6RESCUE Exodus 14:10-22,29-31 EXPLORATION Exodus 14:10-22,29-31 Central TRUTH God s protection produces faith in the hearts of His people. Prepare for your group meeting by reading the passage two times. 10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. 11 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? 12 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! 13 Moses answered the people, Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. 15 Then the Lord said to Moses, Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. 16 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. 17 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. 18 The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen. 19 Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, 20 coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long. 21 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, 22 and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. 29 But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. 30 That day the Lord saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. 31 And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant. 54 // Explore the Bible: Students
Talk it Out.01 WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST FEAR? WHY?.02 IF YOU WERE TO DEVISE A PLAN TO OVERCOME THIS FEAR, WHAT WOULD IT INVOLVE? This week s FOCUS Explore OPTIONS.01 Fear Factor Prepare a container with Jello and suspend different items in the Jello for students to dig for plastic spider and other small objects work well for this activity. Place the container in a paper bag where they cannot see what they re digging in. Ask two volunteers to experience this and then ask them to share their experience with the group. Specifically ask the two volunteers what scared or worried them most about digging in the bag. Ask the student volunteers if they would have been less fearful or anxious if they had been told in advance what was in the bag. Any unknowns in our lives tend to cause fear, but when we choose to trust in the Lord, He will guard and protect us. As we seek to trust in Him, our faith in Him will increase. The Israelites had just witnessed God inflicting ten increasingly horrible and powerful plagues on the nation of Egypt, from sending frogs and flies to a devastating locust outbreak that destroyed Egypt s crops to finally striking down every firstborn in Egypt. Given all the miracles God had accomplished in their midst, it is easy to think that the Israelites should have approached the task of fleeing Egypt with fearless faith. Today, however, we will see that our fears run far deeper than we think and we are not capable of overcoming them on our own. The only sure way to overcome our fears is by trusting in the Lord God s protection produces faith in the hearts of His people..02 Phobias Begin by printing out a list of different phobias and their definitions. Guide students to divide into groups of 4-5 and then have a race to see which group can pair all of the phobias and their definitions up correctly first. Once there is a winner, ask all groups to go around and share what they decided was the correct definition for each of the phobias. Tie this activity into the plagues and how they were serious things that swept across and affected Egypt. Ask students what deep-rooted phobias they have. Allow several to share about their phobias and what may have initiated their fear. Be available for students who have doubts about their salvation or who just might need a listening ear about what s going on in their life. Point students to Christ and remind them that the only way to face and conquer their fears is through trusting in Jesus as Lord. Session 6 // 55
6 CONVERSATION Read Exodus 14:10-14..03 HOW DID THE ISRAELITES REACT WHEN THEY SAW PHARAOH AND HIS TROOPS APPROACHING?.04 CAN YOU RELATE TO THEIR FEARS? WHAT WAS APPROPRIATE ABOUT THEIR REACTION TO PHARAOH S ARMY? WHAT WASN T? We all have a tendency to think more highly of ourselves than we should (Rom. 12:3). As a result, we sometimes bite off more than we can chew we find the challenges and difficulties in front of us more daunting than we expected. That seems to be the case with the Israelites. On the one hand, it is easy to think they should not have worried about the Egyptian army since God had worked so powerfully in their midst. On the other hand, it is hard to think clearly when a fierce army of chariots is breathing down your neck while you are traveling on foot with no means of defending yourself. When the Israelites saw the Egyptian army was marching after them they feared greatly and began grumbling against Moses an act which they will continue doing throughout Exodus when their circumstances begin to feel overwhelming. The