In this lesson, we examine the departure of the people of Israel from Egypt, God’s deliverance at the Red Sea, and the complaints of the people in the desert. God was teaching something to Israel in each of these circumstances, and the lessons that Israel needed to learn are the same lessons that believers need to learn today.
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we saw how God raised up a deliverer in Moses and then how God sent powerful plagues against Egypt now we will see the children of Israel finally leave the land of slavery let’s review a bit of what we talked about last week last week we looked at the 10 plagues and Pharaoh’s stubbornness to refuse in refusing to let the people of Israel go why is it that God sent the plagues on Egypt there are a number of purposes all being accomplished with those plagues what was one of them Denny right right so going back to what just you said then going back to Abraham’s promise the promise that God gave to Abraham that his descendants were going to multiply exceedingly and then that they were going to come into the land they were going to come into the land given to Abraham that was accomplished by um bringing them to Egypt and then taking them out of Egypt by these plagues what else what was something else well part of the reason it was accomplished is because they broke Pharaoh’s stubbornness practically it took 10 plagues for pharaoh to let the people go now we know at the same time that God ordained that he said I’m going to make sure he doesn’t let you go before that but that was part of why he sent the plagues you know also that God said he was going to do it to display his glorious power he said it’s for this reason I raise you up Pharaoh so that I could display my power in you so he did that with the plagues it was to also show that the gods of Egypt and the pharaoh of Egypt were powerless they didn’t have the ability to oppose God reason that they had the power that they had is because God allowed them to have it Pharaoh rather and one other reason one other or two other reasons God sent the plagues it was part of a judgment on Egypt a recompense for what they did to Israel and finally it was going to be it was going to serve as an extravagant example through the rest of Redemptive history of how God delivers his people it was going to serve as an example of God’s power and compassion to deliver for generations to come one of the ways that God wanted Israel to remember the plagues of Egypt and God’s amazing Deliverance was through the Passover celebration we also saw last week that the Passover was a foreshadowing of Christ the blood of the Lamb covers the repentant believer and delivers him from God’s terrifying judgment that was first foreshadowed with the angel of death in the 10th plague any questions about what we talked about last week okay God’s purposes and the plagues were accomplished and now God moves Pharaoh’s heart to let the Hebrews go but God is not done with Pharaoh Pharaoh and the Egyptians still have a role to play in bringing glory to God and and in testing the faith of the people of Israel here’s what we’re going to look in our here’s what we’re going to look at in our lesson today we’re first going to look at how the Egyptians sought to forcefully jettison the people of Israel out of Egypt first they didn’t want to let them go at all and now they’re like get out of here secondly we’re going to look at the Egyptian pursuit of Israel and then God’s next astounding Deliverance finally we’ll look at the complaints of the Israelites as they begin to travel through the desert asking ourselves how can we learn from their negative example just a heads up to correct something that you might have seen in the bulleon we uh had written that we’re going to be having Sunday school on the 22nd but we’re not that’s actually Thanksgiving Day so don’t get confused about that there will be no Sunday school on the 22nd just the regular service but let’s pray as we begin our class today Father great deliverer savior there is no savior but you thank you for your word help me to be able to explain it help us to understand it and apply it in Jesus name amen let’s open to where we left off in The Exodus account the final plague the death of the firstborn take your Bibles go to Exodus 12 Exodus 12: 29-41 we’re going to read this text Exodus 12 vers 29- 41 starting at verse 29 now it came about at midnight that the Lord struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt from the firstborn of pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon and all the firstborn of cattle Pharaoh Rose in the night he and all his servants and all the Egyptians and there was a great cry in Egypt but there was no home where there was not someone dead then he called for Moses and Aaron at night and said rise up get out from among my people both you and the sons of Israel and go Worship the Lord as you have said take both your flocks and your herds as you have said and go and bless me also the Egyptians urged the people to send them out of the land in haste for they said we will all be dead so the people took their dough before it was leavened with their kneading bows bound up in the clothes on their shoulders now the sons of Israel had done according to the word of Moses for they had requested from the Egyptians articles of silver and articles of gold and clothing and the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians so that they let them have the request thus they plundered the Egyptians now the sons of Israel journeyed from Ram e to suc about 600,000 men on foot aside from children a mixed multitude also went up with them along with flocks and herds a very large number of livestock they baked the dough which they had brought out of Egypt into cakes of unleavened bread for he had not become leavened since they were driven out of Egypt and could not delay nor had they prepared any provisions for themselves at the time that the sons of Israel lived in