Exodus and Parting of the Red Sea
First Week of Exodus Day by Day
In the Jewish month Abib in the year 1491 B.C. the first week of Exodus began as Moses finally leads the people of Israel out of bondage in Egypt. From a historical perspective, it may be interesting for Bible students to study the day by day events after the 10 plagues, including the parting of the Red Sea. The departure, initial journey, and crossing of the Red Sea took just one week.
On 14 Abib, 1491 B.C., the 10th plague of darkness ended and the first Passover was celebrated. At midnight all the first born in Egypt died as the Angel of the Lord passed throughout the country. While still dark in the early hours of the 15th, Pharaoh sent a message to Moses to take everyone and all their possessions and leave Egypt. They left that day as the week of Exodus began on 15 Abib.
First Day of the First Week of Exodus on 15 Abib, 1491 B.C.
Traveling from Ramses to Succoth on 15 Abib they encamped there the first night. While this is a Bible study of the book of Exodus, much of the documentation of this first week of Exodus begins in Numbers 33:2. The details in those verses, and again in Exodus, provide a day by day account of that week as presented here. The divine and perfect genealogies, ages, deaths, Jewish holidays, and other dates throughout the Bible allow students to analyze facts to put Biblical history in perspective. This helps explain how this first week of Exodus can be accurately understood and appreciated, including the date, month, and year.
On the 16th and 17th they journeyed on their way to Etham, arriving on the 18th of Abib. Until this point, Pharaoh and his army were not in pursuit. With the death in one instant of every first born throughout Egypt, it's easy to imagine the Egyptians busy and preoccupied with thousands of funerals. God was personally leading Israel in a pillar of dust by day and a pillar of fire by night, and He gave Moses the following instructions:
Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baal-zephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea. Exodus 14:2 (KJV)
For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in. Exodus 14:2 (KJV)
In verses 3 and 4 God speaks of hardening Pharaoh's heart to cause him to pursue Israel, and being honored against Pharaoh and his army. The report of the departure and direction of Israel prompts Pharaoh's next decision on the 18th as he gathers his chariots and the army of Egypt to recapture the Israelites.
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 14:5 (KJV)
And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him: Exodus 14:5 (KJV)
Meanwhile on the 18th and 19th, Moses and the people make way to Pi-hahiroth arriving at the coast of the Red Sea on the 20th of Abib. The Egyptians continue in hot pursuit and are finally visible to the Israelis and approaching on the horizon on the 21st. Imagine the panic of seeing the dust of 600 chariots and 1000's of soldiers, and then the lack of faith as people protest to Moses. That evening God moves from before the people to between them and the oncoming army, and halts their progress until the next morning.
Parting of the Red Sea and Freedom from Bondage
On 22 Abib, 1491 B.C., Moses is told by God to raise his staff and God parts the Red Sea allowing the people to cross over on dry land. As the last of the people cross with the Egyptians close behind, God takes honor on Pharaoh as he commands Moses to lift his staff again, and God engulfs the Egpytians drowning them in the Red Sea.
And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. Exodus 14:26 (KJV)
Safe at last, their journey continues and Exodus 15 recounts the victory in the "Song of Moses" from verses 7 through 21 after praise and an introduction, and then the song and the conclusion. It would be another 40 years before the descendants finally entered the Promised Land. Despite the miracles and lessons of salvation for the ages, the lack of faith by many of the people after that first week in Exodus continues today.
Old covenents broken and replaced by new occur throughout the Old Testament, and result in the new testament covenent with Jesus the Messiah, or Immanuel (God with Us), forming the foundation of Christianity. The first week of Exodus is similar by type providing salvation to God's children passing through the water of the Red Sea to new life, and the baptism of Christian believers into salvation and a new life today.
Article Source: www.ultimateriddles.com/exodus-bible-lesson-05.html.
About the Author: Jim Degerstrom is an author who works in a faith based business offering custom website design and graphic art services, and documents Bible studies at his Ultimate Riddles Spiritual Journey website and blogs about spiritual growth on his Ultimate Riddles Spiritual Study blog from Kissimmee, Florida USA.
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