The New Life in the Exodus

The fourth lesson for the Easter Vigil is Israel’s deliverance at the Red Sea recorded in Exodus 14:10-15:1.

Exodus 14:10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the LORD. 11 They said to Moses, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Didn't we say to you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians'? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!" 13 Moses answered the people, "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. 14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." 15 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. 16 Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. 17 I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. 18 The Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen." 19 Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel's army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, 20 coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long. 21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, 22 and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. 23 The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh's horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea.24 During the last watch of the night the LORD looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. 25 He made the wheels of their chariots come off so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, "Let's get away from the Israelites! The LORD is fighting for them against Egypt." 26 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen." 27 Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward it, and the LORD swept them into the sea. 28 The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen-- the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived. 29 But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. 30 That day the LORD saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. 31 And when the Israelites saw the great power the LORD displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.

It’s good to have goals. God had goals when He sent Moses to Egypt to lead His chosen people, the nation of Israel, out of slavery in that land: 1) Let the Israelites know that the LORD is God; 2) Let the Egyptians and the world know that the LORD is God; and 3) Free His people and bring them to the land He had promised them.

Through powerful miracles performed in Egypt the Israelites caught on and believed. The LORD is God and there is no other god besides Him! Some of the Egyptians caught on and feared the LORD. Others caught on and hated the LORD. Pharaoh was one of the haters.

The LORD freed His people from slavery in Egypt. They marched out following the LORD and Moses. It didn’t take Pharaoh very long before he decided he wanted the Israelites back in Egypt as his slaves. Pharaoh chased them with his warriors and chariots, the armored tanks of that day.

Though the people were confused and crying out in fear and desperation, God knew exactly what He was doing. “Tell the Israelites to move on!” With these stirring words to Moses the Lord gives the command to His people to move forward.

The LORD protects His people by separating them from the angry Egyptians with a pillar of fire – which is again “the angel of the LORD,” the pre-incarnate Christ, the Son of God before He takes on human flesh. The Egyptians are enveloped in darkness while God’s children move in light. As Moses stretches out his staff over the sea, a mighty wind divides the water so that the Israelites can pass through the sea on dry land with walls of water piled up on either side.

Bible story books try to illustrate this event, but pictures or even the best special effects of movies, cannot do justice to the greatness of this miracle. Imagine two million people with all their livestock and baggage passing through a large sea in one night! The space of dry land may have been at least a half-mile wide, if not more. What a sight to see walls containing tons upon tons of water on either side.

God was both Deliverer and Judge.

The LORD led Israel through the Red Sea on dry ground, lured the Egyptians in after them, and then brought the waters of the Red Sea crashing back down on them. The Israelites did not need to lift a finger against them. The LORD fought for Israel and drowned the Egyptian warriors in the watery depths.

In going to Egypt in January, it was interesting to learn that the experts say that there is no evidence at all of Joseph, Moses or Israel ever being in Egypt. Yet the powerful image of the Egyptian sons lying dead in their homes and the Egyptian warriors lying dead on the shore explains all that. What an embarrassment for the Egyptians!

What a deliverance for Israel!

The LORD is Israel’s salvation!

The LORD is still majestic, holy and powerful. God still leads people to see and believe and trust and follow him. Like the ancient Israelites, you have reason to break into a similar song of praise. Who is like the LORD? No one! God powerfully swept away mighty enemies when He died to free us from the slavery of sin and hold of eternal death. With His resurrection from the dead, He gives us the assurance that our sins are forgiven and the power of death is broken.

God engulfed stubborn Pharaoh and his army in the waters of the Red Sea but led His people through those same waters to safety on dry land. In the same way God drowns our enemy of our sinful nature in the waters of Holy Baptism and leads us to the Promised Land of life in Him.

God doesn’t lead you through the Red Sea, but does promise to lead you through life with His powerful Word. God doesn’t prepare a path of escape from enemy chariots, but He does promise an escape route whenever you are tempted. Take it! Your LORD is majestic, holy and powerful. There is no one like Him!

Creation began all things. The Flood changed all things. The testing of Abraham showed God keeps His promises in all things. And the Exodus demonstrates God’s deliverance against all enemies.

These are the great stories of new life. These are the great stories of deliverance. These are the great of salvation. That is why we read them every year for the Easter Vigil.

“When Israel was in Egypt’s Land”

When Israel was in Egypt's Land,
Let my people go,
Opressed so hard they could not stand,
Let my people go.
Chorus
Go down, Moses,
Way down in Egypt's Land.
Tell ol' Pharoah,
Let my people go.

Thus saith the Lord, bold Moses said,
Let my people go,
If not, I'll smite your first-born dead,
Let my people go.
Chorus

No more shall they in bondage toil,
Let my people go,
Let them come out with Egypt's spoil,
Let my people go.
Chorus

The Lord told Moses what to do,
Let my people go,
To lead the Hebrew children through,
Let my people go.
Chorus

O come along Moses, you'll not get lost,
Let my people go,
Stretch out your rod and come across,
Let my people go.
Chorus

As Israel stood by the waterside,
Let my people go,
At God's command it did divide,
Let my people go.
Chorus

When they reached the other shore,
Let my people go,
They sang a song of triumph o'er,
Let my people go.
Chorus

Pharaoh said he'd go across,
Let my people go,
But Pharaoh and his host were lost,
Let my people go.
Chorus

Jordan shall stand up like a wall,
Let my people go,
And the walls of Jericho shall fall,
Let my people go.
Chorus

Your foes shall not before you stand,
Let my people go,
And you'll possess fair Canaan's land,
Let my people go.
Chorus

O let us all from bondage flee,
Let my people go,
And let us all in Christ be free,
Let my people go.
Chorus

We need not always weep and mourn,
Let my people go,
And wear these slavery chains forlorn,
Let my people go.
Chorus