Egypt was 430 years and at the end of 430 years to the very day all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt okay The Exodus has finally happened let’s make some observations on this text after the final plague and the great outcry of sorrow in Egypt what two demands does pharaoh make of Moses and Aaron has two demands what’s one of them yeah Danny get out get out and bless me bless me also he throws that in right at the end when someone seeks a blessing from someone else do they usually seek it from someone inferior or Superior Superior this is actually the same point the writer of Hebrew makes when he’s talking about melkisedek uh just a quote Hebrews 7:7 to you the writer says without any dispute the Lesser is blessed by the greater that’s usually how it works the one who is greater blesses the Lesser note that the Egyptians also the Egyptian people also urg the Hebrews to leave quickly why is that they’re afraid they say we’re all going to die if we don’t get these Hebrews away from us the Hebrews do leave quickly so fast that they don’t even have time to do what to wait for the bread to leaven the bread to rise and they actually the text says they didn’t have time to prepare any provisions the fact that their bread remained unleavened was going to be part of their Passover celebration it says you remember when you were driven out of Egypt so quickly didn’t have time to wait for your bread to leaven I want you to remember that by always eating unleavened bread during the Passover but before the Hebrews set out they did do something they had done it before they were driven out and that was collect all sorts of valuables silver gold objects and clothing God had instructed Moses to tell the Hebrews to actually request these things from their Egyptian slave masters can can you imagine how awkward that conversation must have been the Egyptians have oppressed the Hebrews for decades then suffered under a series of devastating judgments resulting in the destruction of Egyptian society and the death of many Egyptian family members and then the Hebrew slaves come up and ask master or mistress would it be all right for me to have your gold and silver jewelry and maybe some of your beautiful and comfortable clothes but the Egyptians readily Grant these requests why to the text the lord gave them favor that’s right God gave them favor it says in the sight of the Egyptians I’m sure a great fear had come over the Egyptians by this point so they didn’t do what they didn’t want to do anything to wrong the Hebrews and if the Hebrews wanted something they gave it to them and it’s not like the Hebrews took a handful of things the text calls it a plundering The Riches of Egypt were now being carried off by it former slaves without any Uprising without any battle without any violence at least from the Israelites this was obviously the hand of God and God had foretold this he had promised this even as far back as Abraham Genesis 15:14 but I will also judge the nation whom they will serve and afterward they will come out with many possessions and this was just the start of God’s Bountiful outpouring to his people Not only would God provide for the Israelites as they journey through the Wilderness but when they actually got to Canaan God was going to give Israel cities and farms and Vineyards that they did not buy or build someone else built them God judged that nation and gave those things to the Israelites God was going to give all of Canaan to Israel and this shows the generous gracious Covenant keeping nature of God but back to our text in Exodus 12 how many people are said to have left Egypt in the Exodus 600,000 men says 600,000 men but there are other people not accounted in that number a good estimate often given for the number of um people leaving Egypt in The Exodus is around 2 million there’s 600,000 men there probably a number of women and children so that the total number be close to 2 million that’s a lot more than the 70 that came down to Egypt with Jacob over 430 years 70 people had become 2 million Remember The Exodus takes place probably between 1500 and 1400 BC notice though that the text says a mixed multitude went up with them a mixed multitude means that some non-hebrews went with them so other semites probably or or people of other ethnicities even Egyptians some of them left Egypt with the Israelites they’re realizing the power of God the power of the god of the Hebrews and they want to go with the Israelites so more than two million men women children Hebrews and non-hebrews went up from Egypt along with abundant livestock and they leave the city of Ramsey and they come to suth in terms of interpreting this text it’s pretty straightforward just want to mention one point now that we’ve made some observations but it’s pretty clear God keeps his promises God keeps his promises what happened to Israel through their experience in Egypt was not what many of them expected and it involved oppression and pain and hardship but now God had brought to pass exactly what he had what he had said he would do Abraham’s children had become a great nation and they were leaving Egypt to take possession of the land promised to Abraham question so far yeah Danny that’s a good question Danny just to repeat your question when it says the Lord gave him favor that does that indicate a willingness a desire on the behalf of the Egyptians to give these things to the Israelites it’s possible we can’t really get inside the mind of the Egyptians at this point I think we can certainly conjecture that because of all that’s happened because of the the judgments that have come down on Egypt that they might have been afraid it might have been that that same sort of respect that the that the people in the New Testament who were not Believers when they saw what was happening with the church and they saw the anas and the fires were consumed by God it says that the great fear Came Upon um the people and even those who didn’t join them really respected