The miraculous event of the Red Sea being divided is one of the most significant and dramatic miracles recorded in the Old Testament, showcasing the power of God working through His chosen servants, Moses and Aaron. This event is pivotal in the narrative of the Exodus, where God delivers the Israelites from the bondage of Egyptian slavery.

Biblical Account

The account of the Red Sea's division is found in the Book of Exodus, specifically in Exodus 14. After the ten plagues had devastated Egypt, Pharaoh finally allowed the Israelites to leave. However, as they journeyed, Pharaoh's heart was hardened once more, and he pursued the Israelites with his army, trapping them between the advancing Egyptians and the Red Sea.

In this moment of crisis, the Israelites cried out in fear, but Moses reassured them of God's deliverance. Exodus 14:13-14 records Moses' words: "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the LORD’s salvation, which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."

The Miracle

God instructed Moses to stretch out his hand over the sea, and as he did, the LORD caused a strong east wind to blow all night, dividing the waters and turning the sea into dry land. Exodus 14:21-22 describes the event: "Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. So the waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on their right and on their left."

The Israelites crossed safely, but when the Egyptians pursued them, God caused the waters to return, engulfing Pharaoh's army and ensuring the Israelites' escape. This act of divine intervention not only demonstrated God's power and faithfulness but also served as a judgment against the Egyptians.

Theological Significance

The division of the Red Sea is a testament to God's sovereignty and His ability to deliver His people against seemingly insurmountable odds. It highlights the importance of faith and obedience, as Moses and Aaron acted according to God's command, leading to the miraculous salvation of the Israelites.

This event is also a foreshadowing of the ultimate deliverance through Jesus Christ, as it symbolizes the transition from bondage to freedom, from death to life. The Apostle Paul references this event in 1 Corinthians 10:1-2, drawing a parallel between the Israelites' passage through the sea and the believer's baptism into Christ.

Legacy and Remembrance

The miracle of the Red Sea is celebrated in Jewish tradition during the Passover and is frequently referenced throughout Scripture as a demonstration of God's mighty acts. It serves as a reminder of God's covenant faithfulness and His power to save, encouraging believers to trust in His providence and deliverance in their own lives.Exodus 14:21,22
And 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 dry land, and the waters were divided.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Day of Pentecost.
... they were dispersed over all the East, and through almost every ... no knowledge but
by questionable testimony; and that miracles should be wrought in every ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture ii the day of.htm

What Messiah did the Jews Expect?
... it is explained, that all the miracles and deliverances ... that He, Who taught and wrought
as none ... that point reached, the mind, looking back through the teaching ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter v what messiah did.htm

Appendix xii. The Baptism of Proselytes
... of a bride; such weariness and faintness through their malignant ... that the prophets
or great men of old had wrought. ... of Egypt had imitated the miracles of Moses ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/appendix xii the baptism of.htm

Scriptural Predictions of an Apostasy.
... lose not those things which we have wrought, but that ... through the lust of the flesh,
through much wantonness ... the earth by the means of those miracles which he ...
/.../orr/the gospel day /chapter ii scriptural predictions of.htm

Book ii. Jerome Answers the Second, Third, and Fourth Propositions ...
... he putteth no trust in his servants, and chargeth ... the centurion was found worthy
through alms-giving ... who, while he was fasting, had wrought miracles, no sooner ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/book ii jerome answers the.htm

The Holy City; Or, the New Jerusalem:
... been laid against them], they have passed through the gate ... the world; and such tender
bowels in God towards them ... lift up his head against his servants, but his ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the holy city or the.htm

Come and Welcome to Jesus Christ;
... seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ... But this shall not fail to
be wrought in them ... He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/come and welcome to jesus.htm

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