Please take time to listen to today’s YouTube presentation of this passage. Rudy Ross has uncovered the meaning of the Hebrew names of Pi-hahiroth, Migdol and Baal-zephon. He shows that the Hebrew people were up against the central powers of evil.
I’ll not try to recreate Rudy’s work, but rather highlight some of the essential points in the account as they apply to today’s world.
There are three major themes in God’s deliverance of the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt.
- Theme #1: The way Pharaoh hardens his heart and how God strengthens Pharaoh’s resolve to take control of the situation.
The current understanding of heart features the emotional side of humans. The biblical understanding of heart is that it is the seat of the mind and will.
Pharaoh’s world-view that was reflected in his mind was reflected by his unwillingness to let the Hebrews leave their 400 years of slavery in Egypt. When we read that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart, we can see this as God strengthening Pharaoh’s natural inclination to live autonomous from God’s will.
- Theme #2: God’s attempt to soften Pharaoh’s heart.
Numerous Bible verses reflect God’s attempt to soften Pharaoh’s heart. We will never know what would have happened if Pharaoh had responded by changing his thinking and behavior.
We have plenty of Biblical and historical figures who repented and trusted the good news of God’s love to be the defining truth of their lives.
Some are famous figures, like Charles Finney, a lawyer who was mightily tranformed into a powerful agent of revival. Others are lesser known, but still important members of God’s kingdom.
- Theme #3: God’s defeat of Egyptian idols. When you have nothing to do, Google “Egyptian gods/idols.” You will discover quite an extensive list.
A reoccurring theme of the Exodus is for people to know the Lord. To know God is to realize He is present. As we experience God, He uncovers His basic nature and character.
There is nothing more tragic than to live an entire lifetime and give a false god our devotion. The plagues and exit of the Hebrews from Egypt revealed the emptiness and powerlessness of the nation’s idols.
Hebrew people learned through experience the reality of their God – the One True God of all history.
God’s Glory
The term we use to describe God’s nature and character is “glory.”
I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them, so that I will gain glory for myself over Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord” (Exodus 14:4).
People familiar with the story know that Pharaoh charged into the Red Sea in pursuit of the Hebrews. God revealed His presence and power by rolling back the sea for the Hebrews, but having it crash down on the Egyptians.
After washing the disciples’ feet and before His arrest and crucifixion, Jesus spoke of being glorified.
Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once” (John 13:31-32)
Jesus revealed God’s character in an act of humble self-giving love. He equated His work with that of the Father: Jesus said, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9).
Just as God’s nature is supremely revealed in the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, it is equally revealed by what happened at the Red Sea.
God’s severity and grace are both aspects of His nature and character.
Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen but God’s kindness toward you, if you continue in his kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off (Romans 11:22).
Reflections
Henry Blackaby speaks of knowing God through experience. Both the Hebrews and Egyptians experienced God at the Red Sea.
- The Egyptians realized their national gods were not deities at all. For many of them, the time of opportunity ended. They saw the power of God as they died in the sea.
Among the Israelites was a group of Egyptians who experienced God through the plagues. They were willing to change their minds about the Egyptian gods and followed the Hebrews to freedom and life.
- The Israelites experienced God as their redeemer and deliverer. During the long years of harsh slavery, they may have lost sight of Yahweh/Jehovah.
As they walked across the Red Sea on dry land, they experienced Him as never before imagined.
We do well to consider how we have experienced God. Do we have a soft heart that is willing to follow God’s direction? Do we have a mind and will that is determined to have live on our own terms?
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 