THROUGH THE RED SEA
Text: Exodus 14:1 – 31
Intro.: The book of Exodus records the story of the history of the nation of Israel from their arrival in Egypt with the seeds of the nation, 70 people, during the service of Joseph to the pharaoh.
Now Joseph has died and a new pharaoh has come to power that did not know Joseph. The children of Israel have been made slaves. The slaves rapidly increase in numbers and pharaoh and the Egyptians make them work harder and harder until their conditions become unbearable. God though has not forgotten His promise to make the seed of Abraham a great nation though, and God’s protecting hand keeps them safe even among people that would willingly work them to death. God gives mid-wives to protect the newborn children, He raises a deliverer in the man Moses to guide them back to Canaan and God protects them through the plagues that Egypt was compelled to endure because they would not accept God or His commands, would not let Israel depart and worshipped other gods.
Because the 10th and final plague, the Passover, was too much to bear, pharaoh has relented and allowed Israel to leave Egypt. Israel, through the leadership of God’s man Moses has come to Migdol up against the Red Sea. That’s where we begin our examination of Exodus chapter 14.
TEXT: EX. 14:1 – 9
I. God Leads and Directs His Children.
A. God’s direction seemed to be confused and contrary to all reason.
1. They are running for their lives and God tells them to turn and make camp.
a. You might say God’s people are trapped between “the devil and the deep blue sea.”
b. If they camp by the sea, there will be no place to run except at the enemy.
c. The children of Israel are forced to trust God. They have nowhere else to turn.
d. A pillar of a cloud by day, a pillar of fire by night. They were traveling in the will of God.
2. Pharaoh thought they had trapped themselves with the land and sea.
a. The change in direction led Pharaoh to think the Israelites were confused.
b. Pharaoh is convinced the Israelites are wandering in the wilderness like lost sheep.
c. Pharaoh must think his luck has changed. He seems to have forgotten about Israel’s Great Shepherd.
3. Even after we know God’s great power we too forget the Great Shepherd.
a. Too often we trust the flesh instead of “being still” and waiting for direction from God.
b. Too often we become entangled with the cares of the world instead of putting our faith in Almighty God.
c. God never forgets His children.
B. Pharaoh remembers the great value to the economy the Israelites had made.
1. Pharaoh decided he should not have let them go.
2. The Egyptians pursued them with 600 chariots and all other available resources at his disposal.
3. Sometimes even when we are in the will of God trouble will come knocking.
II. God’s People respond The Way God’s children too Often Do.
A. Depression sets in. (vv. 10 – 12)
1. The children of Israel were afraid.
a. They were in the habit of fearing pharaoh.
b. First they prayed, then they pouted.
2. Then they complained to Moses.
a. Why have you brought us out here to die? (V. 11)
b. It was better to be slaves than die in this wilderness. (v. 12)
3. Why had they become so depressed and bitter?
a. They took their eyes off God and put them on their problems.
b. They forgot the promises God had made to them.
c. When you don’t feel like praying, pray. Draw nigh to God.
B. God’s Got This Fight. (vv. 13, 14)
1. Moses leadership depended squarely upon God. His plan:
a. First Moses used God’s Word: “Fear not.”
(1) God used them with Abraham in Gen. 15:1
(2) God uses it in Isaiah 41:10. Listen to God’s advice to His people about His mercies to the church.
Isaiah 41:10-13 10Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. 11Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. 12Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. 13For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.
b. Moses tells them to “Stand still.”
(1) Exactly the opposite of what they (or we) wanted to do.
(2) A call from fear to faith. (Ps. 46:10)
Ps. 46:10 10Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
c. “See the salvation of the LORD.”
(1) It took faith to See the salvation of the LORD.
(2) All they have to do is accept and receive His salvation.
(3) They are to stand still and God will do the work.
(4) You can’t lift a little finger to work out your salvation.
(5) All you have to do is accept what God has done for you.
2. Because of their faith they are ready to go forward.
C. God instructs Moses to divide the waters. (vv. 15 – 22)
1. “Go forward” seemed a contradiction.
a. “Stand still, get the LORD’S salvation and then move forward.
Hebrews 11:29 puts it like this: 29By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
2. The cloud that led them confused their enemies. (vv. 19, 20)
a. When Moses lifted his rod the wind obeyed. A strong east wind divided the waters. The people walked through on dry land.
3. The Gospel in the deliverance of Israel from Egypt.
a. The Passover speaks of salvation through the blood of Christ.
b. The opened Red Sea speaks of His death, burial and resurrection.
c. God delivered them by the blood at the Passover, now He baptizes them in the sea.
Conclusion
A. Do you feel like there’s no place to go? Come to Jesus!
B. There is no other way. Stand still and by faith see the Salvation of God.
1. Now Go Forward.
