1. The Location of the Red Sea
The Red Sea is a large body of water separating Egypt from the Sinai Peninsula. In the book of Exodus, it is called the "Sea of Reeds." The Israelites, after leaving Egypt, did not take the direct route to Canaan along the coastal highway. Instead, the Lord led them around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. God told Moses, "Speak to the children of Israel, that they turn and camp before Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, opposite Baal Zephon; you shall camp before it by the sea." This specific location allowed God to display His power and to trap Pharaoh's army.
2. The Context: Israel's Deliverance from Egypt
After four hundred thirty years in Egypt, the Lord brought Israel out by a mighty hand. The ten plagues had demonstrated God's power over the gods of Egypt. After the death of the firstborn, Pharaoh told Moses and Aaron, "Rise, go out from among my people, both you and the children of Israel." The Israelites left in haste, taking unleavened bread and borrowing silver and gold from their neighbors. But God did not lead them by the short route. He led them toward the Red Sea, knowing that Pharaoh would pursue them. The Lord said, "I will harden Pharaoh's heart, so that he will pursue them; and I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army."
3. The Pursuit of Pharaoh's Army
When Pharaoh was told that the people had fled, his heart and the hearts of his servants were turned against Israel. He said, "Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?" He made ready his chariot and took his people with him. He took six hundred choice chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt with captains over every one of them. The Egyptian army pursued the children of Israel and overtook them camping by the sea beside Pi Hahiroth. When the Israelites saw the Egyptians marching after them, they were very afraid and cried out to the Lord.
4. The Fear of Israel and the Command of the Lord
The people of Israel said to Moses, "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? Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, 'Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness." Moses answered 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."
5. The Parting of the Red Sea
The Lord said to Moses, "Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea." The Angel of God who went before the camp of Israel moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before their face and stood behind them, coming between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided. The children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.
6. The Destruction of the Egyptian Army
The Egyptians pursued and went after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. In the morning watch, the Lord looked down upon the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud, and He troubled the army of the Egyptians. He took off their chariot wheels, so that they drove them with difficulty. The Egyptians said, "Let us flee from the face of Israel, for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians." Then the Lord said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the waters may come back upon the Egyptians, on their chariots, and on their horsemen." Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its full depth. The Egyptians fled into it, and the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. The waters returned and covered the chariots, the horsemen, and all the army of Pharaoh. Not so much as one of them remained.
7. The Song of Moses and the Israelites
Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord: "I will sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea! The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; my father's God, and I will exalt Him." Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took the timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. She answered them, "Sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!" The Red Sea crossing became the central act of redemption in the Old Testament, recalled throughout Israel's history as the defining moment when God saved His people.
8. The Red Sea as a Type of Baptism
Paul writes that the fathers "were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea." The crossing of the Red Sea is a type of Christian baptism. As Israel passed through the water, they were delivered from the bondage of Egypt. So believers, passing through the waters of baptism, are identified with Christ in His death and resurrection. The water that saved Israel destroyed their enemies. So baptism saves believers not as a mere physical washing but as the answer of a good conscience toward God. The Red Sea crossing points forward to the salvation found in Jesus Christ.
9. The Red Sea in Israel's History and Worship
The Red Sea crossing was remembered throughout Israel's history. Joshua told the people that God dried up the waters of the Jordan before them until they had crossed over, "as He did to the Red Sea." The psalmist repeatedly recalls the exodus and the parting of the sea: "He divided the Red Sea in two, and made Israel pass through the midst of it." Isaiah prophesied that God would again deliver His people, saying, "Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea and a path in the mighty waters." The Red Sea became a symbol of God's saving power and His faithfulness to His covenant promises.
10. The Significance of the Red Sea for Believers Today
The Red Sea crossing teaches that God saves His people by His power alone. Israel did not fight; they stood still and saw the salvation of the Lord. Believers are not saved by their own efforts but by the mighty hand of God. The Red Sea also teaches that God's salvation is complete. The Egyptians were drowned; Israel was free. In Christ, believers are delivered completely from the bondage of sin, death, and the devil. The same power that parted the Red Sea is at work in every believer. Let every child of God trust in the Lord who makes a way where there is no way.
Conclusion
The Red Sea is the location of one of the greatest miracles in Scripture. God parted its waters to deliver Israel from the pursuing Egyptian army. The people crossed on dry ground, and the waters returned to destroy their enemies. This event became the defining act of redemption in the Old Testament and a powerful type of baptism and salvation through Christ. Let every believer remember the Red Sea and trust in the God who saves by His mighty hand.