them so certainly we can say that there’s some sort of reverence for the people was there also a desire to do them good perhaps I don’t know if I don’t know if I can say for sure what were you gonna say Roy people would be yeah yeah that’s a good point Ro just to repeat what you were saying that whatever way the Egyptians were giving favor we know that was actually um happening because God was making it happen I mean we could imagine that because of all these terrible things happening in Egypt when the the Israelites make this request the Egyptians be like no you’re like the cause of all my problems they’ll dare think that you’re going to have any sort of gift from me God says that’s not what I’m going to allow happen I’m going to actually make it so that you give them all your stuff so whatever way God did that it was um it was an astounding happening that they would leave Egypt with all with all those things other questions or comments Okay so we’ve looked at the the first part how the Israelites are driven out of Egypt but God has not done showing forth his glory in Deliverance God has never done showing his glory the Israelites may have expected that everything from then on now that they’re out of Egypt would be smooth sailing but God had different plans let’s now turn to Exodus 13 look at verse 17 we’re going to actually read a pretty long section here Exodus 13:17 to 14:31 so please read along with me let’s pay attention to this text Exodus 13:17 now when Pharaoh had let the people go God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines even though it was near for God said the people might change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt hence God led the people around by the way of the Wilderness to the Red Sea and the sons of Israel went up in Marshal array from the land of Egypt Moses took the bones of Joseph with him for he had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear saying God will surely take care of you and you shall carry my bones from here with you then they set out from suck and camped in ethm on the edge of the Wilderness then the Lord was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way and a pillar of Fire by night to give them light that they might travel by day and by night it did not take away the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of Fire by night from before the people now the Lord spoke to Moses saying tell the sons of Israel to turn back and Camp before paharo between migdal and the Sea you shall camp in front of Bale zon opposite it by the Sea for Pharaoh will say of the sons of Israel they are wly wandering aimlessly in the land the Wilderness has shut them in thus I will harden Pharaoh’s heart and he will chase after them and I will be honored through pharaoh and all his Army and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord and they did so when the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled pharaoh and and his servants had a change of heart toward the people and they saidwhat is this we have done that we have let Israel go from serving us so he made his Chariot ready and took his people with him he took 600 select chariots and all the other Chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them the Lord hardened the heart of pharaoh king of Egypt and he chased after the sons of Israel as the sons of Israel were going out boldly then the Egyptians chased after them with all the horses and Chariots of to Pharaoh his Horsemen and his army and they overtook them camping by the Sea beside paharo in front of ba zon as Pharaoh Drew near the sons of Israel looked and behold the Egyptians were marching after them and they became very frightened so the sons of Israel cried out to the Lord then they said to Moses is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness why have you dealt with us in this way bringing us out of Egypt is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt saying leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness but Moses said to the people do not fear stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which he will accomplish for you today for the Egyptians whom you have seen today you will never see them again forever the Lord will fight for you while you keep silent then the Lord said to Moses why are you crying out to me tell the sons of Israel to go forward as for you lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it and the sons of Israel shall go through the midst of the sea on dry land as for me behold I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them and I will be honored through pharaoh and all his army through his chariots and his Horsemen then the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I am honored through pharaoh through his chariots and the horsemen the angel of God who had been going before the camp of Israel moved and went behind them and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them so it came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel and there was the cloud along with the darkness yet it gave light at night thus the one did not come near the other all night then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea and the Lord swept the sea back by a strong East Wind all night and turned the sea into dry land so the waters were divided the sons of Israel went through the midst of the Sea on the dry land and the waters were like a wall to them on their right hand and on their left then the Egyptians took up the pursuit and all Pharaoh’s horses his chariots and his Horsemen went in after them into the midst of the sea at the morning watch the Lord looked down on the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud and brought the army of the Egyptians into confusion he caused their chariot wheels to swerve and he made them drive with difficulty so the Egyptians said let us flee from Israel for the Lord is fighting for them against the Egyptians then the Lord said to Moses stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may come back over the Egyptians over their chariots and their Horsemen so Moses stretched out his hand over the sea and the Sea returned to its normal State at Daybreak while the Egyptians were fleeing right into it then the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the Sea The Waters returned and covered the Chariots and the horsemen even Pharaoh’s entire Army that had gone into the sea after them not even one of them remained but the sons of Israel walked on dry land through the midst of the Sea and the waters were like a wall to them on the right hand and on their left thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore when Israel saw the great power which the Lord had used against the Egyptians the people feared the Lord and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses okay made it big section let’s make some observations now on this rather large text Israelites leave Egypt making sure to grab Joseph’s bones and they follow God’s Direction God Appears in the the angel of the Lord rather well God Appears in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of Fire by night and which direction do they go well they appear to have gone Southeast from Goan you know Goan is the eastern part of the Nile Delta Region they appear to have gone Southeast though there’s considerable debate upon about the exact route of Israel’s Journey after they leave Egypt we have a pretty good idea of where Ramsey and suak are those ancient cities but the rest of the locations are a little bit more difficult to discern correctly identifying Israel’s exact route through the Wilderness really centers around one question where was the sea that the Israelites crossed talk more about that a little bit later one thing we can say though based on the text is that God did not lead the people of Israel by the way of the Philistines even though the text says that route was near would have made sense to go that way what’s the reason they didn’t go that way well again the text tells us the route would have caused Israel to see War which God says would cause the Israelites to want to turn back what was the way of the land of the Philistines can we figure that out let’s think where do the Philistines live remember one of their towns or their area I think it’s the name one of their towns is Gaza so you think about Gaza where would the Philistines have lived based on today’s Maps yeah where where um the Gaza Strip in the western part of Palestine so if’ got Israel right here that little section next to the Mediterranean would be where the Philistines lived and that’s actually where we find the Philistine settlements like um um what’s the name of Goliath Town yeah um gath and other places so Philistines lived right along the Mediterranean Sea this route was was the viamar that we actually referred to in a in a previous section that was also called The Way of the Philistines actually viamar was a later name but the way of the Philistines was one of the ways it was referred to in this ancient time it was the quickest route from Egypt to Canaan it also however was the most fortified route there were a number of Egyptian Fortress fortresses along this way as well as Canaanite strongholds going this route would have meant a lot of warfare quickly and constantly and God did not want that for the Israelites so he takes them on a different longer route God leads them in this other direction but then tells them to turn back and has Israel encamp in front of a sea what does this action cause pharaoh to believe yeah they are lost they are lost the Wilderness has shut them in the desert has shut them in they see that there’s a desert and they don’t know how to proceed and they’re just wandering around with no purpose um when Pharaoh hears the news of Israel he and his servants have a change of heart the Lord hardening their hearts and they set out with Pharaoh’s Army after Israel the Egyptians were again coming to kill and enslave but God for ordained that this would happen and he even tells Moses why why was God causing the Egyptians to pursue yes excuse me he would be honed exactly he says I will be honored through pharaoh and his Army and the Egyptians will know what will they know this the text says they will know that I am the Lord you notice the word Lord there is God’s name they will know that I am who I am same thing that God said to Moses they’ll know that I am God that I am the self-existent one I’m going to testify to the Egyptians through what I do to pharaoh and his army now notice that Pharaoh goes after them with 600 chariots along with many Horsemen chariots were very feared in ancient times you’ll notice that in the early Old Testament when chariots are being used the Hebrews are often hesitant to go to battle when they hear that there will be chariots involved oh they’ve got iron chariots oh I don’t know if we can defeat them chariots were fearsome war machines they function as mobile archery platforms with a couple people on there with a whole bunch of arrows just continually shooting at enemy combatants verse 8 says the Hebrews had left Egypt boldly but when they see Pharaoh’s Army how do the Hebrews react they are frightened and what do they do they cry out to God but this is not the Cry of Faith or at least not holy because it says they complained against Moses we see their complain against Moses and God later says that actually we we’ll say more about complaints later how does Moses react though when he sees the Egyptians and he hears Israel’s complaint he exhorts them he says Don’t Fear trust in God’s Deliverance wait till you see how God’s going to save us Moses does not complain along with the people of Israel God is going to do something amazing he’s going to part the sea for Israel to cross through now how does God part the sea what was the means what’s that yeah he uses a wind he also uses Moses he says Moses raise up your staff and stretch out your hand and when you do that I’m