from WL Worcester (H Blackmer, ed.), 
The Sower.  Helps to the Study of the Bible in Home and Sunday School
 
(Boston: Massachusetts New-Church Union, n.d.)

Table of Contentson
 

 

Lesson 40

Exodus 14: Crossing the Red Sea

The Story

We are starting with the children of Israel on their journey out of Egypt to Mount Sinai and to the promised land. It will be well often to go over the line of the journey on a map and be sure that we remember the events that happen on the way. Today find the land of Goshen. The people gathered in Succoth in the eastern part of Goshen, as if to take the short way up to Canaan, but the Lord turned them southward along the sea. (Exod. 13:17-22) In the old days, the Red Sea reached farther north than now, where we find only the Bitter Lakes and Lake Timsah, the Crocodile Lake, today. The sea was before them and the chariots of Pharaoh behind them, and the Lord showed them His power.

Primary

At last the children of Israel were to leave Egypt, where at first they had been happy in the days of Joseph but where they afterward were made slaves and very unhappy. Moses was their leader, and the pillar of fire and cloud would show the way. They gathered at the edge of the land of Goshen, but the Lord would not let them take the short road to Canaan. That way was guarded by soldiers. So the people camped by the shore of the Red Sea. They seemed to be shut in by the sea, and now to make their trouble worse Pharaoh came after them with his horsemen and chariots. The chariots were low, two-wheeled cars in which soldiers rode (Joseph also had his chariot). The people were terrified and blamed Moses. Moses answered, "Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord." But the Lord said to Moses, "Wherefore criest thou unto me? Speak unto the children of Israel that they go forward." The Lord helped them. First the pillar of cloud and fire, which usually went before them, removed and stood behind them, between them and the Egyptians. It gave light through the night to the children of Israel, but was dark to the Egyptians. Then at the Lord's command Moses stretched out his rod over the sea, and the Lord divided the waters by an east wind that blew all night, so that the way opened for the children of Israel to go over on dry ground. The Egyptians followed, but when Moses at the Lord's command stretched out his rod again over the sea the waters came again and the Egyptians were drowned. So the people began to know the power of the Lord and to trust His servant Moses. Moses sang a song of praise and rejoicing to the Lord, and several Psalms praise the Lord for this deliverance.

Junior

By the help of our map we must take the journey with the children of Israel, and must make it real with pictures. You see on the map the line which marks the journey from Goshen to Sinai and to Canaan. Each week we will go a little further on this line and learn some new event and get acquainted with new country. Why do we find the name Goshen on the map? Pithom? (Exod. 1-11) Succoth and Etham? (Exod. 13:20) If the map showed the country as it was at the time of the exodus, we should see the Red Sea extending up to include the Bitter Lakes and Lake Timsah. Also the Mediterranean Sea came nearer in those days, before the shore had been built out by sand from the sea. I find also the words Suez Canal. Who can learn for us something about this water-way connecting the Mediterranean and the Red Sea? Did Moses ever see it?

The children of Israel are ready for the start. Shall they go by the short way to Canaan? (Exod. 13:17) Instead they camped by the sea. It seemed to Pharaoh that they were caught, entangled in the land. He gathered his chariots to pursue them. We have pictures of chariots in old Egyptian sculptures, and beautiful chariots were buried with some of the kings. Have you an idea what they were like? Imagine the danger and the distress of Israel. Between what two terrors were they? When they cried to Moses, what did he answer? (Exod. 13:13-14) What did the Lord say to Moses? (Verse 15) In any time of danger or when any work is to be done, we need to trust in the Lord, but we must not sit still and expect the Lord to do the work. As we do our part, the Lord can help us; He can work with us and give success. An old friend used to say, "Pray as if all depended upon the Lord; then work as if all depended upon you."

How did the Lord help the children of Israel in their great danger? How did He protect them from the Egyptians? How did He open the way for them to go forward? What was the fate of the Egyptians who pursued them? Read the song of rejoicing which Moses sang. (Exod. 15:1-19) And Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron, sang and led the dancers. (Exod. 15:20-21) What Psalms can you find which also rejoice in this deliverance?

Note in passing how they took the bones of Joseph with them. Look back to the charge which Joseph gave them. (Gen. 50:24-26) And look forward to the burial by Joshua in the field of Shechem. (Josh. 24:32)

1. Where did Pharaoh overtake the children of Israel? What made his army strong?

2. How were the children of Israel kept safe from Pharaoh's army through the night?

3. When the people were frightened, what did Moses say? What did the Lord say to Moses?

4. What did Moses do to open the way through the sea? What did the Lord send to divide the waters?

5. What was the fate of the Egyptian army?

Spiritual Study

Intermediate

The bondage and the plagues of Egypt represent the evil state in which many were at the time when the Lord came into the world, and evil states in which we may be today. The safe passage of the children of Israel through the Red Sea followed by the overwhelming of the Egyptians is a picture of redemption which the Lord wrought, the condemnation of the evil and the deliverance from their power of those who could be saved. The song which Moses sang and Psalms celebrating the deliverance, such as Psalms 77 and 106 (see also Psalm 32:6 and Isa. 43:1-2), are forever precious because they are songs of redemption. The Red Sea in the picture is hell, from which the good are saved and in which the evil destroy themselves. The east wind holding back the water as a wall on either side is the influence of heaven protecting. (A. 8200, 8206)

The lesson of trust and action in this story is important. We must act as of ourselves, at the same time believing and acknowledging that the will, the understanding and the power to do so are of the Lord alone. The words of Moses and of the Lord in this chapter are not in conflict, but express the two halves of the truth. (T. 6219; Doc. of Charity, 107)

It is several times said that the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart. It is one of the many things in the Bible which are expressed according to the way that people think and speak. Really the Lord does everything to lead people to be obedient and to do what is right. In some places it is plainly said according to the real truth, that Pharaoh hardened his own heart and that he sinned in doing so. (Exod. 8:15, 32; 9:34; A. 7032)

Read about the pillar of cloud and fire in the Arcana, that it was a company of angels and in the midst of them the Lord, which appeared in this way to the people. Think of this when you read Exod. 14:19 and 24. Why should the cloud be bright to Israel and dark to the Egyptians? (A. 8197)

Read in A. 8261 beautiful things about the power of songs which relate to the Lord, His kingdom and the church. Have this in mind in reading the Psalms, which all in their inner meaning relate to the Lord, His kingdom and the church.

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