The Old Testament is rich with stories of God’s power and faithfulness. One of the greatest stories in this collection involves God delivering Israel from the clutches of Pharaoh and the Egyptians. The Exodus story is rich and full of displays of God’s power from the burning bush, into the ten plagues, but especially at the Red Sea crossing. Here we find one of the most dramatic moments as the Israelites are chased by Pharaoh and “all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and his horsemen and his army.” (Exodus 14:9)
The Israelites were overwhelmed with fear. The very men who had domineered them their entire existence were chasing after them with one goal in mind: their destruction. The people cried out in horror (Exodus 14:10). They cried out to Moses condemning him for what appeared to be their inevitable doom.
How did Moses respond? Moses himself began this prophetic journey as a coward. But God did something in this geriatric-shepherd turned deliverer. The man who now stood before them knew something about the faithfulness of God. Moses knew God was the good Shepherd who would never leave His people to die in their moment of need. Moses said, “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. The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” (Exodus 14:13-14)
The LORD led Israel through the dry land through what was once the Red Sea. He hardened “the hearts of the Egyptians” and did so to proclaim His glory. He surrounded Israel as they marched through the baptismal waters of the Red Sea (cf. Exodus 14:19-20; 1 Cor. 10:1-2). And thereafter He smote His enemies inciting dread horror and terror upon them so that they now gaped in agony at the power of Jehovah God (cf. Exodus 14:25). The sea promptly devoured them whole bringing them further and further into the depths never again to emerge .
Clearly one can discern very many things about God from this passage. God is the champion of His people. God is not to be trifled with. God will be glorified in the decimation of his enemies and in the salvation of His people. One other image comes to mind. C.S. Lewis once shared this description of our God through the mouth of Mr. Beaver in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe: “‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the king.” God is a ferocious Lion who will devour His enemies and guard His kin. God had patiently allowed Pharaoh some semblance of the appearance of control throughout the last ten plagues. His patience was evident in allowing Pharaoh to still live. But there came a day when all hard hearted resistance towards God meets the end of the line.
The Red Sea crossing also reminds us that God keeps His promises. These Israelites were the recipients of God’s mercy in spite of them. Israel’s wickedness is foreshadowed in Exodus 14:10-12 where they doubt God and attack Moses in their hour of need. Sadly, this hard-hearted reality will summarize their interactions with God following this event. Nevertheless, knowing all of this God still chose to save them, but it was not for their sake. Instead, it was to keep His promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God is a covenant-keeping God. It was this very covenant which began the events leading to the Exodus. The God who began the journey with Israel was making sure that they’d come all the way home.
We will not be witnessing a literal parting of the Red Sea in our lifetimes. This was a unique redemptive historical event given by God to establish His people. However, we have seen God conquer our own Pharaoh, the Devil, by means of another Red Sea, the blood of Christ Jesus. Through this passing through the waters we have been baptized, washed, redeemed, and reborn by faith. However, these very same waters that appeared as life to us, drowned the work of the Devil forever. We are reminded by this story of the victory of Christ and our promise of a new name and a new master.
The call of the Gospel is not a call to fight alone but to rest under the banner of our victorious king. Our call is one to silently trust and rest in what God has accomplished, and what He is doing in us even today by His Holy Spirit. Our baptisms testify to this, for in them we are not only washed by faith but we are also taught, “if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His.” (Rom. 6:5)