Exodus 15 - Singing quickly turns to complaining

I. The Song of Moses (Exodus 15:1-21) Spontaneous Praise: Moses and the children of Israel sing a remarkable song to the LORD after their salvation. This song bursts forth when God’s power and presence are real to them. “I will sing to the LORD, For He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!” (Exodus 15:1)They praise God because He accomplished what Israel could not do.

Key Point: Worship is unto the LORD, not unto man.

God as Strength and Salvation: “The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation.”When we let God be our strength, He also becomes our song. His strength ensures our victory.

Note: This song emphasizes God’s role, not Moses or any human leader.

Egyptian Defeat and God’s Majesty: “Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has cast into the sea; His chosen captains also are drowned in the Red Sea.”The floods covered the Egyptian chariots, demonstrating God’s fury and strength.

Contrast: Egyptian arrogance versus the unmatched power of the LORD.

Unique Among the Gods: “There’s no one like the LORD among the gods.”The song exalts God’s supremacy over all other deities.

Application: Acknowledge God’s unmatched greatness in our lives.

II. Cleansing of the Waters (Exodus 15:22-25) Complaint and God’s Response:The people complain about bitter water at Marah.God instructs Moses to throw a tree into the water, making it sweet.

The Healing Tree (Exodus 15:22–25)Lesson: God provides solutions even in challenging situations.

III. God’s Exhortation to Obey (Exodus 15:26-27) Promise of Healing and Obedience:God promises healing and protection if the Israelites obey His commandments.

Principle: Obedience leads to blessings.Remember, this song of victory is a testament to God’s faithfulness and power.

Jeremiah 7:21–22 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “Add your burnt offerings to your sacrifices and eat meat. For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices.”

Jeremiah 7:23–26 “But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you.’ Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but followed the counsels and the dictates of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward. Since the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt until this day, I have even sent to you all My servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them. Yet they did not obey Me or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck. They did worse than their fathers.”

Philippians 2:8 “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”

What solution did God provide when the people complained about bitter water at Marah in Exodus 15:22-25?

How can we apply the lesson of letting God be our strength and song in our daily lives?

What promise did God make to the Israelites in Exodus 15:26-27 if they obey His commandments?

How can acknowledging God's unmatched greatness impact our daily walk with Him, as suggested in the sermon?