Lesson 6 August 2-8
Through the Red Sea
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: Exod. 12:31-36; James 2:17-20; Exod. 13:1-14:31; Heb. 11:22; Exod. 15:1-21; Rev. 15:2-4
Memory Text: "And Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace’ " (Exodus 14:13-14, NKJV).
The Exodus is the most dramatic and glorious experience of God’s people in the Old Testament. This event is the divine model of how God defeated the Hebrews’ enemies and brought the Israelites victoriously into the Promised Land. It’s also a symbol of salvation and redemption in Christ.
From a human standpoint, the children of Israel were in a desperate, even impossible, situation—one that they, in and of themselves, could not save themselves from. If they were to be delivered, it would have to be by a divine act. It’s the same with us and sin: in and of ourselves, we are in a hopeless situation. We need something even more dramatic than the Exodus. And we’ve got it: the cross of Christ, and what Christ did there for us all.
The events of Israel’s departure from the land of Goshen, mentioned in Exodus 12, until the song of Moses, joyously Sung in Exodus 15, are breathtaking and incredible. God’s signs, wonders, and miraculous redeeming works are at their peak.
But even these do not compare to what Christ did for us at the cross, of which the drama of the Exodus was a mere foreshadowing.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, August 9.
Go, and Worship the Lord
On the night of Passover, divine judgment fell on those not covered by the blood (Exod. 12:1-12). No one escaped because of position, education, social status, or gender. Punishment struck all families, from Pharaoh to slaves, and even the firstborn of the animals. The pride of Egypt was in the dust.
Read Exodus 12:31-36. What strange request does Pharaoh make and why, even as he gives permission for them all to leave?
How interesting that Pharaoh, in telling the Hebrews to go and worship, adds this request: "And bless me also."
And bless me also? Why would he, the king of Egypt, a "god" on earth among his people, ask that? It sounds as if he’s finally catching on to the power of the Hebrew God and would like to benefit from it. However, how can God bless him while he is steeped in rebellion, stubbornness, sin, and pride? Sure, he finally gave his consent, but it wasn’t out of submission to the will of Yahweh. It was, instead, out of defeat. He wasn’t repentant—as his later actions will reveal. He simply wanted to stop the devastation that was destroying his kingdom.Pharaoh was humiliated. And, given the tragic circumstances from the worst plague of all, he gives permission for Israel to leave Egypt. What he refused to grant all previous times, and no matter the suffering his actions brought upon his nation, he now permits.
And the Egyptian people, understandably, are eager for the Hebrews to go, as well. As they said, please leave, or else "we shall all be dead."
God, meanwhile, made provision so that the Israelites did not leave Egypt empty-handed, but with things they would need for what, in the end, would turn out to be a much longer sojourn than anticipated. The Egyptians gave the Jews these precious articles only to hurry the people out of the country, but the items were wages long denied the Israelites for centuries of slave labor. Surely for the Egyptians, the price of getting the Hebrews out of their land was cheap enough.
How often have we "repented" of actions only because of their consequences and not because those acts were themselves wrong? Why is that not true repentance? How can we learn to be sorry for the sins that, in a sense, we "get away with," at least in the short term?
Consecration of the Firstborn
The promised time of redemption, of deliverance, was about to arrive. The people needed to be prepared. They needed not just to believe but to act on those beliefs. God had told them what they needed to do; by faith, they now needed to do it. Though in a totally different context from what James was writing about, the principle fits very well: "But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?" (James 2:17-20, NKJV).
Read Exodus 13:1-16. The Israelite firstborns were spared by God’s grace during the final plague. Why this perpetual command, and what should it mean to us today?
God mercifully guarded the Israelite families who were under the blood because, by faith, they had marked their doorframes. These new directions came from the Lord through Moses: " ‘Consecrate to me every firstborn male’ " (Exod. 13:2, NIV). This legislation was valid for humans, as well as for animals.
One principle behind this injunction is that everything belongs to Him because He is our Creator and the Owner of everything: "The earth is the LORD’S, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it" (Ps. 24:1, NIV). "The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the LORD of hosts" (Hag. 2:8, ESV). The Israelites’ firstborn sons were the first fruit of God’s blessings, which He had bestowed upon them; they were also a sign of their total consecration to Him and of their understanding that all they possessed came only from Him.
Also, we see the idea of redemption, of salvation, here. The firstborn sons were spared death because they were covered by the blood. They were redeemed from death, as are all who are under the blood of Jesus. As Paul writes about Jesus: "in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins" (Col. 1:14, NKJV).
