The Red Sea Crossing

We closed last week with Pharaoh and his army nearing the camp of the Israelites, which was close by the Red Sea. They have now told Moses it would have been better to remain servants to Pharaoh in Egypt, than to die in the wilderness. Notice Moses' answer: "Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will show to you today; for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace" (Exodus 14:13,14).

The Lord then tells Moses to have the children of Israel go forward. Moses was to stretch out his rod and lift his hand over the sea to divide it, and the children of Israel would walk through the midst of the sea on dry land. This Moses and the children of Israel did.

The Egyptians decided to follow the Israelites through the sea. This was God's plan. The wheels came off the Egyptian chariots. They then realized they had made a mistake by going into the sea, following the Israelites. The Egyptians said, "Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the Lord fighteth for them against the Egyptians" (Exodus 14:25). You know the rest of the story. All of Pharaoh's army was drowned in the sea that day (Exodus 14:28). So, Israel was saved from the Egyptians.

The Israelites had just witnessed their safe crossing of the sea and the destruction of the Egyptians; everything will now be o.k. for them, right? Wrong! They came to Marah, and could not drink the water, for it was bitter. God told Moses to cast a tree into the water, and it became sweet.

The Lord then made a statute and ordinance to prove Israel: "If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and will give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee" (Emphasis mine - HL) (Exodus 15:26). Remember the title of this series of lessons: It is settled. Was it settled with Israel?

Again, they murmured against Moses and Aaron, saying they had been brought out of Egypt to die in the wilderness because they had no food. They were given manna and quail to eat, and were instructed how to gather them. Some did not obey the instructions (Exodus 16:16-21). Why will man not obey the commandments of the Lord? Next, they murmured because of no water. The Lord told Moses to smite a rock in Horeb with his rod, and water came forth (Exodus 17:5,6). Next week, we'll notice the children of Israel at Mt. Sinai.