Moses Parting the Red Sea

The Israelites had finally been freed from four centuries of slavery in Egypt through God's mighty plagues. But as they camped by the Red Sea, they saw a terrifying sight: Pharaoh had changed his mind and was pursuing them with his entire army—600 choice chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them. The people were trapped between the sea and certain destruction.

Terror seized the Israelites, and they cried out in fear and anger to Moses. 'Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die?' they complained bitterly. They had quickly forgotten God's powerful deliverance from the plagues and wanted to return to slavery rather than face this crisis. Their faith wavered when circumstances looked impossible.

Moses stood firm and spoke words of faith that would echo through generations: 'Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.' His confidence was not in military strength or human wisdom, but in the God who had called him to lead Israel to freedom.

God commanded Moses to stretch out his hand over the sea. All that night, the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned the seabed into dry ground. The waters divided, forming walls on both sides, and the Israelites crossed through the sea on dry land. The pillar of cloud that had led them moved behind them, coming between the Egyptian army and Israel, bringing darkness to the Egyptians while giving light to Israel.

The Egyptians pursued the Israelites into the sea, but God threw their army into confusion. Their chariot wheels came off, making them difficult to drive. In panic, the Egyptians cried out, 'Let's get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt!' But it was too late. At God's command, Moses stretched out his hand over the sea again, and the waters flowed back, covering the chariots and horsemen. The entire Egyptian army that had followed Israel into the sea was destroyed; not one survived.

When Israel saw the great power the Lord displayed against Egypt, they feared the Lord and put their trust in Him and in Moses His servant. Moses and the Israelites sang a song of victory praising God for His triumph, and Miriam led the women in celebration with tambourines and dancing. This miracle became the defining moment of Israel's birth as a nation and a perpetual reminder that no obstacle is too great for God to overcome.