Meanwhile, regulations were given about how this dedication should be offered, a celebration of their deliverance from Egyptian slavery. They were to sacrifice the animals, but their sons were to be redeemed (Exod. 13:12-13, 15).
Exodus 13:16 tells about what they were to put on their hands and between their eyes. How does this symbolize the important spiritual truth that, regardless of how much faith we have, we must act upon that faith?
Crossing the Red Sea
Read Exodus 13:17-14:12. 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" (Exod. 6:26; Exod. 7:4; Exod. 12:17-41, 51; Exod. 14:19-20; compare with Exod. 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" (Num. 24:2, NIV).
Meanwhile, "Moses took the bones of Joseph with him" (Exod. 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 (Gen. 50:24-25). He believed that the Lord would surely visit Israel in Egypt and bring them to the land, as He had sworn (Heb. 11:22). On Israel’s arrival in Canaan, Joseph’s bones were "buried at Shechem" (Josh. 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 (Exod. 14:24; Num. 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?’ " (Exod. 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.
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 which could help you the next time another comes (and come it will)?
Marching Forward by Faith
Read Exodus 14:13-31. Despite their lack of faith, what did God do for the children of Israel?
Because Moses wholeheartedly trusted God and His Word, he encouraged the people. He presented four crucial points on how to act in difficult situations:
- " ‘Do not be afraid’ " (Exod. 14:13, NKJV). The first appeal is to trust the Lord, because only in this way can fear be overcome. Isaiah reminds us of this truth by stating that believers are in God’s hands, and He will act for them when they accept Him as their God and Lord: " ‘So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. &8230; For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you’ " (Isa. 41:10-13, NIV).
- " ‘Stand [firm] still’ " (Exod. 14:13, NKJV). To "stand still" does not mean only to stop murmuring and to expect great things, but to trust God and to wait patiently for His mighty intervention, because He will act.
- " ‘You will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today’ " (Exod. 14:13, NIV). For our faith to grow, it is important to recognize God’s leadership and help and to be grateful for His promised assistance. To "see" means to open one’s eyes (because disbelief is blind). Only God can provide victory, safety, and salvation. God is always for us, caring and providing what is needed at the appropriate time.
- " ‘The LORD will fight for you’ " (Exod. 14:14, NKJV). This indicates what God will do: He will personally fight for His people. Calvary is the ultimate proof of this reality, for on the cross Christ defeated Satan in order to give us eternal life (John 5:24; Heb. 2:14; Rev. 12:10-11). Later, even the Egyptians recognized that the Lord was fighting for the Israelites (Exod. 14:25).
God’s command to Moses was clear: "Move on." God unfolded His action plan step by step: (1) the Angel of God and the pillar of cloud moved from the front of Israel’s camp and stood behind them, protecting them from the Egyptian army; (2) by faith Moses had to stretch out his hand over the sea; (3) the Lord divided the water and dried it up with a strong wind; and (4) the result was that the Israelites went securely through the sea on dry ground to the other side. The Egyptians blindly pursued them, because they did not see that God was doing extraordinary things for His people; that is, they didn’t see until it was too late, as their confession in Exodus 14:25 revealed.
The Song of Moses and Miriam
The whole Egyptian army was overthrown; no one survived, including Pharaoh (see Ps. 136:15). It was a stunning defeat for the Egyptians and a complete victory for God’s people. No wonder all through their history, and even to this day, the Jews recount this story.
Read Exodus 15:1-21. What is the content of Moses’ song?
This song praises the Lord because He is a mighty warrior who defeated those who opposed His people. Moses personally elaborates on this theme by stressing that the Lord, his God, is also his strength, song, and salvation. No one is like Him, " ‘majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders’ " (Exod. 15:11, NIV).
Moses’ song is all about God, about who He is and what He is doing. The Lord is exalted, praised, and admired for His outstanding work for His people. Gratitude and worship are natural outcomes of God’s goodness toward us. Appreciation for His love is the prerequisite of a vibrant spiritual life. God’s steadfast love is especially emphasized and glorified because He will lead the people whom He has redeemed, and He will guide them to the holy abiding place. Moses predicts that God will establish the sanctuary on the mountain of His inheritance (Exod. 15:17), all pointing ahead to Zion and to the temple in Jerusalem.
In Revelation 15:2-4, the redeemed sing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb. Can you imagine how this will sound in heaven, this praise to God for His great and marvelous deeds, praise to God for His just and true judgments, and praise to God for His righteous acts and His holiness?
Notice the last line of the song. " ‘For all nations shall come and worship before You. For Your judgments have been manifested’ " (NKJV). That is, when all of God’s judgments—especially His judgments upon the evil and oppression that have for millennia gone unpunished—have all been made manifest, the redeemed of the nations will praise Him for those judgments.