going to part the sea and God says he caused the wind to make a division in the middle of the sea a strong East Wind and the people they walk through the sea as it’s divided and there’s walls of water on each side a wall on the right and a wall on the left and the ground is dry they walk through on dry ground now this happened during the evening into the night how did God prevent the Egyptians from attack from attacking the Israelites while the Israelites crossed well later on we’re going to see that specifically he confuses the Egyptians but before that he does something else yes who that’s right he the pillar of cloud that had been going before the Israelites and showing them where to go it went behind them and became like a rear barrier it it prevented the Egyptians from being able to reach the Israelites now it this happened into the night and this pillar of cloud is said to also have provided light so maybe it was partly a pillar of cloud partly a pillar of fire maybe it just turned into a pillar of fire but anyways it acted as a barrier to prevent the Egyptians from attacking God eventually though allowed the Egyptians to advance after the Hebrews once the Hebrews had crossed or mostly crossed and this happened during the morning watch the morning watch would have been between 2: to 6:00 a.m. so this is early morning but as the Egyptians are pursuing God does something to convince the Egyptians to turn back and flee and George you mentioned it God confuses the Egyptians and he does something to their chariots too what does he do yeah it makes them hard to drive he caused the wheels to Swerve some translations say the wheels fell off but it says that they were driving the Chariots with difficulty and the Egyptians realize we’ve got to get out of here God is fighting against us their God is fighting against us we’ve got to leave but it’s too late there is no mercy to be had from God God commands Moses to lift his hand back over the sea and to bring the waters back into place the waters fall on the fleeing Egyptians and how many of Pharaoh’s Army survived none of them not one what about Pharaoh well he was leading the Army Pharaoh also perished it says that earlier in the text that Pharaoh set out with his army so if no one in the Army survived that includes Pharaoh Pharaoh also perished and at the very end of this account in chapter 14 notice the series of contrasts verses 28 to 3 1 Israel walked through on dry land but God brought the waters upon the Egyptians the Hebrews were saved but the Egyptian dead washed washed up on the seashore a three-fold result appears at the end of the passage the people feared the Lord they believed the Lord and they believed in Moses or God’s servant Moses okay some important observations let’s ask a few interpretive questions now why did Moses write this passage why did the Holy Spirit direct and and cause Moses to do this what is the intended goal what do you think really yeah yeah certainly this was going to be something that they were to pass down it was such a great Deliverance he didn’t want them to forget it didn’t want any of their descendants to forget it but why why pass down this amazing account what was the intended effect say that again to remind them of God’s power which would say that again God’s care and God’s care which would cause them to respond how yeah trust I mean really anyone reading this passage is intended to have the same result as the people who experienced it the Israelites that who came after the the ones who went through this experience and us today should also fear the lord and believe the Lord we see his power we see his compassion we see his faithfulness we should fear the lord as a great and powerful majesty and and Authority that he is and we should believe him he’s covenanted with us we can trust him we can rely on him certainly that has to be the central point of this passage God did just as he promised and what a terrifying picture of the utter destruction awaiting God’s enemies and what a beautiful picture of the complete Vindication and rescue awaiting God’s people here was another seemingly hopeless situation that ended with an amazing provision and display of God’s glory and what about us has God LED us in a way that makes us look lost in the wilderness has obedience resulted in us being backed against a figurative sea with seemingly no way out well do not fear do not complain do not worry the Lord will provide believe the Lord fear the lord God’s character does not change if this is his Covenant compassion and character at work in the past then that same Covenant compassion and character is at work now on behalf of his children God will lead us also through the sea to his promised provision another question why didn’t God have mercy on the Egyptians I mean isn’t that a little cruel the Egyptians were already fleeing they were no longer trying to hurt the Israelites why not just let them get away what do you think yeah Magda yeah God is certainly making a point yeah exactly he he had already said his intention with what he was going to do with the crossing of the sea he was going to cause uh glory to come to himself through pharaoh and his army and he was going to cause the Egyptians to know that God is God what are you going to say Danny yeah that’s right yeah yeah let me repeat your comment God is a God of Justice he’s a holy God he’s a God who loves to see righteousness Vindicated and must punish evil he must bring Justice he is a god of wrath of righteous holy wrath and he is never obligated to show Mercy we sometimes think oh God why don’t you show Mercy to everybody now God’s not obligated to do that God doesn’t need to do that he says that he will have mercy on whom he will have mercy and that’s gracious because he doesn’t need to have mercy on anybody instead of showing mercy here God chose to manifest His Glory by fully judging wickedness and by taking Vengeance on behalf of his people God chose to destroy to give what the idolatrous