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Introduction

The crossing of the Red Sea in Exodus 14 is a central event.  It is referred to many times.  See examples in Psalm 78:13; 106:9,10; Isaiah 50:2; 51:10; 63:12.  Also 1 Corinthians 10:1 and Hebrews 11:29.  It is the crucial moment of redemption for Israel - the moment when, having left Egypt for good, the people of God were delivered once and for all from their enemies.  It has both backward references and forward ones. 

Looking back, we see here a new beginning, a new creation.  You remember how Moses describes the original creation in Genesis 1.  On the first day God divides the light and darkness, on the second he divides the waters from the waters to create the sky and on the third he divides the waters below so that dry land is created.  So here we read of God, "coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel.  Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other; so neither went near the other all night long.  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.  The waters were divided ... But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left." (vv 20-29)

There is also a forward reference to Joshua opening the way through the River Jordan into the Promised Land and then to the redemption that is found in Christ.  Also see Revelation 15:2-3.

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1. In times of crisis, do not let your fear turn into panic

A. Crises do come to believers.

"As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them." (v10)  Just because they were out of Egypt, it did not mean that all their troubles were over.  Here they were with the world's best army pursuing them and drawing ever nearer.  They could see Pharaoh himself bearing down on them.  In front of them was water, behind an army.  What could they do?  Do you feel like that at times?  Such troubles come.

B. Often we pray but in a panic

We read that, "They were terrified and cried out to the LORD."  It was good that they prayed.  We should always pray but sometimes we have to admit that we are rather panicky in our prayers.  We pray as a last resort rather than as a first resort.  God will hear such prayers, as he did hear these, but better that we pray full of faith.

C. We easily fall into unacceptable recriminations against our leaders

They prayed but they also moaned.  This murmuring and complaining became characteristic of them in the desert.  "They said to Moses, 'Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die?  What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?  Didn't we say to you in Egypt, "Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians"?  It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!'" (vv 11-12) 

This was ridiculous, of course.  It's amazing what people will say when they are panicking.  Are you guilty of saying foolish things in a panic?

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2. In times of crisis, realise how you should react

Rather than remonstrating with them, Moses speaks very calmly and collectedly and tells them what to do.  We should listen to advice like this when we face troubles.

A. Don't be afraid

"Moses answered the people, 'Do not be afraid.'" (v13)  This statement is made again and again in Scripture.  Some say 365 times - certainly over 200.  He uses very strong terms.  We must not let fear rule.

B. Stand firm and look to the Lord

"Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today.  The Egyptians you see today you will never see again." (v13)

C. Stay calm and look to the Lord

"The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." (v14)  We find that so hard sometimes, but we need to be still and know that he is God.

D. There comes a time to stop praying and to move on

In vv 15-16 God calls on Moses and the people to stop praying and move on.  Moses is told, "Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground."  Until this point they had no idea how they would be rescued.

E. God's purpose in every crisis is his own glory

See vv 17-18: "I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them.  And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen.  The Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I gain glory through Pharaoh ..."

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3. In times of crisis - what you can expect

A. Expect God's protection

God's people were protected from the Egyptian army by the angel of God, who had been travelling in front of Israel's army, who withdrew and went behind them.  (This is probably a reference to the Second Person of the Trinity.)  They were also protected by the pillar of cloud which also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel.  "Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other; so neither went near the other all night long." (v20)

B. Expect God's deliverance

"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.  The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left." (vv 21-22)

C. Expect the eventual overthrow of your enemies

See vv 23-25 where we learn how the Egyptians pursued them in the dark early hours of the morning but the LORD looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion.  The wheels came off the chariots and the Egyptians realised the Lord was fighting against them but they could not get away.

Then Moses was commanded, "Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen." (v26)  He did this at daybreak and the sea went back to its place, sweeping the Egyptians into the Sea and drowning them.  "Not one of them survived." (v28)  So will God deal with all his enemies.

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4. In times of crisis let your fear turn into trust

The great lesson here then is that, rather than panicking, we must trust in the Lord.  "That day the LORD saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore." (v30)  We are told in v31 that, "When the Israelites saw the great power the LORD displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant."  We need such faith at all times.

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