same is true in the lives of students when they fixate on what is going on around them rather than remembering the grace and power of God their hearts will be filled with fear..05 HOW DID MOSES RESPOND TO THE FEARS OF THE ISRAELITES (VV. 13-14)? WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM MOSES EXAMPLE? From the Israelites perspective, it was only a matter of time before the Egyptians overtook them and slaughtered or captured them and forced them back into slavery. The Israelites didn t stand a chance. In the midst of seemingly insurmountable odds Moses commanded them to do something rather shocking to be quiet (v. 14). When faced with difficulty we tend to do one of two things: we work and fight with all our might doing everything we can, or we give up and complain about the impossible situation we are in. Moses told the Israelites to be quiet because they would not be able to save themselves or fix the situation they were in. God would save them. To stand firm is not to trust in yourself, but in God s promises, grace, and in His power to save. Leader Pack / ITEM 5: Remind students of God s covenant with Abraham (see the Ex. 2:24-25 poster: Pack Item 5). Moses was able to confidently declare that God would save and fight for the Israelites because of this covenant and because Moses knew that God keeps all His promises. 56 // Explore the Bible: Students
COMMENTARY Exodus 14:10-14 14:10-12. Pharaoh approached to find a vast multitude paralyzed with fear and virtually defenseless. They cried out first to the Lord, then bitterly complained to Moses about the plight: Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? For a moment it seemed better to the Hebrews to have endured slavery in Egypt than to be in such a predicament. 14:13. But Moses stood resolute in his confidence in the Lord and lifted the hearts of the people by reminding them once again of God s pending deliverance. Moses believed the word of the Lord, not just this once, but as a way of life (Heb. 11:24-29). Apparently the Lord revealed to Moses the nature of the deliverance would be quite miraculous completely independent of human means. With this deliverance Moses could say to the Israelites, the Egyptians you see today you will never see again. God s words to Israel, don t be afraid, were issued to bolster their confidence. Don t be afraid typically was spoken by angels when appearing to humans (see Gen. 15:1; 26:24) and by God to those facing overwhelming odds (see Num. 14:9; Josh. 10:8). Moses words assured the people they had no reason to fear. The people saw only Pharaoh s army, but God, whom they could not see, was with them and would save them. Rather than fear, the Israelites were to stand firm and see. They did not need to try to swim across the sea or prepare to fight or give up. They only needed to watch. Thus far they had seen only the Egyptian army and their predicament. Moses encouraged them to open their eyes in faith and to see God at work. The phrase the Lord s salvation describes the deliverance only God can provide. God would do what Israel could not do. 14:14. By telling the Israelites that they must be quiet, Moses was not telling them to sit around and do nothing. The Israelites had to obediently continue on the course God had set before them. It s important to remember that the Israelites had been grumbling and complaining, being quiet then was not a matter of inaction but of faith. It requires faith to stop complaining when the circumstances around us seem overwhelming that is exactly what the Israelites needed to do and would have to continue doing if they hoped to reach the promised land. Session 6 // 57
6 CONVERSATION continued Read Exodus 14:15-22..06 HOW DID GOD RESPOND TO THE ISRAELITES CRY FOR HELP? WHAT DOES HIS RESPONSE TELL US ABOUT HIS CHARACTER? ABOUT THE ISRAELITES? While it is good and right to cry out to God when in need (Matt. 6:11, 14:30), God responds to the Israelites cry for help with a rebuke, Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to break camp. In their cry for help at this juncture, they demonstrated their lack of faith. God had promised to deliver them He had shown His power over Pharaoh and the false gods of Egypt, He had made a covenant with Abraham and his descendants and God would be true to His word. While it is good and right to cry out to God in the midst of distress (Ps. 18:6, 34:4, 138:3), sometimes we need to be quiet to be still and know that He is God (Ps. 46:10, ESV). Discipleship Moment: Read Psalm 46:10 in and discuss with students what it means to be still and know (ESV) that He is God. Share some ways you have sought to do this in the past..07 WHAT DID GOD INSTRUCT MOSES TO DO (V. 16)? WHY DO YOU THINK GOD CHOSE TO RESCUE THE ISRAELITES IN THIS