Crossing Red Seas Exodus 13:17-14:31

“Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore” (Exod. 14:30, NASB).

The month of February is celebrated as Black History Month. The next four articles reflect upon the journey of Black Americans from their homeland in Africa to their exile to America in shackles on slave ships to their present day situations and circumstances in America today. The journey of these slave African Americans and their descendants follows a pattern similar to that of the Hebrew people from their bondage in Egypt to their life in the Promised Land. These articles include: Crossing Red Seas; Living in the Wilderness; Possessing the Promised Land; and Challenges in the Promised Land. This series is born out of much thought and reflection on the prayer of one of the deacons in our church

During the devotion period of our worship service, Deacon Westbrook is praying. After thanking God for His many blessing, Deacon Westbrook begins to ask God for His blessing on the church and its members in the future. During the prayer, Deacon Westbrook thanks the Lord for bringing us across Red Seas. He acknowledges that we still have Red Seas to cross. He asks God to get us across the Red Seas in our life.

Now, if you know the Exodus story, you know that the Lord rescues the people out of Egypt. After crossing the Red Sea He leads them toward the Promised Land. Moses sends out spies into the land that God intends to give to them. Ten of the twelve spies bring back an evil report while Caleb and Joshua bring a favorable report. The people refuse to go into the Promised Land and take possession of it as the Lord commands them to do. The people wander in the wilderness for forty years. After forty years of wandering in the wilderness Joshua, Moses’ successor, leads the people across the Jordan River and the Israelites take possession of the land. After taking possession of the land, the people are met with many challenges. Most importantly the Israelites are challenged to live in the land among people that worship idol gods. The people begin to want to be like the natives of the land. They forsake the Lord, and the same people that they befriended oppress them.

So, as Deacon Westbrook is praying that God will bring us across Red Seas my initial thoughts are: We don’t have to worry about Red Seas. We have to learn to live in the Promised Land. However, as I reflect on these things later, I think, Deacon Westbrook had a reason for making this prayer request. I know Deacon Westbrook well enough to know that He has a logical and biblical reason for what he says in his prayers. You see, initially I am thinking of the progression of the story of Israel’s journey.

Then, I think about what is the Red Sea a metaphor for in our lives. The Red Sea is a place where we are trapped in life. It is a place where the enemy is in position to kill us and destroy our life. The Red Sea is a place where we are trapped with no escape possible. The Red Sea is a place of fear and anxiety. It is a place where we have no answers for our questions. It is a place of regrets and doubts. The people wish that they had stayed in Egypt as slaves to the Egyptians. Although slavery is not a good thing, at least they would still be alive. Now they are facing certain death and annihilation. So, the people cry out to Moses and begin to blame him because he has led them into this trap at the Red Sea. With this in mind I decide to have a talk with Deacon Westbrook.

I tell him about my initial thoughts when he was praying. I tell him that I have changed my mind because I realize that he had a sound reason for saying what he said in the prayer. He says to me “Yes, we still have some Red Seas.” We still have situations in our lives that we are unable to cross. Since this is true, what can we learn from the story of the crossing of the Red Sea?

The first thing that I want to point out is that Israel is not guilty of anything. The descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob live in Egypt for over 300 years. They are slaves hoping that the God of their fathers will send the Deliverer to free them. However, the people have no goals for the future. We need to understand that there are many people trapped in their own slavery in the circumstances of the life that they live. Here is an interesting thought. The sons of the patriarchs want to be free. They cry for a deliverer, but at the same time most of them have no real hope for the deliverer that they cry for. You see, like so many people today, they have heard of their ancestors’ God. They have heard stories about the promises that the Lord made to their mothers and fathers. However, their mothers and fathers are dead and they still are trapped in the slavery of their life. They have heard of the Lord. They talk about His promises, but the people do not know the Lord. Our churches have many people that are formal members of the church, but they do not know the Lord. So, the people are trapped at the Red Sea not because they have done anything wrong. They are trapped because God is bringing them to the Promised Land, but between Egypt and the Promised Land is the Red Sea.

The second thing that we can learn from this story is that God knows where we are. God has a plan to take care of their Red Sea predicament. The Lord leads them by a cloud by day and a pillar of fire at night. The people see the cloud and the pillar of fire. However, they have no idea that God will use these to save them from the pursuit of Pharoah and his chariots. As the people cry out in panic against Moses they forget about the God that sent ten plagues on Egypt and forced Pharaoh’s hand causing him to let the people go. God knows what is taking place. God has a plan. God alone is going to save His people. Moses gives these words of assurance to the people: “But Moses said to the people, ‘Do not fear! Stand by (still, KJV) and see the salvation of the LORD which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. The LORD will fight for you while you keep silent’” (Exod. 14:13-14, NASB).

Thirdly, the Lord has a strategy to thwart to plans of His enemies. God commands Moses to stretch out his hand over the sea. The Lord causes an east wind to divide the waters of the sea and the sea becomes dry land. The sons of Israel cross the sea. The Egyptians try to pursue them, but God stops His wind from blowing. The Egyptians are confused. The waters of the sea return and Pharaoh’s army is drowned in the sea. The people are saved and they have not done anything. The Lord does it all. We only need to obey His commands. The people learn that their enemy is also the enemy of the Lord.

Finally, the Lord uses our Red Sea situations to make Himself known to all people. The Lord says to Moses” “‘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 Pharoah and all his army, through his chariots and horsemen. Then the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD, when I am honored through Pharoah, through his chariots and his horseman” (Exod. 14:17-18, NASB).

Life is like the journey of the Israelites from their bondage in Egypt to the Promised Land. We should do all that we can do for ourselves. However, there are times when we find ourselves in situations that we are powerless to do anything about. When the Lord’s people face their Red Sea situations they have the promises of God. He saves us. The Lord stands between His people and their enemies that seek to destroy them. He gets us across the sea. After we cross our Red Sea we must continue our journey. There are times when we find our self wandering in the wilderness. When at last we enter into our Promised Land we have challenges that threaten our lives. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and He will make a way for you.