God Delivers a Knockout

God Delivers a Knockout Exodus 14 Introduction • God’s people are moving ahead unfinished business remains. • The Red Sea Crossing 1. The single most significant theological event in the Old Testament: see Psalm 136; Acts 7:36 2. Holy War between Pharaoh and Yahweh reaches its climax 3. The Passage breaks into four sections: God’s Plan; Pharaoh’s Pursuit; Israel’s Desperation; God’s Deliverance 4. The “Red Sea” is literally translated “Sea of Reeds;” the crossing location is a total mystery and completely irrelevant to God’s purposes. God’s Plan (14:1-4) • God takes thorough ownership – He makes several pledges in poetic form, “I will harden; he will pursue. I will get glory; they will know.” • God selects the location – the places are unknown, but the irony is rich (Exodus 2:1-5). • God allows Pharaoh’s greed to take hold – ‘They’re trapped!” • God’s war aims – “I will get glory” is challenging to translate. Literally, “I shall be glorified by means of Pharaoh.” Pharaoh becomes a tool in God’s hand. Pharaoh’s Pursuit (14:5-9) • Egypt’s Regret 1. Holy War of Service – Whom will the Israelites serve? (see 3:12; 4:23; 7:16; 8:20; 9:1; etc) 2. Notice that God doesn’t harden Pharaoh’s heart until Pharaoh breaks his word (v. 8). • Pharaoh’s Army 1. No easy thing to muster the entire army, especially during a national food crisis. 2. Egypt’s Chariots – two-person shock instruments perfectly suited for the open planes in Sinai. 3. Pharaoh came to view this more of a cattle rustling mission than a war. Israel’s Desperation (14:10-14) • Israel Cries: 1. They began well – they cried to Yahweh (v. 10) 2. Fear breeds accusation (v. 11) and exaggeration (v. 12) – Psalm 106:7 calls their behavior “rebellion” • Moses’s Amazing Resolve: 1. Moses’s Commands – “No Fearing! Make yourselves stand! See.” 2. Moses’s Predictions – You will never see the Egyptians again; Yahweh will wage war for you while you remain silent. 3. Moses was not yet privy to God’s plan – these commands and predictions were conclusions drawn from the character and actions of God. God’s Deliverance (14:15-31) • God Instructs – lift your hands, part the sea, pass through, then I will deal with Pharaoh’s army. • God Buffers – the Angel of Yahweh prevents the two from engaging (Egypt never even fired a shot) • God Divides: “the waters were ripped open,” see Zechariah 14:4 • God Confuses: God changed their hearts; God disassembled the chariot wheels • God Destroys: see ESV note, “Yahweh shook off the Egyptians into the sea” in a comprehensive victory. Response • Israel saw, feared, and believed. • Israel came to understand this moment as the final and decisive break from Egypt – see Nehemiah 9:11, Psalm 78:13, and Psalm 136:10f. • The event, for all its grandeur, is just a picture of God’s salvation – “See the salvation of the LORD” (14:13); “Thus the LORD saved Israel that day” (14:30). • In conclusion, let’s turn to Acts 16:25-33