All written materials for this series will be posted on this website, http://servingandsharing.com/, under the category, “Exodus – God Makes a Way.” All corresponding video presentations may be found on this YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFXW6HwOySA&list=PL7JRppjEn33ZzlfbuQKdvQQfsrkwm0GC5. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, send a message via the “Contact” button.
Among the sources I have used, I especially want to credit my friend Dr. Coy Roper and his excellent commentary on Exodus in the “Truth for Today” series.
We’ll begin this presentation with a broad outline of this section and then go into more detail.
Ex 13:17-15:21 Israel Crosses the Red Sea.
Ex 13:17-22 Progress: God Leads Israel.
Journey begins. Indirect route. Joseph’s bones. Cloud and fire.
Ex 14:1-12 Pursuit: Pharaoh Chases Israel.
Desire to reclaim “wandering” Hebrews. Israel’s panic and complaint.
Ex 14:13-31 Pathway: God Delivers Israel.
Parting the Red Sea. Israelites’ crossing. Egyptians’ drowning.
Ex 15:1-21 Praise: Israel Worships God.
Hebrew poetry. Our strength, our song, and our salvation.
THE EXODUS ROUTE
- Rameses (starting point) (12:37)
- Succoth (12:37)
- Etham, on the edge of the wilderness (13:20)
- Pi-hahiroth, by the Red Sea, near Migdol and Baal-zephon (14:2)
- Through the Red Sea (chs. 14; 15; 13:18; 15:4, 22)
- Wilderness of Shur (15:22)
- Marah, 3 days’ journey into wild’ness (15:22, 23)
- Elim, with twelve springs of water (15:27)
- Wilderness of Sin, bet. Elim and Sinai (16:1)
- Rephidim (= Massah & Meriba) (17:1, 7)
- Wilderness, at the mount of God (18:5)
- Wilderness of Sinai, from Rephidim, in front of mountain (19:1, 2).
Obvious question: Why not take the shortest, most direct route possible? The “Way of the Sea” was already in place. We’re about to learn the answer.
Ex 13:17-22 Progress: God Leads Israel.
“They might see war, change their minds, and return to Egypt!”
Aware of human frailties, and how we judge circumstances by what we see, the Lord accommodates His plans for us. Cf. Ps. 103:13-14.
The bones of Joseph. Wow! His body died in Egypt, but his heart was in Canaan. He was not buried in Egypt. His coffin was preserved for all those years and then carried by Israel through their entire journey. Gen 50:24, 25; Josh 24:32; Acts 7:15, 16; Heb 11:22.
Note re: “God will visit you” (Gen 50:24). Ex 3:16-17 (“Visiting, I have visited you.”); 4:31; Matt 25:36, 43; Jas 1:27.
Cloud and fire: Ex 14:19, 24; 33:9, 10; Num 9:15; 14:14; Deut 1:33; Neh 9:12; Ps 78:14; 99:7; 105:39; Is 4:5; 1 Cor 10:1.
Ex 14:1-12 Pursuit: Pharaoh Chases Israel.
“Turn back. Pharaoh will come after you, and I will be honored.”
Pharaoh: “Oh no! We’ve lost our free slave labor! Let’s go get them!”
600 select chariots, and all the chariots. Against Yahweh? Really?
Panic attack! “Between the devil and the deep blue sea!”
“Moses, weren’t there enough graves in Egypt?”
“Better to be living slaves there than to be dead escapees here.”
How will this pattern (absent faith, intense fear, cries to God, and complaints against Moses personally) continue? What about today?
Ex 14:13-31 Pathway: God Delivers Israel.
Are you stuck? Stand, watch God work, and follow His instructions.
The leader’s role: move the people forward and raise your staff.
The Red Sea parted miraculously, though not instantly.
The angel, the cloud, the light in darkness – all night long.
The east wind pushing the water into a wall on each side.
The step of faith. Would you have gone first and led your family?
Egyptians follow. Not too smart, after the recent plagues. But then …
Egyptians know: “Let’s flee! Yahweh is fighting for Israel!”
Israel sees, fears, and believes. So should we.
Ex 15:1-21 Praise: Israel Worships God.
Two stanzas:
First stanza (15:1b–12): PRAISE: back-and-forth between praising God for who He is and praising Him for what He has done for Israel:
Introduction (15:1b): The Lord is highly exalted because He has hurled the horse and its rider into the sea.
Praise to the Lord for who He is (15:2, 3): He is my strength, song, and salvation. He is my God and a warrior.
Praise to the Lord for what He has done (15:4, 5): He has cast Pharaoh’s chariots and army into the sea.
Praise to the Lord for who He is (15:6, 7): He is majestic in power, overthrowing His enemies.
Praise to the Lord for what He has done (15:8–10): He has used the waters and the wind to defeat Pharaoh’s army.
Praise to the Lord for who He is (15:11): He is greater than all the gods, majestic in holiness, a worker of wonders.
Praise to the Lord for what He has done (15:12): He caused the earth to swallow His enemies, and He has brought His people to His holy habitation.
Second stanza (15:13–18): the results of what the Lord has done.
The consequences for Israel (15:13): Guided to God’s holy habitation.
The consequences for the nations (15:14–16): Philistines, Edomites, Moabites, and Canaanites will be afraid.
The consequences for Israel (15:17): Planted in God’s chosen place.
The conclusion (15:18): let God be praised forever!
15:19 Summary: the Egyptians perished; the Israelites survived!
15:20-21 Miriam and women: tambourine, singing, dancing. Cf. Judg 11:34; 1 Sam 18:6; 1 Chr 15:16; Ps 68:25; 81:2; 149:3; Jer 31:4.
