Two Paths Across the Red Sea
October 30, 2025
Commentary
The LORD asked Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me?” (v. 15). Then He told him to command the Israelites to move forward. Moses was to raise his staff over the sea, and God would divide the waters so they could walk through on dry ground (v. 16). The Egyptians would again harden their hearts and chase after them (v. 17). But God said that through this, He would show His power, and the Egyptians would know that He alone is the LORD (v. 18).
The angel of God, leading Israel, moved behind them. The pillar of cloud came between the two camps, darkness to the Egyptians but light to the Israelites (vv. 19–20). All night, the LORD sent a strong east wind that pushed the waters back and made the sea floor dry (vv. 21–22). The people walked through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on both sides. Imagine two million people with animals crossing safely under God’s protection. What a miracle this was!
When the Egyptians followed, the LORD caused them to be confused. Their chariot wheels got stuck in the mud, and they panicked, saying, “The LORD is fighting for Israel!” (vv. 23–25). Then God told Moses to stretch out His hand again. As He did, the waters covered the entire Egyptian army (vv. 26–28). Not one of them survived.
That day the LORD saved Israel from the power of Egypt. When the Israelites saw the dead soldiers on the shore, they realized what God had done for them. They stood in awe, and they trusted the Lord and His servant Moses (vv. 29–31). What was judgment for Egypt became salvation for Israel—a re-minder that God always makes a way for His people when they trust and obey Him.
Application
What situations make me feel trapped between impossible choices, like Israel at the sea? When I can’t see a way forward, will I stand still in fear or move forward and trust God to open the path? How is God asking me to take a step of obedience today? How should I stop worrying about my enemies and let Him fight for me today?
Exodus 14:15–31 (NET)
15 The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. 16 And as for you, lift up your staff and extend your hand toward the sea and divide it, so that the Israelites may go through the middle of the sea on dry ground. 17 And as for me, I am going to harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will come after them, that I may be honored because of Pharaoh and his army and his chariots and his horsemen. 18 And the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I have gained my honor because of Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”
19 The angel of God, who was going before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them. 20 It came between the Egyptian camp and the Israelite camp; it was a dark cloud and it lit up the night so that one camp did not come near the other the whole night. 21 Moses stretched out his hand toward the sea, and the Lord drove the sea apart by a strong east wind all that night, and he made the sea into dry land, and the water was divided. 22 So the Israelites went through the middle of the sea on dry ground, the water forming a wall for them on their right and on their left.
23 The Egyptians chased them and followed them into the middle of the sea—all the horses of Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen. 24 In the morning watch the Lord looked down on the Egyptian army through the pillar of fire and cloud, and he threw the Egyptian army into a panic. 25 He jammed the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving, and the Egyptians said, “Let’s flee from Israel, for the Lord fights for them against Egypt!”
26 The Lord said to Moses, “Extend your hand toward the sea, so that the waters may flow back on the Egyptians, on their chariots, and on their horsemen!” 27 So Moses extended his hand toward the sea, and the sea returned to its normal state when the sun began to rise. Now the Egyptians were fleeing before it, but the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the middle of the sea. 28 The water returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen and all the army of Pharaoh that was coming after the Israelites into the sea —not so much as one of them survived! 29 But the Israelites walked on dry ground in the middle of the sea, the water forming a wall for them on their right and on their left. 30 So the Lord saved Israel on that day from the power of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the shore of the sea. 31 When Israel saw the great power that the Lord had exercised over the Egyptians, they feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses.
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