NL 104: Rescue at Sea

image: Passage of the Red Sea by Toros Roslin, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Exodus 14:5-7, 10-14, 21-29 

  • Sea of Reeds or Red Sea? Does it matter? Don’t fall too heavily on the historicity of this narrative but the theological meaning

    • The importance is the supernatural miracle and liberation through the water (looking back to Genesis 1 and the 1.5 days God spent separating the waters to bring order and goodness to chaos), looking ahead to the watershed moments of entering “the Promised Land”, walking on water, baptism, etc.

  • Hubris of Pharaoh

    • An ancient motif in Greek and Hebrew - Pharoah brings out his entire military- the whole Chariot core to subdue the Hebrews which will, of course, lead to the destruction of Egypt’s military

  • “At the Red Sea God brought the Hebrews of of Egypt, in the Wilderness God brought the Egypt out of the Hebrews” (Can’t remember who wrote/said this)

    • The Hebrews are not “all in” on this liberation- they are mostly concerned with their survival and do not trust Moses, much less Yahweh. They would rather slave for the cruel master they know (Pharaoah) than risk everything for the liberating God of steadfast love and grace (Yahweh)

  • V. 21 - the ruach of God splits the waters - reminiscent (though more violent) of God dividing the waters in Genesis 1 to bring goodness to chaos

    • Perhaps the birth of a nation - just as Moses was consigned to death by the waters - yet was saved, so the Israelites think they will die on the banks of the water, yet- like Moses (and all humans in birth) they pass through the waters and are transformed from a gathering of slaves to the people of God- esp if we compare their doubt (v. 11-12) to their trust (v. 31) (c.f. Alter, Hebrew Bible: A Translation with Commentary, p.271n22)

  • Nahshon is known as the first one who walked into the water (Num. 7:12)

  • It’s not hard to see two writers at work here. Ralph Klein makes a suggestion in Working Preacher.  The Yahwist and the Priestly stories of crossing the Red Sea (or Sea of Reeds) are converged to make one, somewhat confusing story (see Noah for another example).   When pulled apart, there are two stories that make more sense independently of each other:

  • Yahwist: v. 19-20, 24-25, 30-31 “God’s messenger, who had been in front of Israel’s camp, moved and went behind them. The column of cloud moved from the front and took its place behind them. It stood between Egypt’s camp and Israel’s camp. The cloud remained there, and when darkness fell it lit up the night. They didn’t come near each other all night. As morning approached, the Lord looked down on the Egyptian camp from the column of lightning and cloud and threw the Egyptian camp into a panic. The Lord jammed their chariot wheels so that they wouldn’t turn easily. The Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites, because the Lord is fighting for them against Egypt!”  The Lord rescued Israel from the Egyptians that day. Israel saw the amazing power of the Lord against the Egyptians. The people were in awe of the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses.”

    • God works to save both the Egyptians and the Israelites.

    • God’s power intervenes to prevent war

    • Waters parting is not mentioned.

    • Moses is not mentioned.

    • Yahwist Creation story is more concerned with God as a part of the created story - more narrative, more relational.

  • Priestly account: v. 21-23, 26-27, 28-29 “Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The Lord pushed the sea back by a strong east wind all night, turning the sea into dry land. The waters were split into two.The waters were split into two. The Israelites walked into the sea on dry ground. The waters formed a wall for them on their right hand and on their left. The Egyptians chased them and went into the sea after them, all of Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and cavalry. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the water comes back and covers the Egyptians, their chariots, and their cavalry.”  So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The Egyptians were driving toward it, and the Lord tossed the Egyptians into the sea.  The waters returned and covered the chariots and the cavalry, Pharaoh’s entire army that had followed them into the sea. Not one of them remained.  The Israelites, however, walked on dry ground through the sea. The waters formed a wall for them on their right hand and on their left.”

    • Moses is the great leader, calling upon God’s power to separate the waters.

      • This gives us the powerful image that we are used to in movies, with Moses forming a miraculous canyon through the sea.

    • The Egyptians are thrown into the water, and are destroyed.

    • Priestly account emphasizes Yahweh’s glory and power over and above that of Pharaoh. 

    • Yahweh is Warrior God who “Horse and rider, he threw into the sea.”

    • Harkens back to Priestly Creation story, which begins with “God’s wind swept over the waters.”  

    • Priestly creation story is one more concerned with power, control over chaos, and order.  Written during exile to remind people that God is, indeed, powerful and “in control.”

    • Israel’s rebirth - second creation story where God splits the water to give life.

  • It is debated whether the Yahwist or Priestly accounts came first.  What is clear though, is that both had to be included.  Both the story of God that saves Israel and Egypt, and the God that won a certain victory.  Does this tell us of God’s nature, or about our need to have a clear victory?  The story of God intervening on behalf of peace wasn’t enough, but neither was a purely Warrior God account.  Perhaps this tension is something that should be held still.  

  • Israel’s resurrection story.  Through death, Israel is given new life.  Through the waters of chaos, the people are birthed.  

  • Two responses of God’s work

    • Israelites - Choose faith, and walk through the dry land.  This is a precarious situation, but they come out alive on the other side.

    • Egyptians - Choose death.  Continually pursuing the opposite of God’s plan (unjustly enslaving the Israelites), they are swallowed by the water.

  • The Egyptians are God’s people too 

Year 1Eric FistlerExodusComment