The Background: Cornered and Terrified

The miracle occurs shortly after the Israelites were released from slavery in Egypt. Pharaoh quickly regretted his decision and pursued the fleeing Israelites with his entire army.

• The Impossible Situation: The Israelites camped between the desert, the mountains, and the Red Sea. They were trapped. When they saw Pharaoh’s chariots approaching, the people panicked and bitterly blamed Moses, convinced they were about to be slaughtered (Exodus 14:10–12).

• The Call to Stand Still: Moses's response in this moment of crisis is one of the most powerful commands of faith in the Bible: “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.” (Exodus 14:13) Their role was simply to stand still and watch God work.

• God's Intervention: The pillar of cloud (God's presence) moved from in front of the Israelites to behind them, placing a barrier of darkness between Israel and the Egyptian army, holding them back through the night.

I. The Miracle: Dry Ground

The actual miracle was not just the parting of the water, but the provision of a safe path through the deep sea.

• The Command and the Wind: God commanded Moses to stretch his hand out over the sea. The Lord then sent a strong east wind that blew all night, which was the physical mechanism God used to divide the waters and make the seabed dry ground for passage.

• The Deliverance: The people of Israel walked across the sea bed with the water standing up like a wall on both their right and their left. This was a supernatural, unrepeatable event that demonstrated God's complete mastery over the elements.

• The Judgment: Once the Israelites were safely on the other side, the Egyptian army attempted to follow. God commanded Moses to stretch out his hand again, and the waters returned, drowning Pharaoh's entire army, ensuring Israel's freedom was permanent (Exodus 14:28).

II. The Character Trait: Ultimate Deliverance

This miracle reveals God's character as the ultimate Deliverer and a powerful foreshadowing of Christ.

• Salvation is God's Work: The Israelites contributed nothing to their salvation except their obedience to walk. God did all the work—He divided the sea, He held back the enemy, and He drowned the threat. This points to our salvation in Christ: we are saved by grace through faith, not by our own works.

• The Path Through Water: The early Church viewed this crossing of the Red Sea as a type of Baptism—a spiritual passage from the old life of bondage (Egypt) to a new life of freedom (the Promised Land) through the power of God.

Applying the Truth Today

The Parting of the Red Sea is an assurance for the new Christian that nothing is impossible for God when He is delivering His children. If you are facing a problem that feels like an unpassable sea—a deep habit, crushing fear, or impossible opposition—remember this story.

God specializes in creating a path where there is none. Your job, like Israel's, is to stand firm, trust in the power of your Savior, and walk through the deliverance He provides.

Reflection Questions for Your Journey:

1. The Impossible Barrier. What "Red Sea" (impossible barrier or problem) is currently facing you? How does God's power over the elements empower you to trust that He can divide this barrier?

2. Stand Firm. When you are afraid, are you tempted to blame God or run back to your old ways (like the Israelites), or do you remember Moses's command to "stand firm and see the salvation of the Lord"?

3. The Path of Deliverance. Where has God already created a "dry path" through a difficult situation in your life? How can you use that memory to strengthen your faith today?

Your Reading Guide

To grasp the initial fear and the command, read Exodus 14:10–14. Next, focus on the description of the miracle in Exodus 14:21–22. Finally, read the result of their faith in Exodus 14:31.