Exodus 14:10-31, 15:20-21, CEB
“10 As Pharaoh drew closer, the Israelites looked back and saw the Egyptians marching toward them. The Israelites were terrified and cried out to the Lord. 11 They said to Moses, “Weren’t there enough graves in Egypt that you took us away to die in the desert? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt like this? 12 Didn’t we tell you the same thing in Egypt? ‘Leave us alone! Let us work for the Egyptians!’ It would have been better for us to work for the Egyptians than to die in the desert.”
13 But Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. Stand your ground, and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never ever see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you. You just keep still.”
15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry out to me? Tell the Israelites to get moving. 16 As for you, lift your shepherd’s rod, stretch out your hand over the sea, and split it in two so that the Israelites can go into the sea on dry ground. 17 But me, I’ll make the Egyptians stubborn so that they will go in after them, and I’ll gain honor at the expense of Pharaoh, all his army, his chariots, and his cavalry. 18 The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord, when I gain honor at the expense of Pharaoh, his chariots, and his cavalry.”
19 God’s messenger, who had been in front of Israel’s camp, moved and went behind them. The column of cloud moved from the front and took its place behind them. 20 It stood between Egypt’s camp and Israel’s camp. The cloud remained there, and when darkness fell it lit up the night. They didn’t come near each other all night.
21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The Lord pushed the sea back by a strong east wind all night, turning the sea into dry land. The waters were split into two. 22 The Israelites walked into the sea on dry ground. The waters formed a wall for them on their right hand and on their left. 23 The Egyptians chased them and went into the sea after them, all of Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and cavalry. 24 As morning approached, the Lord looked down on the Egyptian camp from the column of lightning and cloud and threw the Egyptian camp into a panic. 25 The Lord jammed their chariot wheels so that they wouldn’t turn easily. The Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites, because the Lord is fighting for them against Egypt!”
26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the water comes back and covers the Egyptians, their chariots, and their cavalry.” 27 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. At daybreak, the sea returned to its normal depth. The Egyptians were driving toward it, and the Lord tossed the Egyptians into the sea. 28 The waters returned and covered the chariots and the cavalry, Pharaoh’s entire army that had followed them into the sea. Not one of them remained. 29 The Israelites, however, walked on dry ground through the sea. The waters formed a wall for them on their right hand and on their left.
30 The Lord rescued Israel from the Egyptians that day. Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 Israel saw the amazing power of the Lord against the Egyptians. The people were in awe of the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses.”
“20 Then the prophet Miriam, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand. All the women followed her playing tambourines and dancing. 21 Miriam sang the refrain back to them:
Sing to the Lord, for an overflowing victory! Horse and rider he threw into the sea!”
Family Ties and Reconciliation
It’s Homecoming weekend here in McPherson! It has been an eventful weekend, from Friday night’s overtime win to last night’s dance. Now, as we gather for worship, we continue this homecoming theme. Today, we’re exploring another powerful homecoming story – the Israelites’ dramatic escape from Egypt and their first moments of freedom. We’ll focus on Miriam, a woman who led her people in a joyous celebration of God’s deliverance. Like our community coming together for homecoming festivities, Miriam’s song united a nation in praise.
As we turn to Exodus 14 and 15 today, we’re diving into a pivotal moment in the grand story of God’s relationship with humanity. This account of the Israelites’ dramatic escape through the Red Sea isn’t just an ancient tale—it’s a living testament to God’s liberating power that still speaks to us today.
This story of deliverance echoes throughout the Bible, foreshadowing God’s ultimate act of salvation through Jesus Christ. It reminds us that even when we face seemingly insurmountable obstacles, God can make a way where there seems to be no way.
As we explore this passage, I encourage you to engage actively. Jot down any thoughts, questions, or personal connections that arise. How might God be parting seas in your own life? Where do you see divine deliverance at work in our world?
I invite you to open your heart to the Holy Spirit’s guidance as we unpack this timeless story, seeking its relevance for today’s lives. Let’s begin by remembering where we have been in this series.
Over the past two weeks, we’ve journeyed through pivotal moments in Genesis, witnessing God’s faithfulness across generations. Two Sundays ago, on our 150th church anniversary, we explored God’s covenant with Abraham. We saw how God’s promises extend beyond individuals, shaping entire communities and generations. This reminded us of our church’s legacy and our calling to nurture faith for those who will come after us.
Last week, we delved into Joseph’s complex family story. We witnessed how God can work through even the most challenging family situations, transforming betrayal into reconciliation and using our struggles to fulfill divine purposes.
Today, we move from the family dramas of Genesis to the national epic of Exodus. We see how God’s promises to Abraham have multiplied into a nation now facing its dramatic moment of deliverance. The theme of God working across generations continues as Moses leads the people Abraham’s descendants have become.
