THE EXODUS
The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succoth. They LORD led them
by a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night.
They did not journey toward the Mediterranean shores since they were
not ready to battle against the mighty Philistines. Instead the LORD
led them on a more southerly route. Their ultimate destination was
the Promised Land of Canaan.
Back in Egypt Pharaoh was having second thoughts about letting the
Israelites go. Thoughts of vengeance entered his heart gathering a
chariot-borne army to chase after them. By this time the Israelites
were camping next to the Sea of Reeds at Baal Zephon.
THE
CROSSING OF THE REED/RED SEA
There has been so much debate over the years in regards to which sea
the Israelites crossed and how they crossed it. Traditionally, the
name of the sea was translated as "Red Sea," but most
recently it has been translated as "Reed Sea."
Unfortunately, some skeptic scholars believe the Israelites crossed at
the northernmost tip of the Red Sea. These skeptics have theorized
that this crossing was not miraculous. They insist that the Egyptian
chariots got stuck in the mud while the Israelites waded across a
swamp on foot. But Scripture says that indeed they crossed the Red Sea.
"Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord
swept the sea back by a strong east wind all night and turned
the sea into dry land, so the waters were divided. The sons of Israel
went through the midst of the sea on the dry land, and the waters
were like a wall to them on their right hand and on their
left." Exodus 14:21-22 NASB.
The Parting of the Sea is foundational to the Christian Faith and the
Jewish Faith. It cannot be dismissed or disregarded. It
was a miracle from God. It was God's ability and determination to
save His people. Those who refuse to believe that the Parting of the
Sea really happened, also refuse to believe in God's salvation plan
for us today. It required a mighty and significant act of God!
According to the Exodus account, Pharaoh brought six hundred of his best
chariots to pursue the Israelites. He also brought other horses,
officers and troops. When the Israelites saw them approaching they
cried out to the LORD blaming Moses at the same time.
"Then
they said to Moses, “Is it because there were no graves in Egypt
that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you
dealt with us in this way, bringing us out of Egypt? Is this not the
word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, 'Leave us alone that we
may serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to
serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness." Exodus
14:11-12 NASB.
The LORD told Moses
to move the Israelites toward the sea stretching out his hand over
the sea. The angel of the LORD and the pillar of cloud started to
move between the Egyptians and the Israelites making it hard for the
Egyptians to see the Israelites. But God was with them giving them
light. That is amazing!
"Then
Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord
swept the sea back
by a strong east wind all night and turned the sea into dry land, so
the waters were divided. The sons of Israel went through the midst of
the sea on the dry land, and the waters were
like
a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.
Then the Egyptians took up the pursuit, and all Pharaoh’s horses,
his chariots and his horsemen went in after them into the midst of
the sea. At the morning watch, the Lord
looked down on the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire
and cloud and brought the army of the Egyptians into confusion. He
caused their chariot wheels to swerve, and He made them drive with
difficulty; so the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from Israel, for
the Lord
is fighting for them against the Egyptians.”
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may come back over the Egyptians, over their chariots and their horsemen.” So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal state at daybreak, while the Egyptians were fleeing right into it; then the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen, even Pharaoh’s entire army that had gone into the sea after them; not even one of them remained." Exodus 14:21-28 NASB.
The Israelites had a hard time trusting in God to save them when they
saw the Egyptians closing in behind them. Notice, that the
Israelites had become a race of slaves, not fighters or warriors.
They had no confidence in their ability to fight the Egyptians and
most importantly they were not yet trusting and depending on God
through faith to take care of them.
The same God that rescued Israel from slavery in Egypt can also rescue us from our own slavery to sin through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Luci
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