Immanuel Kant said that if God is just, then there must be some kind of afterlife. Why is that statement so true, and how can we learn to trust that one day the justice so long lacking here will come? How can you draw comfort from that hope?
Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, "The Exodus," pp. 281-290, in Patriarchs and Prophets.
God was for the Israelites despite their little faith. He wished to teach and guide them in how to think and behave as His chosen people. God led them patiently and directed them to a location where they would encounter fewer challenges. Ellen G. White explains: "The Israelites … had little knowledge of God and little faith in Him, and they would have become terrified and disheartened. They were unarmed and unaccustomed to war, their spirits were depressed by long bondage, and they were encumbered with women and children, flocks and herds. In leading them by the way of the Red Sea, the Lord revealed Himself as a God of compassion as well as of judgment."—Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 282.
Talking about the Song of Moses, the Andrews Bible Commentary says: "The certainty of this redemptive act of God in history assures us that we have nothing to fear for the future. The last stanza focuses on future enemies who would be faced in conquest of Canaan. Because of God’s powerful ‘arm,’ they would be ‘as still as a stone’ (v. 16). When we face certain impossibilities, when we feel cornered and do not know which way to turn, we can find assurance in ‘The Song of Moses,’ for it commemorates a great event in the history of God’s people."—Andrews Bible Commentary, "Exodus" (Berrien Springs, MI: Andrews University Press, 2020), p. 214.
Discussion Questions:
- Why do we find ourselves so often in the position of the Hebrews after their incredible deliverance from Egypt, but before the challenge of the Red Sea? That is, in the face of so much evidence for God’s goodness toward us and of His power, why do we still find it so easy to show, and even express, a lack of faith?
- Even after all that had happened, including the loss of the firstborn sons, why would Pharaoh still pursue Israel? What should this tell us about how dangerous it is for any of us to get hardened by sin (or to sin)?
- Though we all face terrible trials at times, many of us have had (and still have) some very good days, some very good times, when nothing bad happens to us or to our loved ones. Why should we see these times as evidence of God’s grace and protection because, after all, we understand that we live in "enemy" territory? That is, why should we always remember to praise God in the good times, because we never know what calamities we have been spared from?
Dmitry Bagal
Dmitry Bagal
Special Mission: Hospital
Dmitry Bagal, a Russian missionary living in Germany, found a hospital to be an unexpected mission field while receiving cancer treatment for what turned out to be three benign tumors. He saw people from all walks of life — especially secular and post-Christian people, and people from non-Christian world religions — struggling over tough questions about God.
One patient received six rounds of chemotherapy and underwent an operation at the Munich hospital. But when his cancer returned after six weeks, the doctor saw no point in removing it again. The man couldn’t think clearly and barely recognized his wife. Her only desire, meanwhile, was to stay with her husband during his last days in the palliative-care unit. At an opportune moment, Dmitry gave the wife a booklet about God and suffering, and he prayed with the couple. The prayer moved the wife to tears.
Later that day, Dmitry gave the woman copies of The Great Controversy and The Desire of Ages, saying the books have provided great comfort to him and many others. The woman wanted the books — but not for free. She gave him 14 euros (U.S.$15), all the change in her purse. Dmitry believes that the two will meet again, if not on this Earth, then on the New Earth.
Dmitry also met a young man hospitalized with an unknown illness. The young man, who was from Iran, had given up his studies in Britain and flown to Germany for treatment. Doctors, however, couldn’t diagnose his illness. The young man couldn’t walk, so Dmitry pushed him around the hospital grounds in a wheelchair nearly every day. Even though he hadn’t been raised Christian, he allowed Dmitry to pray to Jesus on his behalf. As Dmitry prayed day after day, the young man began to recover. Before long, he could stand and walk with assistance. The two conversed in German, but because the young man had studied in Britain, Dmitry gave him an English copy of The Great Controversy. Months later, Dmitry was still praying for him, treasuring the words, “But remember that you do not know and cannot measure the result of faithful effort” (Colporteur Ministry, page 114).
During two weeks in the hospital, Dmitry gave away 20 copies of The Great Controversy as well as other books; distributed many business cards with QR codes to download the book; and stocked about 10 of the hospital’s public bookshelves with books.
“Many seeds have been sown, and I pray that they will bear fruit,” he said. “We work under God’s guidance and leave the results to Him.”
This Inside Story illustrates Mission Objective No. 2 of the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s “I Will Go” strategic plan: “To strengthen and diversify Adventist outreach … among unreached and under-reached people groups, and to non-Christian religions.” Read more at IWillGo.org.
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