murderous proud ones deserved he chose to destroy them and he chose to vindicate The Humble yes see yeah that’s a great Point Ste that just to repeat your comment that the other nations besides Egypt were going to hear about what happened and that was going to cause them to fear as well we know actually specifically that that happens in the case of Jericho because Rahab says we’ve heard about what happened we’ve heard what God has done on your behalf whole the whole land is quaking with fear here and I I’m basically willing to switch sides and join you because I know that your God is God so that’s a great point to but we see that God does not have mercy on the Egyptians he didn’t have to he manifested his glory and holy judgment and this should cause us to fear with holy fear God is not obligated to show Mercy to any and he will one day judge all people in righteousness rendering to each person according to his works outside of those in Christ no one will escape God’s burning wrath moreover part of God’s judgment sometimes includes a hardening of heart so that a person is not even able any longer to see his coming judgment or the need to repent God lets them be diluted let us be aware should we continue in habits of sin saying oh eventually I’ll repent eventually I’ll I’ll make things right with God let us beware that the Lord does not allow our hearts to be hardened so that we become unable to comprehend spiritual truth or seek rescue it was too late for the Egyptians when they decided to turn back yeah really yeah yeah yeah yeah right yeah that’s a great Point Roy we know that God is sovereignly arranging the circumstances and and of course he he caused the Egyptians to go after them but we’re not nullifying man’s responsibility extreme stubbornness just extreme pride and wickedness they suffer all these Supernatural judgments and yet they still say we’re going to oppose God we’re going to oppose the Hebrews we’re going to go get them and enslave them what evil God says I’m going to destroy you and and part of that part of that hardening process was a judgment on them he says you’re Wicked I’m going to harden your Hearts so that you do more wickedness that even causes you to be destroyed another question the text says that the the wind drove back the waters could the splitting of the sea have been a natural phenomenon and not a miracle what do you think well the answer is no but why not yeah Danny that is very significant why is that significant Danny exactly exactly thanks Danny I’ll repeat that if we just pay attention to the details of the text it couldn’t have been a natural phenomenon because first of all it’s going to take a long time for the wind to get the water out of the way if it was strictly natural and second of all it would take a long time for the seabed to dry so that the the ground was considered dry when the Israelites passed over it that would certainly take more than one night or even an evening into the night so there’s that any other details that make it that this couldn’t have been natural yes s wind yeah that’s a good point too if this is such a powerful wind that it can divide the water then shouldn’t it have affected other things or how can it be so targeted as just to make a little wall on this side and a wall on that side if we had a certain wind that liked um I don’t know maybe this was near the land and pushed all the water this way right okay maybe that could have naturally happened somehow but you wouldn’t have gotten a wall on the other side you wouldn’t have had walls on two sides this is like a very focused wind and you’re right Sue this probably if it were just like a hurricane wind or something like that it would have affected the land and it would have affected the people too but no this was a special wind this was a special wind from God and by the way the timing of this wind is incredible because as soon as Moses raises his hand boom there comes the wind I mean that’s an amazing coincidence especially when especially when you also consider that when he raises his hand again the wind’s gone and the Sea cross comes back over the Egyptians so no this could not be naturally explained this was a miracle this was God’s powerful hand yeah perfect perfect powerful hand now one other question where did the this miracle occur did this take place at the Red Sea as is traditionally believed this is actually tricky question to answer the name Red Sea as probably many of you know refers to the Persian Gulf area the modern day Gulf of Suz and Gulf of akaba would both be part of the Red Sea so you can see on the This Modern Day map the body of water around the Middle East all of that would be considered the Red Sea the of Suz on the left the Gulf of aquaba on the right and the the rest of the Persian Gulf that’s all the Red Sea that would have all been considered the Red Sea however though we see Red Sea mentioned the name Red Sea mentioned in Exodus 13:18 Red Sea is not what the Hebrew says the Hebrew words are yamu or sea of reeds the Reed sea not the red SE actually the the term red has nothing to do with reads the name Red Sea first appeared in the scriptures when the septu agent was translated or when the septu aent was made when the Old Testament was translated into Greek Reed sea turned into Red Sea why did they translate it that way we’re not exactly sure it appears to have been an inference that they made they said it doesn’t it’s not actually what the text says but we’re pretty sure that the sea it’s talking about is this seed that we know as the Red Sea so they they interpreted the term for us and that’s why it appears as Red Sea it’s notable that two new testament writers also refer to the Sea crossed by the Israelites as the Red Sea they don’t call it the Reed sea they call it the Red Sea was the Holy Spirit in error well perhaps we could excuse them because they’re quoting from the septuagenarian was an acceptable translation he and the disciples they they used it at different times and