Tuesday: Crossing the Red Sea
Daily Lesson for Tuesday 5th of August 2025
Read Exodus 13:17-22; Exodus 14:1-12. How did God guide the Israelites when they left Egypt, and what happened next?
Following God’s instructions to Moses, the Israelites left Egypt as a well-organized army. The Hebrew terms tsaba’ and makhaneh testify to that description, namely, “army,” “division,” “camp,” and “hosts” (Exodus 6:26; Exodus 7:4; Exodus 12:17,41,51; Exodus 14:19-20; compare with Exodus 13:18). They were divided into units and marched like an army. Later Balaam saw from Moab’s hills that Israel was “encamped tribe by tribe” (Numbers 24:2, NIV).
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Meanwhile, “Moses took the bones of Joseph with him” (Exodus 13:19, NIV). This is a very important detail in the text, and it reveals the fulfillment of Joseph’s faith in God’s promises. Joseph never lost sight of the Promised Land, even though he lived in the splendor and privileges of Egypt. He requested that his bones be taken to the land of Canaan (Genesis 50:24-25). He believed that the Lord would surely visit Israel in Egypt and bring them to the land, as He had sworn (Hebrews 11:22). On Israel’s arrival in Canaan, Joseph’s bones were “buried at Shechem” (Joshua 24:32, NKJV).
The pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire were the visible signs of God’s presence among His people. The Lord dwelt there and spoke also from the cloud (Exodus 14:24; Numbers 12:5-6).
Meanwhile, Pharaoh reveals the true motives of his heart. He is not converted, and he never truly repented. His asking God to bless him was a farce, perhaps a deception in his own heart. He gathered his army, and they went after their escaped slaves. How totally blinded by sin this man really was.
When the people saw Pharaoh’s army coming, they spoke words and expressed sentiments that would be echoed by them more than once: “ ‘Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt?’ ” (Exodus 14:11, NKJV).
That is, having already seen such dramatic manifestations of God’s power, which included the sparing of their own firstborn sons, the people still displayed a stunning lack of faith.
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Think of the last time you faced a terrible situation. What was your first reaction: faith in God or a lack of faith? What lessons should you have learned from that situation that could help you the next time another comes (and come it will)? |
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"Moses took the bones of Joseph with him" (Exod. 13:19, NIV).
If Moses was a Seventh Day Adventist, who is grounded in the teaching of the “State of the Dead”, would he have bothered to honour Joseph’s request (Genesis 50:24-25) for his bones to be buried in the Promised Land? How did Moses remember to carry Joseph’s bones since he was not alive when he made the request? What are some of the spiritual lessons that one can gather from this passage of scripture?
1. Joseph had taken an oath of the Children of Israel (Genesis 50:25) and therefore this was a national promise which was passed down through the generations. This reminds us that we must keep our promises no matter how old they are.
2. Joseph’s request was rooted in unshakable faith that God would fulfill His promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 12:7; 15:13–16). Faith transcends even the grave (1 Cor. 15:52-55). God does what He promises (Numbers 23:19).
3. Regardless of his privilege position in Egypt, Joseph knew that Egypt was not his permanent. He knew he was simply a pilgrim. As believers, we must have the “pilgrim mentality”. We should not fix our hopes on the earthly comfort but on God’s eternal kingdom (Hebrews 11:13,16; 1 Peter 2:11).
4. Joseph’s bones carried through wilderness was a constant reminder to these freed slaves that they belonged to a better home. We should live a faithful life that inspires our lineages.
5. Joseph’s bones carried to the Promised land foreshadowed the resurrection hope. The blessed hope of the heavenly Canaan will surely come. "He who promised is faithful" (Hebrews 10:23).
Joseph’s bones rekindled a new hope for these freed slaves. Likely wise we need our hope of the coming of our Lord to be rekindled.
“For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26, ESV).
Thank you Omwega, and if Moses would have had the same faith at the beginning that Joseph had he never would have doubted that God was going to indeed deliver His people.