When Your Back is Against the Red Sea

In Exodus 13-14, Pharaoh sets out to attack the Israelites. God steps in through his cloud and parting the Red Sea–leading the way to safety for his nation.

For now, the Israelites are finally on their way. And God, of course, has more instructions. They must…

C O N S E C R A T E , C O M M E M O R A T E , and C O M M U N I C A T E

So first God commands they Consecrate

• Consecrate: is the word used in the NIV version, older versions use the word sanctify. To consecrate or sanctify means to be “set apart” for God’s service.
• The Law: Every firstborn male, people and animals were to be consecrated for the Lord.
• Why: because God had redeemed the firstborn male and animal on the Passover night.

Second God commands they Commemorate this day

• The Law: Honor this day, the first in the month of Abib. And for 7 days no yeast
• Why: To remember that God fulfilled his promise to bring you out and into the promise land.

Third God commands they Communicate to their children the story of the Redemption

• The Law: tell your children what God did for you personally and every Israelite.
• Why: So that generations will know that God also brought them out of Egypt.

Jewish Custom Today

• Like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead: while words interpretated here say “like a sign on your hand” many Jews have taken this command literally,

T H E R E D S E A C H E C K M A T E

What route did they take?

• The route takes them southeast from modern Ismailia to the southern end of the Sinai Peninsula

What was the Location of the Red Sea crossing?

• the most likely place for the parting of the sea would have been the northern tip of the modern-day Gulf of Suez

The Cloud of the Lord

• The presence of the lord is getting larger, we started with a burning bush and now the Lord is in a cloud by day and fire by night.
• It is a moving presence of the Lord that never leaves them, a miraculous reminder that God is taking care of them.
• And so the Israelites followed the cloud and the cloud oddly turned back….

God wisely gave Moses a heads up here.

• Go back and camp by the sea.
• Pharaoh will pursue you.
• But I am going to give the world something to remember for eternity!

What was Pharaoh thinking?

• In verse 5 Pharaoh realizes that the Israelites have fled. He may have still believed that they were just going on a worship retreat.
• And at this point, 3 days may have passed, and Pharaoh now knows for sure that they are not coming back.
• The reality of Egypt’s bankrupt economy hits the officials.
• Their resources have been destroyed in the plagues and their entire labor force just escaped.
• Pharaoh rallies with the help of a hardened heart from God and calls out his army.
• The best of the best in his army, and all the chariots in Egypt.

What were the Israelites thinking?

• They were terrified. Of course! I would be too.
• They have no weapons of significance.
• How could the Israelite men and women who were of age to fight, protect such an exposed mass of children, elderly, and stuff, lots of stuff from Pharaoh and his chariots?
• They couldn’t, so they panicked.
• And as the Israelites typically do, they look for someone to blame. Moses was their man.
• Melodramatically they moaned that they were brought out to die.

Where do you turn when your back is against the wall? Do you grumble and blame? Do you pull your covers over your head and sleep? Or do you distract yourself with entertainment?

What did Moses say?

• Moses commanded the Israelites to do 3 things.
• Do not be afraid
• Stand firm
• Be still

What was Moses thinking?

• In the face of danger, Moses saw the cloud,
• Only Moses looked to God and because of that only Moses had confidence.

What trial are you facing? How is the enemy pressing down on you? Can you see hope right in front of you? Do you believe God will fight for you too?

The Cloud Checks the Egyptians

• This is no ordinary game of chess, in this game there is an extra piece called the cloud. It moves in supernatural ways that far exceed any move a queen or king or Pharaoh can make!

T H E R E D S E A C R O S S I N G

The crossing of the Red Sea is to the Old Testament

What the resurrection is to the New Testament

• When the writers of the Old Testament wanted to refer to God’s miraculous power, they return to the Red Sea more than any other event.
• In the same way, when the writers of the New Testament want to refer to God’s miraculous love, they point us to the Cross.

When the Israelites back was against the Red Sea they turned to the Cloud

When your back is against the Red Sea turn to the Cross

VERSES MENTIONED:

• Exodus 13-14
• John 8:12

SHOW NOTES:

Moses Timeline

The Route of the Exodus

THE SCORECARD