432 – Isreal at the Red Sea

SEMESTER 2

432 – Isreal at the Red Sea

BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE

 COURSE:  BIBLE SURVEY II LESSON # 32
ISRAEL AT THE RED SEA

Read Ex. 13:17 through 14:31. Read the narrative in MAJOR BIBLE EVENTS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, lesson 32.

 INTRODUCTION:

  1. The crossing of the Red Sea is one of the great miracles of the Bible.
  2. It took place in about 1444 B.C.
  3. From the return of Moses to Egypt through the remainder of the book of Exodus, all occurred within a year.

I. THE PILLAR OF CLOUD AND FIRE

1. This pillar was an appearance of God to lead Israel. (Ex. 13:21)
2. The very thing (pillar of fire) which was light to Israel, was darkness to Egypt. (Ex. 14:19-20 compare to I Cor. 1:23-24)
3. This pillar was the guide and stay of Israel in all their wilder­ness trek. (Ex. 40:34-38)
4. I Cor. 10:1-2 refers to Israel being baptized in the cloud and in the sea.

i. These elements became the means of God’s salvation of Israel.

a) Baptism symbolizes God’s true means of salvation; i.e., the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. (I Pet. 3:18-21)

ii. The cloud and the sea became the separating factors between Israelites and Egyptians.
iii. They both identified Israel with Moses as opposed to Pharaoh and Egypt. (Ex. 14:19-20, Ex. 14:23-31)

II. THE SEA WHERE ISRAEL CROSSED

1. There is considerable variation of opinion as to exactly where the crossing took place.
2. Some have even suggested it should be known as the “Reed Sea” and was water that could have been waded.
3. Ex. 14:2 tells us approximately the location, as to its relation­ship to three names: Pihahiroth, Migdol and Baalzephon.
4. The problem here is that we have no certain placement of these, it varies from map to map, etc.
5. Thus I think we should move from where, to consider what the sea was like wherever it was.

i. It was not a convenient place to cross. (Ex. 14:1-3)
ii. It was the sea. (Ex. 14:1,9,16,21,22, etc.)
iii. It was enough to block the Israelite’s forward progress and terrify them. (Ex. 14:11,12)
iv. It was sufficient to provide a wall of water on the right and on the left. (Ex. 14:22)
v. It was wide enough to encompass all the horses, chariots and armies of Pharaoh. (Ex. 14:6-9)
vi. It was deep enough to drown all of them. (Ex. 14:23-28)

6. So we see it was a very great miracle whereby God got glory over Pharaoh and Egypt. (Ex. 14:4,18 and 29-31)

III. THE GREAT LESSONS IN SYMBOLISM (I COR. 10:1-10)

1. God does make a difference between His people and the world.
2. That which is salvation to one category is destruction to the other. (Acts 17:31, II Cor. 2:15-16)
3. This difference must be made, realized and enjoyed through faith. (Ex. 11:4-8, Ex. 14:16-17, Heb. 11:29)

IV. A NEW ERA BEGUN AT THE RED SEA

1. Egypt was forever behind them, if they are to be slaves now, they must bring it upon themselves. The trip to Canaan was before them, and their conduct will tell us much about human nature.
2. The contest between Moses and Pharaoh is over. These people can now follow their God-given leader – if they will.
3. They have all evidence of God’s omnipotence. Will this create faith in them?
4. They are now in a desert place outside “the world.” Will they show their “natural, inherent, free will and faith” in submission to God?
5. We will now see what man, free from this oppressive, preju­diced, racist environment really is.
6. This will be natural man, at his best.