(3) The Red Sea

1. Last week in Part 2 of The Wilderness Journey we studied how Moses learned the hard lessons of faith in the wilderness.

2. Today we’re going to study the Red Sea crossing, the first of many events on the Israelite’s journey to the Promised Land.

Numbers 33:3–8 / Exodus 13:17 – 14:31

I. Getting To The Red Sea

A. There Is Great Debate Among Christians On Where The Crossing Of The Red Sea Took Place

1. Primarily because we don’t know the exact locations in Scripture where the Israelites traveled when they left Egypt.

2. For centuries Mt. Sinai was believed to be in the southern part of the Sinai peninsula of Egypt which led to the belief that the Israelites crossed the “Sea of Reeds”, a marsh closer to Egypt, instead of the actual Red Sea.

3. However, recent archaeological findings support the theory that the Israelites crossed the Red Sea into Arabia (Mt. Sinai).

a. (Galatians 4:25, NIV) ... Mount Sinai in Arabia ...

b. Ron Wyatt’s research supports the idea that the Israelites traveled through the desert to the Gulf of Aqaba and crossed the Red Sea (Gulf of Aqaba) on an underwater land bridge into Arabia where Mt. Sinai is located.

B. The Journey To The Red Sea

1. From Rameses to Sukkoth

a. (Exodus 12:37, NIV) The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Sukkoth. There were about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children. (Number 1:46 gives the exact count of men: 603,550)

2. From Sukkoth to Etham

a. (Numbers 33:6, NIV) They left Sukkoth and camped at Etham, on the edge of the desert.

3. From Etham to campsite opposite Baal Zephon

a. (Exodus 14:1–4, NIV) Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 “Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon. 3 Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.’ 4 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.” So the Israelites did this.

4. Crossing the Red Sea into Arabia!

C. Leaving Egypt And Getting To The Red Sea Was All Part Of A New Beginning For Israel

1. The Passover gave birth to their new beginning! (That’s why Jesus emphasized that you must be “born again”.)

a. The First Month

(1) (Numbers 33:3, NIV) The Israelites set out from Rameses on the fifteenth day of the first month, the day after the Passover. They marched out defiantly in full view of all the Egyptians,

b. In Jesus we have a new beginning. (That’s why Jesus emphasized that we must be “born again.”)

(1) (2 Cor. 5:17) ... if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

2. A new beginning doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy!

a. Why didn’t the LORD lead the Israelites to the Promised Land using the shortest route, “The Way of the Philistines”?

(1) The Israelites weren’t ready.

(a) (Exodus 13:17–18a, NIV) When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” 18 So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea.

(2) The Israelites believed themselves to be far more prepared than they were!

(a) (Numbers 33:3, NIV) ... They marched out defiantly in full view of all the Egyptians,

i. It was good that they had no fear of man or darkness; but don’t mistake their boldness for maturity.

(b) (Exodus 13:18b, NIV) ... The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.

i. The Israelites thought that they were prepared warriors; but the LORD knew they weren’t.

(3) We want the shortest way to fulfillment; the LORD wants us to be prepared.

(a) The LORD needed to teach and prepare the Israelites before they were taken to the Promised Land. (b) Jesus is more interested in preparing us to fulfill our destiny than He is our immediate ease and comfort. (c) Quit concentrating on how close you’re getting to your goal; just keep your eyes on Jesus and follow Him!

b. The journey to the Promised Land wasn’t easy but it was full of the LORD’s supernatural help. (24/7)

(1) From the very beginning the LORD led the Israelites supernaturally via the Pillar of Cloud.

(a) (Exodus 13:21–22, NIV) By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. 22 Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.

(2) The name “Pillar of Cloud” lets us know that the cloud was vertically upright and not a regular cloud (horizontal)

(3) Jesus was at the center of it all!

II. Crossing The Red Sea Was An Important Part Of The Israelite’s Preparation To Inherit The Promised Land

A. Throughout Their Journey To The Promised Land The LORD Would Teach Them Many Things To Prepare Them

1. The Israelites had to learn to trust the LORD at all times, in every situation. (Faith)

2. The Lord was going to teach the Israelites about faith, just as He had taught Moses in the Midian wilderness.

a. (Hebrews 11:6, NIV) And without faith it is impossible to please God, ...

3. Crossing the Red Sea was a grand lesson on faith!

a. The LORD led them so that they were hemmed in and the Egyptians were coming to destroy them.

(1) (Exodus 14:9, NIV) The Egyptians—all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots, horsemen and troops—pursued the Israelites and overtook them as they camped by the sea near Pi Hahiroth, opposite Baal Zephon.

b. There was nowhere to go but forward and that was impossible!

4. The LORD often leads His people to impossible situations so that they must exercise their faith.

B. Lessons Of Faith The LORD Taught The Israelites At The Red Sea

1. Stand firm by faith in Jesus

a. (Exodus 14:13, NIV) Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. ...

b. (2 Corinthians 1:24, NIV) ... it is by faith you stand firm.

c. What does it mean to “stand firm”? Don’t act presumptuously or rashly; listen for the LORD’s direction.

d. In the natural it looked like they were “standing” in an impossible situation, but Jesus had it all under control!

(1) They were hemmed in by mountains, Pharaoh’s army was coming, and an impassable sea was in front of them!

(2) (Exodus 14:14, NIV) The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

(3) (Exodus 14:19–20, NIV) 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.

e. The LORD moved when Moses obeyed, and the way was made for the Israelites to move forward.

(1) (Exodus 14:16, NIV) 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.

(2) (Exodus 14:21, 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.

2. Move forward by faith at the LORD’s command! (Exodus 14:15) ... Tell the Israelites to move on.

a. Presumption is moving forward before the LORD tells you to.

b. Doubt is when you don’t move and the LORD has told you to.

c. Faith is when you move at the LORD’s command!

3. Later the LORD would have the Israelites move forward and fight, but now He was just teaching them to move forward.

4. Get ready to move forward by faith because Jesus is going to make the impossible possible!