Just as Joseph’s brothers intended to harm, but God used it for good, we’ll see how God turns Pharaoh’s oppression into an opportunity for divine rescue. Like Abraham believing God’s seemingly impossible promise, the Red Sea crossing becomes a defining moment of faith. As we look at Exodus today, remember that we’re part of this ongoing story of faith, challenge, and divine deliverance.
The Exodus narrative, including our passage today, was likely compiled and written down centuries after the events it describes, probably during the Babylonian exile in the 6th century BCE. This context is crucial, as it suggests the story was shaped not just as a historical account but as a powerful reminder of God’s faithfulness when the Israelites once again faced oppression and longed for deliverance.
Our passage sits at the heart of the Exodus story, marking the pivotal moment of Israel’s liberation from Egypt. It bridges the ten plagues and the wilderness wanderings, serving as the definitive act of God’s salvation that would be referenced throughout the Old and New Testaments.
This passage underscores several vital theological concepts. It highlights God’s sovereignty over nature, human powers, and divine intervention in history. The story emphasizes the importance of faith in the face of seemingly impossible odds and demonstrates God’s commitment to liberating the oppressed.
We see echoes of this story throughout Scripture. The parting of the Jordan in Joshua 3 mirrors this event, while prophets like Isaiah reference it as a paradigm for future deliverance. Paul draws parallels between the Red Sea crossing and Christian baptism in the New Testament, showing its enduring theological significance.
The core message is hope and trust in God’s delivering power. It challenges us to have faith even when faced with insurmountable obstacles, reminding us that God can make a way where there seems to be no way. This story invites us to recognize modern-day “Red Seas” in our lives and our world, calling us to trust God’s liberating work even in the most challenging circumstances.
Have you faced moments when you have felt trapped between an advancing threat and an impassable barrier? Perhaps you’re a recent graduate stepping into a competitive job market, overwhelmed by student debt and uncertain prospects. Or maybe you’re navigating a complex medical diagnosis, torn between fear of the unknown and hope for healing.
In these moments, like the Israelites, we might question why we’ve been led to this point. We might long for the familiarity of our past struggles rather than face the uncertainty ahead. But this scripture reminds us that God is at work even in our darkest hours when escape seems impossible.
Consider the parent watching their child struggle with addiction, feeling helpless yet desperately seeking a way forward. Or the retiree facing financial insecurity, wondering how to make ends meet in their golden years. These modern “Red Seas” can seem just as daunting as the waters that faced the Israelites.
Yet, this passage calls us to trust in God, who makes a way where there is no way. It challenges us to take that first step of faith, even when the path isn’t clear. Like Moses stretching his hand over the sea, we can act in faith, trusting God to part the waters.
And when deliverance comes, whether through unexpected opportunities, supportive communities, or inner strength we didn’t know we possessed, we’re called to celebrate like Miriam. Our testimonies of God’s faithfulness become beacons of hope for others facing their Red Seas.
The good news is that God’s liberating power isn’t confined to ancient history. The same God who parted the Red Sea continues to work wonders in our lives today. Jesus Christ embodies this divine liberation, breaking the chains of sin and death that hold us captive. Just as God provided a path through impossible waters for the Israelites, Christ offers us a way through our deepest struggles and fears.
This passage reminds us that our God is in the business of resurrection—bringing life from death, hope from despair, and freedom from bondage. In Christ, we see the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promise to deliver us. He invites us to trust him even when the way forward seems impossible, assuring us that his grace is sufficient for every challenge we face.
This week, actively embrace this liberating grace. Start each day by identifying one “Red Sea” in your life—a seemingly impossible situation. Then, take a concrete step of faith. This might mean reaching out for help if you’re struggling with addiction, initiating a difficult conversation to mend a broken relationship, or volunteering to serve those facing injustice in our community.
Remember, whenever we choose faith over fear, we participate in God’s ongoing story of liberation. So live as people set free, extending the same grace and deliverance we’ve received to others. In doing so, we become living testimonies to the God who still parts seas and transforms lives.
Miriam’s song at the Red Sea wasn’t just a celebration of that moment; it became a touchstone of faith for generations to come. Whether facing our own Red Seas or celebrating on the other side, let your voices rise in praise today. In our songs, we remember God’s faithfulness and trust in it for the challenges ahead. Like Miriam, we can lead with boldness in our praise, trusting that the God who parted the waters still makes a way where there seems to be no way. Will you pray with me?
God of deliverance, tune our hearts to sing your praise in every circumstance. Amplify our worship to echo through generations, testifying to your faithfulness. Help us lead courageously in song and service. Amen.
