This week we are looking at one of the most epic events in all of the Old Testament history: The Red Sea Crossing. Many skeptics have denied this as a miraculous event, but there is much evidence in the way of archeology and historical records from, not only Biblical sources, but outside sources as well. Steve Law gives an excellent presentation on the Documentary “The Red Sea Miracle” which is produced by Timothy Mahony’s “Patterns of Evidence” and it is well worth the watch if you are interested in the historicity of this Biblical event.

Overview Notes From the Class Presentation

The Book of Exodus Study Questions and Basic Answers for chapters 13:17 – 15:21

a. Whose bones did Moses take with them out of Egypt, and why?

• They took Joseph’s bones
• Several hundred years earlier Joseph had made his brothers swear:

“Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely take care of you, and you shall carry my bones up from here.”  Genesis 50:25 (NASB)

Notice, it was not so much of a promise request as it was a prophecy!

b. Moses writes of a specific path that the Israelites took. Where did the Israelites end up camping, and why did God lead them that way?

Now when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near; for God said, “The people might change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.” Hence God led the people around by the way of the wilderness to the Red Sea; and the sons of Israel went up in martial array from the land of Egypt. Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, “God will surely take care of you, and you shall carry my bones from here with you.” Then they set out from Succoth and camped in Etham on the edge of the wilderness. The Lord was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.

Exodus 13:17-22 (NASB)

Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Tell the sons of Israel to turn back and camp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea; you shall camp in front of Baal-zephon, opposite it, by the sea. For Pharaoh will say of the sons of Israel, ‘They are wandering aimlessly in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.’ Thus I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will chase after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.” And they did so. When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his servants had a change of heart toward the people, and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” So he made his chariot ready and took his people with him; and he took six hundred select chariots, and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them. The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he chased after the sons of Israel as the sons of Israel were going out boldly. Then the Egyptians chased after them with all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen and his army, and they overtook them camping by the sea, beside Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon.

Exodus 14:1-9 (NASB)

c. Summarize the story of the parting of the Red Sea, and include why the people were grumbling, Moses’ conversation with God, and what ultimately happened to the Egyptian army.

• The people began to grumble saying to Moses “Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us in this way, bringing us out of Egypt? Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” 14:11-12 (NASB)
• “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the sons of Israel to go forward. As for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, and the sons of Israel shall go through the midst of the sea on dry land. As for Me, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. Then the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord, when I am honored through Pharaoh, through his chariots and his horsemen.” 14:15-18 (NASB)
• “The sons of Israel went through the midst of the sea on the dry land, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. Then the Egyptians took up the pursuit, and all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots and his horsemen went in after them into the midst of the sea. At the morning watch, the Lord looked down on the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud and brought the army of the Egyptians into confusion. He caused their chariot wheels to swerve, and He made them drive with difficulty; so the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from Israel, for the Lord is fighting for them against the Egyptians.” Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may come back over the Egyptians, over their chariots and their horsemen.”  So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal state at daybreak, while the Egyptians were fleeing right into it; then the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen, even Pharaoh’s entire army that had gone into the sea after them; not even one of them remained.  But the sons of Israel walked on dry land through the midst of the sea, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 14:22-29 (NASB)

d. Going Deeper: Who specifically protected the Israelites during the Exodus and the crossing of the Red Sea, and how? Site Scripture to support your conclusion.

• From our previous studies we know that the term “angel of the God” or “angel of the LORD” is a reference to the second person of the Trinity

The angel of God, who had been going before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them. So it came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel; and there was the cloud along with the darkness, yet it gave light at night. Thus the one did not come near the other all night. 14:19-20 (NASB)

2. (Exodus 15:1-21) In this chapter we find a song of praise by Moses and the people of Israel.

a. List some things that Moses and the people of Israel said in this song, that gives evidence for the type of water crossing they made, and the way the Egyptian army met their final demise.

v. 1 – The horse and its rider He has hurled into the sea

v. 4 – Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has cast into the sea; And the choicest of his officers are drowned in the Red Sea

v. 5 – The deeps cover them; They went down into the depths like a stone

v. 8 – At the blast of Your nostrils the waters were piled up, The flowing waters stood up like a heap; The deeps were congealed in the heart of the sea

v. 10 – You blew with Your wind, the sea covered them; They sank like lead in the mighty waters

v. 12 – You stretched out Your right hand, The earth swallowed them

v. 19 – For the horses of Pharaoh with his chariots and his horsemen went into the sea, and the LORD brought back the waters of the sea on them, but the sons of Israel walked on dry land through the midst of the sea

b. Discuss: Why is praise important as part of our regular prayer?

From gotquestions.org:

“The book of Psalms is the praise book of the Bible, and it gives us hundreds of reasons why praise is important, as well as examples of how to give praise to God. In examining those reasons and examples, one thing becomes clear. “It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High…” (Psalm 92:1). Praise is a good thing. That means it is pleasant, valuable, and morally excellent. Psalm 147:1 tells us that praise is beautiful and agreeable.
When we consider the reasons why we should praise God, we find a list of His attributes. He is full of glory (Psalm 138:5), great (Psalm 145:3), wise and powerful (Daniel 2:20), good (Psalm 107:8), merciful and faithful (Psalm 89:1), and much more. This list of attributes is complemented by a list of His wonderful works. He is the One who saves us (Psalm 18:46), keeps His promises (1 Kings 8:56), pardons sin (Psalm 103:1-3), and gives us our daily food (Psalm 136:25). To try to list all the things God has done is impossible, but it is a wonderful exercise because it turns our hearts back to Him and keeps us mindful of how much we owe to Him.
Psalm 148:1-10 tells us that all of creation is commanded to give praise to God. When Jesus was entering Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, great crowds gathered and offered Him their praises. The Pharisees wanted Him to rebuke the people, but Jesus answered, “I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out” (Luke 19:40 KJV). Though there are many people who choose not to praise God right now, there is coming a day in which every knee will bow and every tongue will confess the praises of God (Philippians 2:10-11). Some will joyfully give those praises because of the salvation they have received, while some will give those praises as conquered enemies headed for eternal punishment for their rejection of God.
Praise is a vital part of a life surrendered to God, and it gives credit where credit is due. “O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” (Psalm 107:8 KJV).”

Reflection

You can click on the links to review these reflection points from previous posts:

1. Practice memorizing the twelve “Major Events” of the Old Testament (you can read them or recite them), then repeat by adding in the major players and covenants within the events
2. Practice memorizing and reciting the seven major “Focus Points” for studying the Old Testament

Bible Study

Always remember to pray before you study and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and lead you into the truth found in God’s Word – pray for protection from the evil one who will try to discourage, distract and deceive us.

Since we have finished studying the book of Exodus and will be running answers to the previous study questions over the next several posts, I would recommend going to the book of Hebrews next. If you have been studying with us through Genesis and now Exodus, I think you will find the New Testament book of Hebrews very insightful because you are now in tune to the teachings it refers to when it talks about people and events from these ancient times! A good reading, and some cross-referencing back to these books will help with your depth of understanding as it pertains to the Messiahship and priesthood of Jesus!

Join us next week as we continue A Case for the Old Testament, The History Continues… with review answers for chapters 15:22 – 20.

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You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in!  Join us as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.

Click into the resource page of this website to view many of the top Christian thinkers and apologists along with some of their work; connecting to these types of resources is essential in your Christian growth.

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Teri Dugan

TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com

1 Peter 3:15