LESSON 14
LIFE AND DEATH AT THE RED SEA
—by E. L. Bynum
Memory Verse: 14:13 (N.W. Luke 2:11)————Lesson: Exodus 14:1-31
In this lesson we are to have for our consideration one of the most remarkable miracles recorded in the O.T., certainly the most remarkable in connection with the history of Israel. From this point onwards whenever the servants of God would remind the people of the Lord’s power and greatness, reference is almost always made to what He wrought for them at the Red Sea.
Eight hundred years afterwards the Lord says through Isaiah. Isa. 51:15, But I am the LORD thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared: The LORD of hosts is his name. Nah. 1:3-4, The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. Micah 7:15, According to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt will I shew unto him marvellous things. Josh. 24:6-7, And I brought your fathers out of Egypt: and ye came unto the sea; and the Egyptians pursued after your fathers with chariots and horsemen unto the Red sea. And when they cried unto the LORD, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea upon them, and covered them; and your eyes have seen what I have done in Egypt: and ye dwelt in the wilderness a long season. Neh. 9:9, And didst see the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heardest their cry by the Red sea. Psa. 106:7-8-12, Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea. Nevertheless he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known. He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness. And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy. And the waters covered their enemies: there was not one of them left. Then believed they his words; they sang his praise. Jer. 31:35, Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name. Josh. 2:10-11, For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.
I . THE REDEEMED THREATENED. v. 1-12
A. The Lord Speaks To Their Leader. 1-4
1. Their route of travel changed. v. 1-2. The Lord places them where the sea is ahead, the mountains on either side, and the Egyptians behind them. Here they would be totally dependent upon the Lord for their safety in this trial. James 1:3-4, Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
2. Pharaoh’s conclusion. v. 3
3. God’s work and purpose. v. 4
B. The Egyptians Pursue Israel. v. 5-9
1. The Egyptians miss their slaves. v. 5. Compare this with Satan’s fiery darts when the sinner turns to Christ. Eph. 6:16, Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
2 . Pharaoh prepares to pursue them. v . 6
3. Pharaoh’s army goes with him. v. 7
4. The hard hearted king in pursuit. v. 8
5. The Egyptians overtake Israel. v. 9
C. The Fearful Israelites & Their Brave Leader. v. 10-14
1. The fearful Israelites. v. 10. Remember that they were unarmed, untrained, and unaccustomed to war. We believe that Moses was trained in military matters. Acts 7:22, And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.
2. The faithless Israelites turn on Moses. v. 11
3. The foolish Israelites prefer slavery. v. 12
4. The faithful leader speaks. v. 13-14
a. Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. v. 13
b. The Egyptians to be utterly destroyed. v. 13
c. The Lord will fight for you. v. 14. Israel had been brought to this exact place by the Lord, in order that they might see the sufficiency of the Lord. Phil. 4:19, But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. I Cor. 10:13, There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
II. THE REDEEMED DELIVERED. v. 15-22
A. The Lord Instructs Moses. v. 15-18
1. They are to go forward. v . 15
2. The way to be prepared. v. 16
3. The Egyptians to be destroyed. v. 17
4. The Lord to be honored. v . 18
B. The Lord Delivers Israel. v. 19-22
1 . The angel and the cloud protect Israel. v. 19
2. The cloud of darkness and the cloud of light. v. 20
3. The waters divided. v. 21
4. Israel marches through on dry ground. v. 22. Many have attempted to explain away the miracle, by saying that this was only a shallow marsh. They fail to explain how the Egyptians could have been drowned in such a place.
a. This was an act of faith. Heb. 11:29, By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
b. This was an act of obedience, a type of baptism. I Cor. 10:1-2, Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea.
III. THE UNREDEEMED DESTROYED. v. 23-31
A. The Destruction Of The Egyptians. v. 23-28
1 . The Egyptians follow. v. 23. They try to do without faith, what Israel did by faith. No wonder they were destroyed.
2. The Lord troubled Egypt in the morning watch. v. 24. (The morning watch was from 2 a.m. until sunrise.)
3. The Egyptians flee. v. 25
4. The Egyptians overthrown. v. 26-27
5. The waters destroy the army. v. 28
B. The Deliverance And The Lessons From It. v. 29-31
Israel walks upon dry land between the walls of water. The Lord saved Israel, and Israel saw the great work and feared the Lord. But there are a number of typical lessons found in this chapter.
1. Typically the crossing of the Red Sea speaks of Christ making a way through death for His people.
2. Evangelically the crossing of the Red Sea tells of the completeness of our salvation. It is the sequel to the Passover night.
3. Doctrinally the passage through the Red Sea sets forth the believer’s union with Christ in His death and resurrection. Gal. 2:20, I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. This is pictured in baptism, but is accomplished by faith. I Cor. 10:1-2, Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea. Rom. 6:5, For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection. Eph. 2:5-6, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. 4. Practically the deliverance of Israel from the Red Sea illustrates the absolute sufficiency of our God. Isa. 43:2, When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
5. Dispensationally the passing of Israel through the Red Sea foreshadows the yet future restoration and deliverance of the nation of Israel from among the sea of the nations. Psa. 65:7, Which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people. Dan. 7:2, Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. Rev. 17:15, And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. Ezek. 20:34, And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out. Ezek. 37:21, And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land.
—by E. L. Bynum
STUDY QUESTIONS
1. Why did God change the route of travel for Israel?
2. What did Pharaoh conclude from their route of travel?
3. Why did the Egyptians miss having the Israelites? 1
4. How does this compare with Satan’s work when a sinner is saved?
5. What excuse did Israel have for their fear of Egypt’s army?
6. “_________ ye not, stand still, and see the ____________ ___ ___ _ ___________.”
7. Why was the cloud darkness to Egypt and light to Israel?
8. At what time did the Lord trouble the Egyptians?
9. Some suggest that Israel crossed only a marsh and not a sea. Why could this not be true?
10. What N. T. ordinance is typified by the crossing of the Red Sea?