then to add one more little wrinkle to this issue the Topography of Eastern Egypt today is different than it was in ancient times archaeologists and geologists have discovered evidence that the Nile Delta used to be wider in Antiquity Antiquity there was another Eastern branch of water that existed that no longer exists today the the Nile Delta was wider with this extra branch of water there were also a number of lakes and marshes in ancient Egypt’s eastern border that are either reduced today or no longer exist in fact ancient pharaohs even dug a series of canals between these bodies of water and formed something like a wall of water on Eastern’s or on Egypt’s eastern border the boundary was apparently quite Stark visually on one side of this wall of water you have The Greenery of Egypt on the other side desert Dusty Wilderness so was pretty big deal when you left Egypt but this topography looks different today the ancient canals lakes and marshes they’re they’re no longer there the environment has changed and human manipulation of the Nile River has changed the way the land looks and Chang the way the bodies of water or the water is distributed there’s also the Suez Canal today which makes things a little different so is it possible that the Sea of reeds which was such an obvious obstacle to the early Israelites was actually unknown to the later septu translators because the environment had changed they’re like ah we don’t know what the Sea of reeds is because we’re looking at the terrain of Egypt and there’s no sea that could be the Sea of reeds they must have been talking about the Red Sea perhaps that’s what happened or maybe not maybe the Red Sea really is the correct the correct Choice all sorts of sites have been suggested for the sight of the Red Sea Crossing some have even said the Gulf of aquaba going into the area of Saudi Arabia that would have been a pretty long track for the Israelites but some have suggested that instance in Genesis doesn’t take a side in this issue John MacArthur Study Bible notes four commonly argued sites today commonly asserted sites for the Red Sea Crossing and we see them here on that right picture four different sites we have have Lake Barda at the top Lake timsa the bitter lakes and then the Red Sea itself at the Gulf of Suz there at the bottom MacArthur leans to site number two the bitter Lakes as the original sea of reeds and the one that was meant in the term Red Sea arguing that site number four the one way up top is too close to the way of the Philistines Bible says they didn’t go that way site number one the Red Sea is too far away from the Wilderness of Shure he argues Wilderness of Shure in his interpretation is um right below um The Way of the Philistines so kind of in that middle section there on the right site number one will be too far from the Wilderness of sh and that’s the place that the Israelites go into right after they cross the Red Sea they also argues that site three is too far from Mara which is another location that an Israelites encounter within three days of crossing the sea but it is a very difficult puzzle so if you want to know more the details about that particular question we can talk about it afterwards but whatever the Sea of reeds was whatever the Red Sea that was meant in the sepian translation was God used the sight to show his loving faithfulness to his people and his powerful Vengeance against his people’s enemies uh questions quick questions okay now we’re on to the third part of our lesson God mercifully delivered the fearful and complaining Israelites and they were filled with fear and belief in God and in God’s chosen leader Moses but they soon proved fleshy when God tested them with some difficult circumstances rather than trusting in God to provide just like he had done at the Sea of reeds they doubted God they doubted Moses and they again complained we’re actually going to do a little activity now regarding Israel’s complaints please take out today’s worksheet if you didn’t get today’s worksheet just see George there I think he’s got some more the worksheet is entitled complaints what we’re going to do now we’re going to fill out this worksheet I want you to look up each of the passages listed in the left side of the chart on your worksheet and as you read that passage write down who the people of Israel are complaining against and also what they complain about write down who they’re complaining against and what they’re complaining about then in the next column colum write down God’s response in the second column you write down God’s response what does God do in response to their complaint then once you filled in the table answer the questions below answer the five questions below feel free to work with somebody else as you’re doing this will’ll take five to seven minutes to do this questions about what what you are asked to do okay go ahead and get started please look up when your finished all right we’re going to start going over the answers if you didn’t finish that’s okay but s minutes have gone by and need to finish up today we’ll help you fill in whatever you didn’t get let’s start with the complaints we we’ll go through the complaint and God’s response starting with the first verse listing there Exodus 520 to 21 and 65-99 who do they complain against Moses yeah Moses and Aaron and what do they complain about yeah you made our lives even harder and there there in the passage in the context God reassures them and he gives a message for Moses to reassure them and they don’t listen to it what’s God’s response or actually that is God’s response God gives him a message of reassurance and he says I’m going to I’m going to affirm my Covenant I’m going to rescue you I’m going to lead you to the promised land so they complain against Moses complain against Aaron for making their lives even harder and God says I’m still going to keep my Covenant what about the next one Exodus 1410 to 15 who do they complain against Moses what are they complaining