Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. Exodus 15:1

Today we are going to look at the song Moses and the Israelites sang as they worshipped and celebrated the victory God has given them. Take note the Israelites worshipped by singing a hymn to The Lord, when we sings hymns in Church is a form of praise and worship to God

The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him. The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name. Exodus 15:2-3

What did we learn from the Exodus story? God is our strength, the Israelites couldn’t have done it by themselves, God is our salvation, there is no other way to become saved but by Him, and we should exalt him!

Notice another thing Moses calls God a “Man of War” or other translations “Warrior” this is much different theology than liberals like to push. Yes God is love but God is also Just, He is a Warrior who will fight for His people

Pharaoh’s chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea. The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone. Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy. And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble. Exodus 15:4-7

Moses give God glory for the parting of the Red Sea, do we thank God and remember when he delivered us from our sins and obstacles. Notice Moses gives Gods right hand the glory, we know from the New Testament that Jesus sits at the Right Hand of the Father! (Mark 16:19) Moses is giving glory to Christ! 

Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? Exodus 15:11

One of the main reasons for the Plagues of Egypt was God was revealing to Egypt their deities were false. Moses makes this known in his song, as Yahweh is the true God and all others are false. God proved this through the Exodus!

And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. Exodus 15:20-21

Not only were the Israelites singing and worshipping God, but it says they were dancing and playing the tambourine. Dont be afraid to Dance for God, dont be afraid to play your instruments for Him also! Everything we do should be for the Glory of God!

Another interesting note here is Moses sister Miriam was called a Prophet. Interpret that as you will but obviously the Israelites believed she had a special calling by God. Take note how the Israelites worshipped and served God, as they were Gods people and so are you through Jesus Christ!

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baalzephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea.For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in. Exodus 14:1-3

Remember God is with the Israelites, every step and every moment. Even though they are going through the Wilderness, God didnt abandon or forsake them! In fact God is leading and guiding their path to safety. 

When the Israelites were instructed to turn around and go a different way, there was probably a lot of grumbling and confusion. The Israelites didn’t know what God knew, therefore they probably thought this was foolishness. But remember God knows the beginning and the end, His ways are higher than our ways, lean not on your own understanding

And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD. And they did so.And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us? Exodus 14:4-5

Theres a Proverb that says “As a dog returns to its vomit, a fool returns to it foolishness” (Proverbs 26:11) This reminds me of Pharaoh, after all the Plagues , after all the times Pharaoh repented, he keeps returning to his vomit. He keeps returning to his old ways and looking to persecute the Israelites. But God once again is going to use Pharaoh to reveal his power and glory!

And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him: And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them. And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an high hand. Exodus 14:6-8

Again Pharaoh never learns his lesson, and this lesson again is going to be catastrophic for the nation of Egypt. You would think Pharaoh and the Egyptians would come to their senses after they suffered the loss of their firstborn and the devastation  of their land and economy. But this is what sin does to people, it blinds you even as its destroying you

But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon. And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD. Exodus 14:9-10

However looking at things in the natural, looking at things from the Israelites perspective at this moment, the Israelites look doomed. This large Egyptian army with horses and chariots and closing in on them. And the Egyptians are mad and looking for revenge. The Israelites know if the Egyptians get a hold of them, they will slaughter all of them

And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness. Exodus 14:11-12

Even after Moses through God freed them from slavery, what was their response? They were bitter towards Moses saying “You brought us out into the Wilderness to die” They even want to serve the Egyptians again as slaves rather than be free

Again its like a Dog going back to its vomit. Slavery was easier for the Israelites because thats what they knew. God promised them salvation but He didnt promise them an easy life. This is the same for us CHristians, you were freed from the slavery of Sin and Death by Christ. Jesus never promised an easy life but he promised salvation. The Christian Walk or the Wilderness, is not going to be easy, dont turn back to your own vomit during the hard times

And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. Exodus 14:13-14

Moses responds with the promises of God! Dont be afraid and see the Salvation of God! This is the same promise we can hold to today. Hold your peace and God will fight for you! Meaning stop complaining and grumbling and have some real faith!

In the next event, were going to see the salvation and glory of God revealed! Amen!

And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt: But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt. Exodus 13:17-18

Finally Pharaoh let the Israelites free, however because of Pharaohs disobedience it came with a price. However as God led the Israelites through the Wilderness to freedom, he didn’t take them on the easy path, He took them on a rough road never traveled

This is much like our Freedom in Christ, when we get saved we might believe life will be easy now. That’s not what God promised, He promised us salvation but He never promised us an easy life. God had a purpose for the Israelites tough journey, just as He has a purpose for ours!

And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you. And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness. Exodus 13:19-20

Notice Moses took the bones of Joseph with them as a reminder. Why? Remember Joseph didnt have an easy life either, he was hated by his brothers and sold into slavery. He was falsely accused of crimes and thrown into prison. However God blessed his faithfulness and obedience, and raised him up as leader over Egypt. Joseph was a foreshadow of Christ to come!

And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people. Exodus 13:21-22

Notice that God was with the Israelites during their journey through the wilderness. God didnt just send the Israelites out and say “Good luck” No He was with them, in their midst, through the good and the bad!Imagine being an Israelite and seeing that Cloud of Fire knowing that it was the Great I AM, oh what comfort it would bring!

Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 1 Corinthians 10:1-4

The Apostle Paul gives us further insight via the Holy Spirit. Who was with the Israelites through the Wildnerness? It was Jesus Christ, God incarnate! Who is with you today going through the Wilderness? It is Jesus Christ! Just as the Israelites were freed from slavery and gone through the Wilderness to the Promised Land , Christ was with them! And just as you were freed from the slavery of your sin, going through the Wilderness to the New Heavens and Earth, Christ is with you also! Amen!

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine. And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten. Exodus 13:1-3

So now God is setting up the Passover Feast, every Israelite is to “Sanctify” meaning to Set Apart the first born male. Now this is very symbolic, as Christians we are “Sanctified” or Set Apart by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:11) This is obviously a foreshadowing of the New Covenant

Again the unleavened bread is symbolic of the removal of sin. Jesus is the bread of life (John 6:35) He is the sinless Lamb who cleansed us from our sin. These are all foreshadows of Christ and the New Covenant to come

This day came ye out in the month Abib. And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou shalt keep this service in this month. Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to the LORD. Exodus 13:4-6

God is preparing the Israelites for the journey through the Wilderness to the Promised Land (Israel) The land promised by God flowing with milk and honey!I believe this is a foreshadow of The New Heavens and Earth, promised by God in the New Covenant (Revelation 21) This is the paradise we Christians have to look forward to through Christ

Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven seen with thee in all thy quarters. And thou shalt shew thy son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the LORD did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt. Exodus 13:7-8

The Passover Feast is 7 days, notice again the symbolic number 7 for completion. The number 7 is also seen throughout the book of Revelation. Notice it says we should continually teach our children about the Passover and what God has done for us! This was the purpose of the Passover Feast , as a continual reminder. As I said I believe Communion is the fulfillment of the feasts and is a continual reminder of Gods salvation

And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the LORD’S law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt. Exodus 13:9

Notice God tells the Israelites this will be a sign for them, a sign of the Old Covenant. Just as Jesus told us at the Lord Supper, this is a sign of the New Covenant (Luke 22) Remember we are all delivered by the blood of the Lamb of God Jesus Christ Amen!