Red Sea: Salvation through the water

Intro and scripture

Exodus 14:15–22 NIV

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. 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. 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. The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.” 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, 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. 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, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.

Pray.

I did a whole lot of work in Haiti over the course of my ministry. It kills me what is going on there right now. The first church I served, I began leading groups to work with an organization called Mission of Hope. We actually partnered with FMC to essentially adopt a whole town there called Source Matelas. One of the first things we realized is that the bulk of the community had no clean drinking water. Working with locals through the mission, this was identified as an ultimate need.

Show picture.

I was part of the team that went over and commissioned it. I expected a lot of excitement in the community. And when we had this ceremony we were the only ones there. People just walking past us like we were crazy.

So we asked some questions about what was going on. And they told us the locals didnt trust it. Even if we gave the water away, they likely would not trust it.

This is the story of exodus. By now, you know the story. The Israelites are rescued from slavery but then pursued by Pharoah. Moses leads them to this massive body of water. Well God leads them there. And they begin to panic a little. Why did you bring us here?!

God is making a way and then really makes a way, but they have to trust it. They have to step into the waters.

The Waters of the Red Sea: Deliverance from Bondage

It would be easy for us to look at Exodus 14 and try and find a word of encouragement. Before we jump into the story, Exodus 14 is actually a first fruits of something so much bigger in Scripture. God was not just rescuing those people, he was beginning to show how he would rescue all people that might follow him.

Exodus 14:21–22 NIV

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, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.

Key Points:

1. God's Power to Deliver:

The parting of the Red Sea is a testament to God's mighty power. It demonstrates that He is capable of making a way where there seems to be no way.This miraculous event signifies God's ability to deliver His people from the bondage of sin and oppression.

2. Faith in Action:

The Israelites had to trust and follow Moses' command to step into the sea, displaying their faith in God's promise.Likewise, we are called to step out in faith, trusting that God will lead us through our own Red Seas.

Salvation by faith. The Israelites did not do the saving, but they had to walk.

You have to walk.

I have been meeting with people. And so many have encouraged me by sharing how relatable or honest or vulnerable I can be. Friends, this life is so hard. I have some real struggles right now. Some that I cant even share but my accountability partners know. You and I have to walk in it. This is what faith is….

3. A New Beginning:

Crossing the Red Sea marked the end of slavery in Egypt and the beginning of a journey to the Promised Land. In our lives, God's deliverance through faith marks the end of our spiritual bondage and the start of a new life in Christ.

The Waters of Baptism: Cleansing and New Life

Now, the red sea becomes something very clear in the NT. Christian baptism is a curious practice that I am sure we have not thought of very often. It has roots in the Jewish practice of purification. Cleansing for the temple or to join the faith. But Exodus is a typological precursor that the NT will actually grab a hold of. Matthew’s Gospel in specific gives this wonderful subtle parallel to the history of Israel.

Think about the Exodus story:

Out of Egypt

Through the Red Seas

Into the Wilderness (where they learn to trust their new freedom)

Jesus (In Matthew):

Out of Egypt (Mary and Joseph flee there)

Into the waters of baptism (first thing that Matthew reports)

Into the Wilderness (Where Jesus shows how to actually trust in God and the power within)

Jesus later institutes baptism as the doorway of new beginnings, of new life. It is not that Jesus was saved in the waters of baptism, but he entered through them so that we can find true deliverance through them.

This gives a new light to Romans 6…

Romans 6:3–4 NIV

Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

Key Points:

1. Symbol of Cleansing:

Baptism symbolizes the washing away of sins. Just as water cleanses the body, baptism represents the cleansing of our souls from sin. This act signifies repentance and a commitment to a transformed life.

2. Death and Resurrection:

In baptism, we are united with Christ in His death and resurrection. Going under the water represents dying to our old selves, and emerging from the water signifies rising to new life in Christ. This mirrors the Red Sea experience, where passing through the water meant leaving the old life in Egypt and beginning a new journey.

3. Community and Identity:

Baptism also signifies entry into the community of believers, the body of Christ. It marks our identity as children of God. Just as the Israelites were united as a nation through the Red Sea crossing, baptism unites us with the global church.

The Living Water: Eternal Satisfaction in Christ

Ok, one more twist. Water is not just the symbol through which we pass through, it is the symbol of what is in us…

John 4:13–14 NIV

Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Key Points:

Jesus, the Source of Living Water:

Jesus offers us living water, which satisfies our deepest spiritual thirst. This living water is the Holy Spirit, who dwells within believers. Unlike physical water, which quenches thirst temporarily, the living water Jesus provides leads to eternal life and continual spiritual renewal.

This is what we talked about last week from Jeremiah 2.

Satisfaction and Fulfillment:

In Christ, we find true satisfaction and fulfillment. The living water He provides meets our deepest needs and desires. This stands in contrast to the fleeting satisfaction the world offers, which always leaves us wanting more.

A Spring Within:

The living water becomes a spring within us, leading to abundant and eternal life. It not only sustains us but also flows out to bless others. Just as the Red Sea provided a path to freedom, and baptism signifies new life, the living water of Christ empowers us to live out our faith and share it with others.

Haiti water. So we built this well. We had to figure out what to do with it. So we started with vouchers to make it free. We bought water units to put in churches so people could drink it. We hired a local to deliver it.

Nothing worked, except the local leaders drinking it and sharing it in relationship with others. Every pastor we had relationship with.

The water well became 50 wells of life

Today we worship becuase Jesus has brought us life. Some of us are reminded of that yet again and see the places in our life where we have not trusted the water.

And all of us are empowered to take it out.