about what was that complaining about prayer um not they perhaps they they are crying out to the Lord there but not they’re not complaining about prayer that was actually part of the passage we just read they saw something that looked like was about to happen so they complained about it what do they think was about to happen the Egyptians were going to come and kill them the Army was after them they were all going to die in the wilderness Moses why’d you do this to us should have just let us stay slaves now what’s God’s response yeah why you crying out Moses tell him to go forward I’m going to split the sea for you yep so they complain against Moses for uh leading them into the Wilderness to die rather than letting them stay slaves in Egypt and God says just tell them to move forward the next one what do they complain against they complain against Moses and what do they complain about no water we have no water what does God do in response he gives them water or rather he purifies the water that was too bitter for them to drink God purifies the water and then the next one Exodus 16 2:15 they are complaining against Moses again Moses and Aaron and what are they complaining about no food we have no bread no meat oh there was all this meat and bread in Egypt which we were back there what does God do in response he provides them with food he gives them mana and he gives them Quil now the last one Exodus 17 1-7 they complain against Moses again and what are they complaining about no water there’s not even water around this time that was just undrinkable there’s no water we’re going to die of thirst we and our livestock and and what’s God’s response he gives them water he says Moses strike the Rock I’m going to make water come from something that it shouldn’t come from a rock and the people had water to drink now it’s amazing here that God does not judge this Israelites for these complaints I mean they shouldn’t have been complaining at all right you’d think but God’s like or but God is very gracious and patient he says no I’ll provide you shouldn’t be complaining but I’ll provide and by the way there’s a little there’s a section of chapter 16 that wasn’t part of your reading but I think it’s worth noting when the people complain against Moses and Aaron about not having food in verses 6 to 7 or verses seven and8 Moses is being instructed by God to tell them this tell the people this in the morning you will see the glory of the Lord for he hears your grumblings against the Lord and what are we that you Grumble against us Moses said this will happen when the Lord gives you meat to eat in the evening and bread to the full in the morning for the Lord hears your grumblings which you Grumble against him we say wait didn’t the text say they grumbled against Moses we got to understand something about grumbling when you complain against people or you complain against even objects and circumstances you’re really complaining against God because he’s in control he’s in control of those people he’s in control of those circumstances he’s in control of those objects you’re saying this thing has made my life terrible then you’re saying God you made my life terrible because you had control of that thing so we should be aware that our complaints their complaints were against God the whole time even though they were directed at people we’re not going to go over the bottom section but I hope you consider the implications of this chart that we looked at we must learn from Israel’s negative example they no de no need to doubt or complain God’s provision was perfect though it did involve their Believing by faith he was testing them but we see how God provided he’ll do the same for us we can trust him and let us not say well worked out pretty well for Israel I mean they complained God gave them what they wanted I’ll try not to complain but if I do I know God will be gracious oh well later on God’s not as as patient by the later on in the wilderness he says you should have learned by now 1 Corinthians 10 tells us that because of grumbling God actually destroyed some of them he killed them so it’s serious it’s a serious sin to complain against God to complain against his sovereignty yeah sometimes God is merciful but do not presume on his Mercy he sometimes spares us from the consequences of our sin but he’s not obligated to and if he’s our father he’s going to discipline us if we continue and sin don’t have time for application questions today but I hope you’ll look at those if you have the workbook don’t have time to look at those right now and don’t forget if you weren’t here at the beginning of Sunday school there is Sunday or no there isn’t Sunday school on the 22nd even though it’s listed that way in the bullettin that’s thanks living day that’s our special Evangelistic service so um we won’t have Sunday school that day just the regular service don’t forget our memory verse this is the verse the first part of the Ten Commandments and also recounts God’s deliverance from Egypt if you have other questions comments see me afterwards let’s pray father you make it so clear that we have no reason to complain and that’s why Lord especially after you were so gracious with these with the people of Israel in these beginning stages later on Lord you chose not to show the same graciousness because they should have learned by then Lord we also ought to have learned we also ought to learn we look at what you’ve done with Israel we look at what you do through the whole scriptures and we do not have reason to complain we do not have reason to fear or to worry so God when we are pinned against the sea God help us to remember the truth of your word and to believe to believe by faith that you will deliver we don’t know how you’ll do it we know that sometimes it involves painful Faith stretching but that’s how you grow us would grow your people here in this Church Lord use the rest of the service to do that help us to enjoy you today as our deliverer in Jesus name amen