SPECIFIC MANNER?.08 WHAT WAS HIS ULTIMATE PURPOSE IN RESCUING THE ISRAELITES (VV. 17-19)? Much like the ten plagues, God commanded Moses to act as the one through whom God would do the miraculous. While Moses himself was not the source of the power that would divide the Red Sea, it is also important to note that God could have parted the Red Sea without Moses participation. God had raised Moses up to speak His word to His people. Moses was the first prophet through whom God spoke to His people. He would even intercede for them, pleading with God to forgive them of their sin after they made the devastating choice to directly rebel against Him (Ex. 32:30-33). God s purpose in parting the Red Sea is one and the same with His purpose for inflicting Egypt with plagues: to demonstrate His all surpassing glory and to show that He alone is God (vv. 17-18; c.f. Ex. 9:14-17). These miracles demonstrate God s kindness, not only in going to great lengths to save His people from harm, but also in demonstrating His glory such that they would be moved to trust in Him alone. There is nothing kinder God can do for us than to produce faith in our hearts. 58 // Explore the Bible: Students
COMMENTARY Exodus 14:15-22 14:15-16. But God told Moses it wasn t time to cry to him but to arise with the Israelites and move toward the sea. There he was to raise his staff and stretch out his hand over the sea that God would then divide, allowing the multitudes to cross unharmed. 14:17-18. Their Egyptian pursuers would follow close on their heels, but God would get the glory. The Egyptian army was vast and powerful and seemed to have the upper hand. But now events would take place that would be spoken of for centuries to come. 14:19. Then the angel of God who had been traveling in front of Israel s army, withdrew and went behind them. Perhaps this is where we get the popular avenging angel slogan. The angel of God and the pillar of cloud, the token of God s nearness to them, surrounded the Israelites. What more did they need? These protective agents of God stood between the Israelites and their pursuers. 14:20-22. The cloud seemed to have a twofold effect, bringing light to the Israelites, who were about to flee full-force into the divided Red Sea, and darkness to the now halted Egyptian horsemen. 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. Between the divided walls, the Israelites fled, taking the entire night to cross over. The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh s horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea. Perhaps more than ever we see the hardness of Pharaoh s heart and that of his soldiers. They had already witnessed great signs and wonders, and were even now withheld from further pursuit by the cloud. But the moment a window of opportunity opened up, they charged forward after the Israelites. But sometime between 3:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. the Lord threw the entire army into confusion. This probably amounted to losing control of the horses and losing their own mental or emotional bearings. The wheels then fell off their chariots. Finally it dawned on them that the Lord was fighting for Israel and they would continue their mad rush to catch the fleeing nation in vain. But alas, it was too late! Session 6 // 59
6 CONVERSATION continued Read Exodus 14:29-31..09 HOW DID THE ISRAELITES RESPOND TO WHAT GOD HAD DONE (V. 31)?.10 WHAT STRENGTHENED THE ISRAELITES FAITH? HOW DOES A GREATER AWARENESS OF GOD S PAST ACTIONS HELP US GROW IN FAITH? Once again, God set His people apart. The angel of God came between the Israelites and the Egyptian army and all night as Israel passed through the Red Sea on foot, God sovereignly protected His people. The Lord divided the Red Sea such that there was a wall of water on the right and on the left and dry ground for the Israelites to tread on. God then judged Egypt for oppressing His people and worshiping false gods by sending the waters back over them when they attempted to pursue the Israelites. Literary Context: What are some other examples of times God boldly displayed His power in order to set His people apart from the pagan nations around them? See the Literary Context note in the Commentary. By saving His people and judging their enemies, God demonstrated that He can be trusted. Help students to see that God was producing faith in the hearts of His people. What was important for Israel was not merely that they were safe and the Egyptians were not; what mattered was that faith saves. Israel was not saved because they were good enough, smart enough, or holy enough. They were none of these things. They were saved because God is good and because God is faithful. Faith, not our good works, saves, and God is always at work graciously calling us to put our faith in Him. 60 // Explore the Bible: Students
