Crossing the Red Sea

The book of Exodus tells the story of the crossing of the Red Sea, when God liberates Israel from Egypt and displays his incomparable sovereignty. It is not just an escape story, it is a declaration of God's saving work. It is the final separation of Israel from Egypt and an event around which all subsequent redeemers focus their attention. This happened somewhere near the area of the Nile Delta in the east, where desert, waters, and battle ways cross.

Then I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, so that he will pursue them; and I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, that the Egyptians may know that I am the Lord.” And they did so (Exodus 14:3).

For God, the actions were carefully planned, He told Israel to stay near the sea at the end of the journey. From the human point of view, it may seem a bit unwise. However, it was all done according to God's plan. Moreover, even the actions of Pharaoh turned out to be a part of God's scheme for redemption.

The Pharaoh chases the Israelites with horses and chariots and with all the armies of Egypt behind him. The chariot was the pinnacle of military technology during those times, fast, powerful, and awe-inspiring. Thus, the use of these items in the story underscores the might of Egypt and its people’s faith in their military prowess. Nevertheless, this apparent might serves to set the stage for God’s demonstration of supreme and invisible power over human might and technology.

So the Egyptians pursued them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen and his army, and overtook them camping by the sea beside Pi Hahiroth, before Baal Zephon (Exodus 14:9).

On one level, the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart is a symbol of his personal stubbornness and rebellious nature against God. Yet, at another level, it shows that the hardening of his heart by God is also an example of God’s judgment on the Pharaoh who had chosen to rebel against Him.

 

Although the Israelites saw firsthand how God delivered them out of Egypt, they were afraid and complaining rather than believing. They blamed Moses and said that they wanted to go back to Egypt, showing just how engrained their slave mentality was. What we see in the lives of these people is an important spiritual principle, that freedom externally does not automatically mean freedom internally.

At the moment when the Israelites find themselves cornered between the Red Sea and the approach of Pharaoh’s armies, Moses instructs them saying, “Be not afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord.” In this instruction, Moses is neither urging the Israelites to do nothing nor is he asking them to stop their physical activities but is rather telling them to be at peace inwardly with the God. Moses is directing the Israelites to rely on God’s deliverance and refrain from panic and efforts of human being. However, what is interesting here is the tension created in the story. On the one hand, Moses instructs the Israelites to “stand still” but on the other hand, the God Himself orders them saying, “Go forward.”

And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation^[b] of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever (Exodus 14:13).

This combination of “standing still” and “moving forward” indicates that real faith entails activity. Faith is not just sitting idle but doing things according to the instructions received from God.

When Israel complies, the Presence of God, signified through the cloud and the fire, changes its location. The Presence of God will become light to Israel and dark to their enemies, the Egyptians. Here is where the theological message lies: the Presence of God is never neutral. While it leads to deliverance for God’s people, it also leads to judgment against those who defy God. God’s people are expected to abandon any form of fear in these critical times and instead place their trust in His mighty hands to lead them forward.

 

The climax in the story is reached when God separates the sea for the Israelites to walk across on dry land. Not only is the exodus considered significant as a dramatic act but it is also an opportunity for God to exhibit his supremacy over the creation process. As in Genesis 1 when God separates the waters, God in Exodus brings about life out of something that threatened Israel.

So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left (Exodus 14:22).

Therefore, the episode of crossing the Red Sea is also seen as another episode of “creation” because the Israelites do not simply flee from Pharaoh, but God creates a new nation through his redeeming work. By crossing the sea, Israel gains their identity as a people chosen by God, freed from their oppressors and brought into covenant relationship with God. God is portrayed as a divine warrior who does not wage war like humans; he uses creation elements such as the wind and the sea to bring about justice and freedom.

 

In this regard, the event turns out to be a kind of “new creation” where Israel does not just leave Egypt, but becomes a new people formed by the redeeming act of God. Crossing the Red Sea proves to be an experience that defines the identity of the people of God as being delivered from slavery to a covenant nation under the authority of God. God here is seen as a warrior, Who does not use violence to accomplish His purpose but uses creation as the means of judgment and salvation, using such things as wind, sea, and even timing. It can be noticed that what opens to liberate the people of God closes to destroy the Egyptians. Herein lies another truth, the action of God is salvation and judgmental at the same time. Salvation and judgment are interconnected and impossible without each other. This great power, which had been restraining, comes crashing down on them, demonstrating how futile it is to resist the works of God. It is through seeing the great act of liberation performed before their eyes. They move from fear into worship and faith, recognizing the great work of God's hand. But even throughout the wilderness wanderings as a whole, we see that their faith was just beginning.

George G. Ruheni, PhD.