Crossing of the Red Sea Basic 6 Christian Religious Studies (CRS) Lesson Note

MEANING OF “CROSSING”

Crossing means going from one side to another side, especially across water, a river, or a barrier. It means passing over from one place to another.

THE STORY OF CROSSING THE RED SEA (Exodus 13:17-14:31)

The Journey Begins:

• After the 10th plague, Pharaoh let Israel go
• About 600,000 men, plus women and children left Egypt
• Total: About 2-3 million people
• They took their flocks, herds, and possessions
• Egyptians gave them gold, silver, and clothing
• God led them by a pillar of cloud (day) and pillar of fire (night)

Pharaoh Changes His Mind (Exodus 14:5-9):

• After Israel left, Pharaoh regretted letting them go
• He said: “Why have we done this?”
• “We have let Israel go from serving us!”
• He prepared his chariot
• He took 600 choice chariots
• All the chariots of Egypt
• Captains over every one
• His army pursued Israel

Israel Trapped at the Red Sea (Exodus 14:10-12):

• Israelites camped by the Red Sea
• They looked up and saw Egyptians coming
• They were TERRIFIED
• The Red Sea was in front of them
• The Egyptian army was behind them
• Mountains were on both sides
• They were TRAPPED!

The People’s Complaint:

• They cried out to the LORD
• Then complained to Moses:
• “Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to die in the wilderness?”
• “Why have you brought us out of Egypt?”
• “It would have been better to serve Egypt than die here!”
• They had no faith despite all God had done

Moses’ Response (Exodus 14:13-14):

• Moses said to the people:
• “Do not be afraid!”
• “Stand still and see the salvation of the LORD”
• “The LORD will fight for you”
• “You shall hold your peace” (be quiet/still)
• This required great faith

God’s Instructions to Moses (Exodus 14:15-18):

• God said to Moses:
• “Why do you cry to Me?”
• “Tell the children of Israel to GO FORWARD”
• “Lift up your rod”
• “Stretch out your hand over the sea and DIVIDE it”
• “The children of Israel shall go through the sea on DRY GROUND”
• “I will harden Pharaoh’s heart”
• “He will follow them”
• “I will gain honor over Pharaoh and his army”

The Pillar Protects (Exodus 14:19-20):

• The Angel of God moved from before Israel
• Went behind them
• The pillar of cloud also moved
• It came between the Egyptian camp and Israel’s camp
• It gave light to Israel
• It gave darkness to Egyptians
• All night they couldn’t come near each other

The Miracle – The Sea Divides (Exodus 14:21-22):

• Moses stretched out his hand over the sea
• The LORD caused a strong EAST WIND
• The wind blew all night
• The waters were DIVIDED
• The sea became DRY GROUND
• The waters stood up like WALLS on both sides (right and left)
• The children of Israel walked through on DRY GROUND
• 2-3 million people crossed safely!

The Egyptians Pursue (Exodus 14:23-25):

• The Egyptians chased them into the sea
• All Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and horsemen
• They followed into the middle of the sea
• In the morning watch, God looked down on the Egyptians
• From the pillar of fire and cloud
• He troubled the Egyptian army
• He took off their chariot wheels
• The chariots moved with difficulty
• Egyptians said: “Let us flee from Israel”
• “For the LORD fights for them against Egypt!”
• But it was too late

HOW THE EGYPTIANS PERISHED (Exodus 14:26-31)

God’s Final Command:

• The LORD said to Moses:
• “Stretch out your hand over the sea”
• “That the waters may come back on the Egyptians”

The Waters Return (v.27-28):

• Moses stretched out his hand over the sea
• At daybreak, the sea returned to its full depth
• The Egyptians tried to flee
• But the LORD overthrew them in the midst of the sea
• The waters came back
• COVERED the chariots and horsemen
• COVERED all the army of Pharaoh
• Not even ONE of them remained
• They all DROWNED in the Red Sea

Israel’s Safety (v.29):

• But the Israelites walked on DRY GROUND
• Through the middle of the sea
• With walls of water on both sides
• Not one Israelite died

The Result (v.30-31):

• The LORD saved Israel that day
• From the hand of the Egyptians
• Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore
• Israel saw the great work of the LORD
• The people FEARED the LORD
• They BELIEVED in the LORD
• They believed in Moses His servant

Israel’s Song of Victory (Exodus 15:1-21):

• Moses and the Israelites sang to the LORD
• “I will sing to the LORD, for He has triumphed gloriously!”
• “The horse and rider He has thrown into the sea!”
• Miriam and the women took timbrels (tambourines)
• They danced and sang
• It was a great celebration!

Key Points About the Crossing:

1. God’s Power 
   1. Only God could divide the sea
   2. Only God could make it dry ground
   3. Only God could hold the water like walls
2. God’s Timing 
   1. God waited until Israel was trapped
   2. So His glory would be greater
   3. So faith would be tested
3. God’s Protection 
   1. The pillar protected them
   2. Not one Israelite died
   3. Complete deliverance
4. God’s Justice 
   1. Pharaoh’s oppression was punished
   2. The wicked were destroyed
   3. God defends His people
5. God’s Faithfulness 
   1. He kept His promise to deliver them
   2. He brought them out of Egypt
   3. He led them toward the Promised Land

Spiritual Lessons:

1. God Makes a Way 
   1. When there seems no way, God provides
   2. Our “Red Seas” can be crossed
   3. Trust God even when trapped
2. Stand Still and See 
   1. Don’t panic in trouble
   2. Wait on God’s deliverance
   3. God fights our battles
3. Go Forward in Faith 
   1. When God says move, obey
   2. Don’t look at circumstances
   3. Step out even when afraid
4. Enemies Cannot Prevail 
   1. Those who fight God’s people will fail
   2. What looks impossible is possible with God
   3. Victory belongs to the LORD
5. Past Bondage is Gone 
   1. Egypt (sin) couldn’t recapture them
   2. The old life was destroyed
   3. Freedom was complete

The Red Sea Crossing Points:

• Location: Probably near modern-day Gulf of Suez
• Number Crossing: 2-3 million people plus animals
• Time: One night
• Width: Unknown, but wide enough for multitudes
• Method: Dry ground created by God’s power
• Result: Complete deliverance, Egypt’s army destroyed

Psalm 106:9 – “He rebuked the Red Sea also, and it dried up; So He led them through the depths, as through the wilderness.”

Homework: Write what you learned about trusting God from the Red Sea crossing.