Escape Through the Red Sea
Open Your Bible
Exodus 14:1-31, Exodus 15:1-21, Romans 6:1-4, Hebrews 11:29
BY Yana Conner
How do you respond to difficulty? Are you an optimist who always finds the good or a problem-solver who creates a handful of contingency plans?
Me? I’m like Israel. My response to difficulty is usually anxiety, discouragement, and doubt. I look at the “Red Seas” of my life and cry out. For example, I recently became a homeowner. Yay! Right? Yes. But also, the journey to the closing was rough. I’m talking about five different closing dates, a two-week stay at a friend’s becoming a three-month stint, and a week where it looked like it would all fall through and I would lose all my money. After one gut-wrenching phone call with my realtor, I remember sitting in my friend’s kitchen, with my head in my hands, wondering if I had made it all up.
I imagine Israel felt the same way, but ten thousand times over with the Egyptians behind them and a literal dead end in front of them. Even if they could swim, there was no way they could swim the length of the Red Sea. Though God had shown Himself to be all-powerful, this difficulty caused them to doubt God’s ability and character, asking, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness?” (Exodus 14:11).
Growing up, I often heard the saints of my childhood church sing of a God who would never forsake His people. They would belt out in three-part harmony with conviction, “I don’t believe He brought me this far to leave me.” Today’s reading proves this lyric to be true. After miraculously executing the ten plagues, God didn’t lead Israel to the Red Sea to leave them. Instead, the Red Sea was purposed to be their deliverance and Egypt’s defeat. He asked them to abandon their fear and quietly watch Him fight for them.
As I sat in my friend’s kitchen, God asked the same of me. I wish I could say I responded with a resounding yes, but I honestly had no choice. My chips were in. All I could do was trust Him. I’m happy to report He did, but I’m even more delighted to say God fought for my heart to find deeper levels of trust in Him.
43 thoughts on "Escape Through the Red Sea"
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The Red Sea was purposed to be their deliverance! The obstacle that is in front of us may just be Gods positioning for breakthrough, victory or protection. He allows us to walk through waters untouched & unscathed and in awe of His glory when we reach the other side.
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God ‘ s faithfulness to His children will never be empty . . . He always keeps His promises && never abandons us ! what a beautiful beautiful encouragement that He never leave us && doesn’t want us to feel as if the trials we go through are who we are , He is who we should be ! ✞
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❤️
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God will protect his children. He is powerful and nothing is impossible for Him. I have to “let go and let God”.
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This is exactly the message I needed to hear at the exact right time. I am so blessed! ❤️❤️
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There are so many things about today’s reading that I find good & interesting!
-God had them turn back (14:1) to ensure that not only would they be in plain sight of the pursuing Egyptians (14:8-9), but vice-versa (14:10). They were able to see & hear their approaching enemy. The fact that the Egyptians were marching is terrifying, giving the people opportunity & time to contemplate/think about their demise.
-The people went through on ‘dry ground’ (14:16). The ground wasn’t a little dry, mostly dry, or somewhat dry. It was completely dry!
-The angel of God & the pillar of cloud moved behind them (14:19) in order to keep their enemy from seeing them & vice-versa. God protected them before & up until He even parted the Red Sea. It remained all night so that God could ‘drive the sea back by a strong east wind all night & make the sea dry land & divide the waters’ (14:21). And with 600,000+ people (12:37), it took them all night to walk through because the Egyptians couldn’t even see, let alone attempt to cross the Red Sea until morning (14:23-24). In Googling it, the Red Sea is about 1,200 miles!
-In the same way the people ‘lifted up their eyes’ (14:10) & saw their enemy approaching, they also saw their enemy ruined (14:30).
*Questions I Have About Crossing the Red Sea*
1.Who was the first person to place their foot or feet onto the dry ground? Who led the way?
2.What did it look like? Did the people walk, run, or jog through?
3.What did it sound like? Were the people singing songs? Were they dead silent? Were they talking to one another? Were they exclaiming amazement & awe at what they were seeing?
4.How narrow or wide was the divide that God created?
5.How did the people feel as they walked through?
6.What were the people thinking as they walked through? -
It’s neat how God told Moses what He was going to do in ADVANCE, so that Moses could stand firm in faith and tell his people who were afraid upon seeing the Egyptians that God is going to deliver them. Then God reminded Moses what He was going to do and gave him further instructions to reach out his hand with his staff to divide the sea.
And God held back the sea for about 600,000 people AND their animals!! At least I think that’s the number.
The Egyptians acknowledged that the Lord was fighting for His people, before they perished.
“I don’t believe He brought me this far to leave me.”
You didn’t come this far to come this far. If you’re still alive, there’s more to your story and God isn’t done with you yet!======
Kathy – Praising God with you on your results! That’s great news! Thank you also for your thoughts on the reading. I’ve added it to my journal. :)
Denise Richie – I understand what you mean by “the peace you feel in difficult situations,” it’s a feeling of joy and trust that God will be there throughout and that all will be okay. “It is well with my soul…”
Sarah D – praying for peace for you as God navigates your next steps. As someone else has said, perhaps this is your Red Sea moment. Trust in Him and He will provide. Remember all the times in the past He has provided and protected you. You are in good hands.
Michelle Patire – Praise God that you and your family are safe, and that the man was captured. I pray that this incident will fill you with faith instead of fear.
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Still catching up, but so grateful to God and His timing. Have a great weekend!
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Agree, well said Kathy.
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