the church and he's going to get a great victory. That's when God's about to do something amazing. So when you think things look really bad, things are looking really good.

Because the Lord's probably about to do something great. Just take the obvious example. Jesus on the cross as he's hanging on the cross. It looked like the devil had just gained his greatest victory. But when Jesus walked out of the tomb, that actually signaled the cross was his ultimate defeat.

So Israel is now in a position where it seems that there's no way out. There's nowhere for them to go.

And that was true.

And maybe, you know, you've been there in your own life. It seems like there's no way out. There's no way that this can work. We all know the promise that God works all things together for good to those who love him.

To those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8, 28. We kind of know that, but it doesn't seem like it's possible. Well, again, verse 13. Moses said to the people, do not be afraid. Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.

So don't despair. Wait upon the Lord. Psalm 46, verse 10. I think this verse applies. Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth. So here's what we don't want to miss about Israel.

The Lord did not save them. He did not deliver them in this event with the Red Sea because of how godly they were. I mean, is that why? Obviously not. The deliverance was all of grace. Salvation is all of the Lord.

And verse nine says that the Egyptians pursued them. Verse 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. Then they said to Moses, because there were no graves in Egypt, you've taken us away to die in the wilderness. Why have you so dealt with us to bring us up out of Egypt?

You know, this isn't exactly the response of faith that Moses was hoping for. But let me ask you, did the Lord know they were going to respond this way? Yes, he did. Did that change anything on the Lord's part?

No, it didn't. Why? Because it wasn't about them. It's not about their works. It's about God's mercy. It's because God made a covenant with Abraham and his descendants. The Lord had already promised that he was going to deliver Israel many hundreds of years ago.

He was going to keep his promises. So it's not about the faithfulness or the good works of the holiness of the people. Because that really was practically non-existent. It's about God being faithful.

God keeping his promises. So his salvation was not contingent upon them and their works. Just as your salvation was not contingent upon you and your godliness and your works and your holiness because you're so great.

If that were the case, none would be saved. So in application to the New Testament church, when you were born, when any person is born, they're born. Ephesians 2, 1 dead and trespasses and sins. I mean, there's probably a time in your life where you were going your own way.

You were doing what you wanted. Obeying God was not probably even a thought in your mind. But by grace, you are saved through faith. You say, yeah, but did the Israelites have faith? I know it looks like they really didn't have any faith.

I might say they didn't have much. But remember with the Passover, they listened. They sprinkled the door with the blood on the doorposts, which is representative of the blood of Christ. I mean, they believed that much.

They did it. They were under the blood, so to speak. Now, don't put words in my mouth and say I'm saying that every Israelite was saved. That's almost certainly not the case. But there is faith among the Israelites.

OK, their works pretty dismal at times. But this all highlights the Lord's faithfulness is the point. So the Lord keeps his promises. He remembers his covenant. So Moses basically tells them three things here.

Number one, do not be afraid. Number two, stand still. And then number three. Shut up. Keep quiet. Because every time they open their mouth, they're really just indicting themselves. So don't be afraid.

Just stand still. Keep your mouth shut and watch what God is going to do. Look at verse 15. And the Lord said to Moses. Because they go to Moses. Moses takes it to the Lord. The Lord says to Moses, why do you cry to me?

Tell the children of Israel to go forward. 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. Verse 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. 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. I'm going to show the movie clip.

Not a pharaoh.

Destroy them all. But bring Moses to me alive. Pharaoh's dead.

And the sea covered them. Who is like unto thee, O Lord? From everlasting to everlasting. Thou art God.

In 1 Corinthians 10 verses 1 and 2, the Apostle Paul says, referring to this. Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud and all passed through the sea.

All were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. So he's talking about the pillar of cloud and the sea. All were baptized into Moses. So this is sort of like a play on words.

Right.

Baptism. You think of water. Obviously, it means to immerse. But of course, they went through the midst of the sea. None of them actually got wet. So what does that mean when Paul says this? Basically, they were immersed into Moses at this event.

Moses became the great deliverer of the children of Israel. And that really is symbolic. Because the great deliverer is symbolic of Jesus, who had come 1500 years later to be that ultimate deliverer of God's people.

And so we end in Exodus 14 verse 30. So the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians. And Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. Thus 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.