Red Sea

The body of water that God miraculously parted to allow the Israelites to escape Pharaoh’s pursuing army, then closed to drown the Egyptians—the climactic act of deliverance in the Exodus that sealed Israel’s liberation from slavery and demonstrated God’s supreme power over creation and nations.

After the tenth plague killed Egypt’s firstborn, Pharaoh released Israel, but soon regretted his decision and pursued them with “six hundred chosen chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them” (Exodus 14:7). God deliberately led Israel to camp “between Migdol and the sea, in front of Baal-zephon” (Exodus 14:2)—trapping them with water before them and Egypt’s army behind. When Israel saw the approaching Egyptians, they panicked: “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness?” (Exodus 14:11).

Moses declared: “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent” (Exodus 14:13-14). At God’s command, Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. “Then the LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left” (Exodus 14:21-22).

When the Egyptians pursued into the seabed, God threw their army into panic, clogging chariot wheels. As morning dawned, Moses again stretched out his hand, and “the sea returned to its normal course” (Exodus 14:27), drowning Pharaoh’s entire force. “Not one of them remained” (Exodus 14:28). Israel witnessed “the great power that the LORD used against the Egyptians” and “feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses” (Exodus 14:31). Moses and Miriam led the people in songs of victory celebrating God’s triumph (Exodus 15:1-21).

The Red Sea crossing became Israel’s defining moment of salvation—referenced throughout Scripture as proof of God’s faithfulness and power. The Hebrew “Yam Suph” literally means “Sea of Reeds,” leading to scholarly debate about whether this refers to the Red Sea proper or a marshy region near the Gulf of Suez. Regardless of the exact location, the miracle’s theological significance is clear: God saves His people completely, judges their oppressors utterly, and establishes His reputation as the incomparable Redeemer.