Exodus 15:1- 19

This “song of Moses” is also referred to as “the song of the sea”. This song (of redemption and deliverance) doesn’t only have implications for what took place +- 3500yrs ago, but it has future implications as well (Revelation 15:3).

v1: They are singing because of G-d’s glorious victory over their enemy.

v2: There are two reasons, generally speaking, why we praise G-d: because of who He is, and because of what He has done.

· Salvation: The victory that we have (in Messiah – Jesus Christ) is not only that G-d defeats our enemies, but also the victory we have in the ability to be with Him (Ephesians 2:6).

v3: This would not be a politically correct statement today. Many people do not want to believe or think about this identity of G-d. G-d is willing to go to war for His people. This should be of great comfort to us!

v4: The very best that Pharaoh had was destroyed.

· The Red Sea is also called the “Sea of Reeds”.

v5: A heavy stone/rock sinks quickly when it is thrown into deep water.

v6: Right hand speaks about authority or power. G-d’s authority, manifested through judgement, is glorious. What G-d did was a testimony to Israel concerning His nature.

· Dashed..in pieces: Broke. He brought them to subjection.

v7: Excellence: This is literally the word for having great and perfect Intelligence (genius).

Because G-d has perfect intelligence He has perfect knowledge. He always knows what to do, how the enemy is going to respond, how the enemy can be easily defeated etc. There’s no doubt that the victory will always belong to Him.

· Overthrown – made a ruin

· Consumed them like stubble/hay – they were no contest for G-d. Fire beats hay every time!

v8: Nostrils: A word for breath, wind, or Spirit. When wind (or fire) is depicted as coming out of someone’s nostrils it shows anger.

· Gathered up – came together in one place.

· The floods stood upright – a liquid wall

· The depths congealed – the liquid water became hard, like frozen water.

v9: The enemy saw all of these supernatural happenings with the water. The enemy did not have G-d’s perspective of the situation. They saw this as an open passageway for them to go and take what they wanted. That was not G-d’s perspective about the way that things were going to be. When changes are happening all around us we need to seek out G-d’s perspective on the situation. Why has He allowed the changes to take place? We need to understand what G-d is up to so that we can respond properly. When we see things incorrectly we will not see

the danger, our demise that’s going to unfold in a moment. G-d was setting the stage for their destruction.

v10: Blew: This could be a reference to speaking (G-d spoke it into being)

· Your wind – The Holy Spirit

· It was a simple and quick defeat.

v11: G-d does all of these wondrous acts based upon His covenantal purposes. If we are not in a covenantal relationship with G-d (through Yeshua) then we have no right to expect victory.

v12: Up to this point the song has focussed upon what G-d did to the Egyptians.

v13: Now the focus shifts to how G-d is going to make His covenant people victorious.

· Mercy: Grace. Grace is multi purposed (Titus 2:11-12). It saves, it leads, it changes us. Grace causes the will of G-d to be fulfilled in our lives.

· Redeemed: Foreshadows future victory, Kingdom expectation.

· Guided: G-d administrated it. This leadership (“led”) and management of G-d’s people, by G-d Himself, is going to lead us to G-d’s holy, perfect, place of residence. He moves us to where we need to be – to a place where we can know Him in a personal way.

v14: The people – other nations around this area.

· The word translated “afraid” is better translated “tremble” (they quiver out of anger – see biblehub.com). Most of the world is not going to like the change that Redemption brings about.

· The word for sorrow alludes to grief caused by intense pain. These people are grieving about this change.

· Palestina – same root for Palestinians and Philistines. In the Scripture it is a word that speaks of a contemptible people – one that G-d finds no pleasure in because they are opposed to His plans and purposes (If this is offensive to you I encourage you to wrestle with it)

v15: Edom – descended from Esau – (where modern-day Jordan is today) were an evil people. They were not interested in the call of G-d. (Edom, incidentally, is one of the places we know Yeshua goes to judge when He comes again (Isaiah 63:1-6)

· Mighty = strong

· Melted away: They were emotionally grieved, pained over what G-d had done.

v16: Fear…dread: Emphasises the great terror they had.

· The greatness of Your arm – The great arm of the L-rd is speaking about Yeshua (Messiah).

· Whom You have purchased – another reference to redemption (they were purchased with the blood of the Lamb).

v17: The second part of this verse uses language that relates to worship. The primary purpose of redemption is to worship G-d.

v18: This is another indicator that this song has future implications – having to do with the final Redemption, the establishment of the Kingdom.

v19: This is a summary statement of the victory that G-d has achieved for His people.

· Went on dry land – G-d, once again, made a distinction between those who were His people and those who weren’t.