The Reason God Allowed the Crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:10-16) 3/9/2025
The Reason God Allowed the Crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:10-16) 3/9/2025
Through the blood of the Passover lamb, God freed the Israelites from 400 years of slavery, curse, and oppression from the enemy. When we accept Jesus Christ, the Passover Lamb, we receive this same blessing (salvation).
God wanted to use the Israelites, who were first saved, to conquer Canaan and create history that would save the world. The Israelites conquered Canaan, and to that land, Christ came. And through Christ, we too received salvation. Now, as spiritual Israelites, we can stand as individuals and churches that save the world.
Before allowing them to enjoy this blessing and answer, God made the Israelites go through an important event. It was crossing the Red Sea. Geographically, there was no need to cross the Red Sea. Yet, God deliberately led them there and made them go through this experience. Simply put, the reason was to show the Israelites how God takes responsibility for, leads, and grants victory to His saved people. This is a blessing that those who possess the gospel must experience and enjoy.
What is the gospel? It is that we cannot solve life’s problems on our own, so God sent His Son as our Savior, the Christ (Luke 2:10-11). Through his death, Christ redeemed our sins (Colossians 1:14), through his resurrection, He destroyed the devil’s work, which is the power of sin and death (1 John 3:8), and through Him, we now have a way to God (John 14:6,9).
Through the Holy Spirit, He is with us, guiding us in all our ways, granting victory, and making us witnesses to save the world.
The gospel is not about our diligent efforts to do something for God. That would be religious practice. When we fail to understand the gospel and live religiously, our faith journey becomes burdensome, leading to spiritual problems (Matthew 11
:28, 12:44-45). The gospel is recognizing and enjoying what God has done through His Son, what He is doing now, and what He will do in the future. When we understand this, everything in our lives (pain, suffering, failure, our “Red Sea”) becomes a testimony. What Red Sea in your life is making you fearful? Remember the three things God spoke and did for Israel at the Red Sea.
- He said, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and see the salvation the Lord will accomplish for you today” (Exodus 14:13).
By accepting Christ, we have received eternal salvation. No matter what problems come again, we will receive deliverance.
1) Through Christ, believers receive eternal life and can never be destroyed (John 10:28). As our true High Priest, He secured eternal atonement (Hebrews 9:12) and freed us forever from sin and death (Romans 12:1-2). As our true King, He crushed Satan’s head (Genesis 3:15) and promised us eternal victory (1 Corinthians 15:57, Romans 16:20). As our true Prophet, He became the eternal way (John 14:6) and prepared every path and door for us (Revelation 3:8).
2) God guarantees every step of a believer’s life (this is the “journey”). Our identity is found in this (we are people of God’s covenant, His children, and the remnant). Within that are ten footholds and five assurances. God has prepared the summit’s path, the secret to changing the flow of history, the guarantee of evangelism, and the weekly direction through the pulpit message.
3) Why did God place them before the Red Sea? Though Pharaoh’s army was pursuing them from behind, God told them not to fear anything. Believers are on a covenant journey, following God’s promised path. Every problem is part of a pilgrim’s journey to deepen our relationship with God. It is the journey of victory, where God leads us to overcome.
- “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:14).
As saved people of God who have the covenant of eternal blessings, we can no longer be deceived.
1) Fight three spiritual battles through prayer (this is the “bartizan”). When we fight, Christ fights with us and grants victory (Revelation 17:14). If we experience shame and failure, repent and fight again (1 John 1:9). Then God sends angels to help (Isaiah 62:6-7).
① Fight against yourself. Battle against your desires and sinful cravings (James 1:14-15, 1 Corinthians 15:31). Fight against your own standards, logic, and pride (2 Corinthians 10:4). Battle against hidden scars and weaknesses (2 Corinthians 12:8-10).
② Fight against the world. The world is full of deceptive voices and temptations that lead us to unbelief and failure. That’s why we are told not to love the world or its desires—lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride of life (1 John 2:15-16).
③ Fight against Satan. The enemy attacks us through ourselves and the world. Especially fight against darkness that brings anxiety, fear, conflict, resentment, and hatred (James 4:7, 1 Peter 5:7-9).
2) How much should we fight? Fight with prayer until the Holy Spirit’s power is evident within us. That is when problems no longer feel like problems. Pain no longer feels painful. Injustice no longer feels unfair. When the Holy Spirit works, Satan, who tried to deceive us, surrenders (Matthew 12:28). The people of faith in Hebrews 11 fought this battle (Hebrews 11:38).
3) When this happens, every problem, pain, and event turns into a blessing, an eternal answer, masterpiece, and legacy.
- The Lord paved their way for them (Exodus 14:15-16). (This is the “guidepost.”)
1) God said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me?” “Crying out” here refers to a cry of despair and complaint. In other words, tears of unbelief. We should only shed tears of faith, gratitude, and compassion for souls.
2) “Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea.” The staff represents God’s guidance and direction. God still leads and directs our path today. How? Through His Word (Psalm 119:105). That’s why we must preciously hold onto and meditate on the pulpit message. Then, the sea that frightened them parted, and they walked on dry ground.
3) What was God’s ultimate conclusion? That they would finally conquer Canaan and become witnesses to save the world (evangelism and missions). This is the reason that even in this age of endless suffering and disasters, we have a distinct calling and blessing.
Conclusion- Hold onto the three things God did for Israel at the Red Sea and find what you must restore. God guarantees our life (Journey). He fights for us (Bartizan). He opens the way for world evangelization (Guidepost). This is the conclusion of the gospel. May we all live as believers who enjoy this blessing for a lifetime.
3.9.25 The Reason God Allowed the Crossing of the Red Sea