In this lesson, we will learn about Moses leading his people out of Egypt into the wilderness and the parting of the Red Sea. - Exodus 13, Exodus 14 and Exodus 15 (The New King James Version used throughout)
In previous lessons, we learned that the children of Israel had grown and multiplied greatly in the land of Egypt.(Exodus 1:7) The Israelites lived in Egypt for about 430 years. After Joseph died, there was a new ruler, Pharaoh, who did not remember Joseph. The Pharaoh feared the Israelites, and the Israelites became slaves to the Egyptians. (Exodus 1:8-14)
After about 400 years, God heard the Israelites cries and He remembered His covenant with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. (Exodus 1:23-25) So, God chose a man named Moses to lead his people out of bondage and into freedom and to go before the Pharaoh and demand him to let God’s people go. (Exodus 3 and Exodus 4)
Because the Pharaoh had refused to let the Israelites go, God sent a series of ten plagues (plagues to the Egyptians; miracles to the Israelites). (Exodus chapters 7-12).
With the 10th plague, the death of all Egyptian firstborn, Pharaoh decided to let the Israelites go. (Exodus 12:29-36)
So the Israelites packed up and left Egypt and started their journey to the land of Canaan, a land flowing with milk and honey (a very rich land) at the start of the Feast of the Days of Unleavened Bread. (Exodus 12:37 - 13:7)
Study this passage very carefully and note the analogy of the Israelites being free from the bondage of slavery and the unleavened bread are represented here. Both are referring to being free from bondage (sin).
Moses led them from Egypt, with the Lord leading them by day as pillar of cloud and by night as a pillar of fire, to give them light so they may go by day and night. (Exodus 13:21-22)
But when the Pharaoh had lost his slaves, he realized he made a mistake and decided to go and bring them back. (Exodus14:6-9) Then he took after the Israelites with his army and his chariots.
The Israelites became afraid when they saw Pharaoh’s army coming after them. There seemed to be no escape for them with the Red Sea in front of them and the Pharaoh army behind them! Then Moses told them “Do not be afraid. Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. The Egyptians you will see no more and the Lord will fight for you and you shall hold your peace.” (Exodus 14:13-14)
God told Moses to lift up his rod and stretch it out over the Red Sea to divide it so all the Israelites could cross it and reach safety on the other side. (Exodus 14: 16-18) And the Angel of God moved from in front of them to a place behind them. So that it would be light on the Israelites side and dark on the Egyptians side. (Exodus 14:19-20) And as Moses held his rod over the Red Sea, the Lord caused an east wind to blow to divide the sea and to hold up the waters so the Israelites could cross the sea on dry land with a wall of water on their left and right. (Exodus 14:21-22)
The Israelites all made it safely to the other side, so the Egyptians thought they could, too. But the Egyptians could not overtake the Israelites and the walls of water came crashing down on the Egyptians and they were all drowned in the sea. (Exodus 14:23-29)
“So, the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians…” (Exodus 14:30) and thus Israel saw a great miracle and believed and feared the Lord … (Exodus 14:31). Then Moses and the children of Israel sang a beautiful song in praise and rejoiced for all that God had done for them! (Exodus 15)
Remember, God helped the Israelites and God will help us find the way out of our troubles too, if we prayerfully ask and obey Him!
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