COMMENTARY Exodus 14:29-31 14:29-30. Then the Lord told Moses to stretch his hand over the sea so the waters may flow back over the Egyptians. The waters that were previously divided and a means of deliverance for the Israelites now came together and became a means of destruction for the Egyptian army. The entire army perished, leaving no survivors, no one to tell the miraculous events of the day, and what the Hebrew God did. The Israelites continued to flee, protected by the walls of water on both sides. From afar they viewed the mass of dead Egyptians on the shore. The effect of all this on the Israelites brings us back to God s original purpose: God displayed His power in the world, and many people took notice and feared. The Israelites not only began to fear God with a deep trust, but they also acknowledged God s hand on His servant Moses, now fully credentialed as God s spokesman. LITERARY CONTEXT Read 1 Kings 18. One of the most memorable stories in the Old Testament of God powerfully displaying His glory to pagan nations is found in Elijah s contest with the prophets of Baal. These are some interesting parallels between this story and the Red Sea incident. While fleeing Egypt the people of Israel began to fear for their lives and claimed it would have been better if they had remained in Egypt. In the incident between Elijah and the prophets of Baal, Israel had given into idolatry because they feared the nations around them and were willing to compromise their faith for their own personal security. Help your students to see that the world around them will always tempt them with an easier life in exchange for compromising their faith. Point out, however, that the cost for the Egyptians and the prophets of Baal paid for their rebellion reminds us that the cost is never worth it. 14:31. This verse addresses this most important implication of all the events with attention to faith: the resultant faith of God s people in the Lord and their willingness to place their trust in Him and in His representative, Moses. Not only does this verse identify the point of the story of the deliverance at the sea for all generations (all should learn from it that the Lord can be trusted to deliver His people, no matter what their plight) but it also looks forward to the New Testament emphasis on salvation by faith. What was important for Israel was not merely that they were safe and the Egyptians were not; what mattered was that faith saves, and God had shown them how faith in Him could pay off to their lasting benefit. They were still new to good theology. Many of them at this early point understood very little of who Yahweh was and what He expected of them. But they had now seen one final, awesome act of deliverance from Egypt, and it prompted their fear and trust. Session 6 // 61
06 CENTRAL TRUTH God s protection produces faith in the hearts of His people. NOW WHAT?.11 HOW HAS GOD BEEN GOOD TO YOU IN THE PAST? HOW MIGHT REMEMBERING THESE THINGS HELP YOU GROW IN FAITH TODAY?.12 WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES IN YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW? AT SCHOOL? AT HOME? IN YOUR DAILY ACTIVITIES? WHAT IS ONE STEP YOU WILL TAKE THIS WEEK TO TRUST GOD TO HELP YOU OVERCOME THESE CHALLENGES?.13 HOW MIGHT A GREATER AWARENESS OF GOD S CHARACTER WHO HE IS STRENGTHEN YOUR FAITH?.14 HOW MIGHT YOU GROW TO BE MORE ATTENTIVE TO GOD S WORD AND MORE MINDFUL OF HIS PROMISES? For an expository verse-by-verse sermon outline/discussion guide that complements this session by diving into the Gospel of Mark see LifeWay.com/etbfal17exodus. For free training, go to MinistryGrid.com/web/ExploreTheBible. 62 // Explore the Bible: Students
Personal CHALLENGE Dwell Read and reflect on Exodus 14 and how God powerfully rescued the Israelites from the Egyptians. The people believed and feared the Lord. We also should place our trust and faith in God because He is faithful to protect us. How do you need to revere and fear the Lord more this week? In what areas of your life does your faith in God need to be strengthened? Memorize Exodus 14:31 Reflect and dwell on this. Pray Confess your sins and ask God for forgiveness. Pray that God will help you to listen and to be patient as you wait on Him. Read and reflect on Exodus 14:14. As you spend time in prayer this week, be quiet and listen to what God has to say to you through His Word the Bible. If you do not already have a Bible Reading Plan, consider using the one provided toward the end of this resource. Then read the following verses and passages about God s protection and care for His people. 2 Samuel 22:2-3 Psalm 46, 64, 91, 121:7 Proverbs 18:10 Romans 8:35-39 Session 6 // 63