God’s Glory at the Sea, Part 2

Sermon 33 in Series

Exodus 14:15-31
[15] The LORD said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. [16] Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground. [17] And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they shall go in after them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, his chariots, and his horsemen. [18] And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”

[19] Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, [20] coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was the cloud and the darkness. And it lit up the night without one coming near the other all night.

[21] Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. [22] And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. [23] The Egyptians pursued and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. [24] And in the morning watch the LORD in the pillar of fire and of cloud looked down on the Egyptian forces and threw the Egyptian forces into a panic, [25] clogging their chariot wheels so that they drove heavily. And the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from before Israel, for the LORD fights for them against the Egyptians.”

[26] Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.” [27] So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal course when the morning appeared. And as the Egyptians fled into it, the LORD threw the Egyptians into the midst of the sea. [28] The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen; of all the host of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea, not one of them remained. [29] But the people of Israel walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.

[30] Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. [31] Israel saw the great power that the LORD used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses.

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.   Where do we find Christ’s name and person in this passage? How does that increase your awe of him as you approach Christmas?
2.   How does God protect the Israelites before parting the sea? What does it look like to live with God’s protection in view?
3.   In what ways does this passage point back to the opening chapters of Genesis? What do those allusions communicate about God?
4.   What do the references to dry ground and walls of water tell us about the nature and scope of this miracle? How have you heard this story minimized?
5.   Why is the path more significant than the parting? What does it say about God’s relationship with his people?
6.   How is this path through the sea one of salvation and of destruction? What does it mean for us to be on the way that leads to life (Matt. 7:14)?References: 1 Corinthians 10:31; Matthew 1:21; 1 Corinthians 10:4; Jude 5; Genesis 1:9; 7:11; Psalm 78:13; Isaiah 63:13; Psalm 77:19-20; John 14:6; Matthew 7:13-14.