Moses Leaving Egypt – Part 2

We see in Exodus 14:15-31 and 15:1-27 that Moses believed God and crossed the Red Sea on dry ground. “And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.” God used created things to perform His will. This was a miracle, not something accomplished by nature itself. Not only was this done suddenly by divine power, but it was likewise undone suddenly by the same power (Exo. 14:21, 26-31). A wind strong enough to make a 19-kilometre path through the sea and hold the waters up like a wall would have been strong enough to blow all the Israelites and Egyptians away. The waters were frozen solid on both sides of the people as they went through the sea (Exo. 15:8). The waters were frozen solid 23 to 30 meters high – the depth of the sea at the point of crossing. At dawn, the Egyptian army came to the sea in their pursuit of the Jews and the icy walls of the sea were suddenly melted and the Egyptians were all drowned (Exo. 14:26-31; 15:8). Not even Pharaoh escaped, fulfilling the prophecies of Exodus 14:3-4, 17, 26.

Six outstanding facts: The Lord saved Israel that day from the Egyptians (Exo. 14:30). Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the shore of the Red Sea. Israel saw the great miracle of making the path through the sea and of closing it again after they were safe (Exo. 14:31). Israel feared the Lord. Israel believed in the Lord. Israel believed in Moses as the servant of the Lord.

Moses Leaving Egypt – Part 1

‘He forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.’ Moses – faith’s fearlessness: this refers to his contest with Pharaoh and the exodus from Egypt (Exodus 5:1-14:31). He feared not the visible king because he saw the Invisible One.

‘He kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.’ Moses – faith’s protection (Exo. 12:1-51). The lamb was a type of Christ the Lamb of God (John 1:29; Rev. 5:6-10) who was without blemish (Exo. 12:5; 1Pet. 1:19). They dipped a bunch of hyssop in the blood and struck both side posts and the upper post (lintel) of the door (Exo. 12:7, 22-23). It typified the blood of Christ sprinkled for believers (Matt. 26:28; 1Pet. 1:2, 18-19; Heb. 9:13-14, 22; 10:19; 13:20). No blood was to be sprinkled on the threshold where the feet would trample on it (Heb. 10:29). The Jews were to roast the lamb and not eat any of it raw, as Egyptians who ate raw flesh in honour of Osiris. God was seeking every way to free Israel from idolatry. They also ate unleavened bread – bread without yeast – which is a form of ferment and typifies sin (2Cor. 5:6-8). The bitter herbs (perhaps it was chicory, wild lettuce, and horehound) were to be used with the meal. They were to remind Israel of their bitter slavery in Egypt from which God was now ready to deliver them (Exodus 12:29-14:31).

‘They passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.’ Israel – faith’s preservation: We see in Exodus 14:15-31 and 15:1-27 that Moses believed God and crossed the Red Sea on dry ground. “And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.”

To be continued…