Crossing the Red Sea
Exodus 14:1-31
Trapped between an army and the sea, they walked through on dry ground.
The Israelites are barely gone when Pharaoh changes his mind. He sends his entire chariot force after them. The people look up and see the Egyptian army bearing down — and ahead of them, nothing but water. They're trapped. Moses raises his staff. God sends a strong east wind that blows all night, splitting the sea in two. The people walk through on dry ground with walls of water on either side. When the Egyptians follow, the waters crash back. Not one survives. On the far shore, Moses and Miriam lead the people in the oldest recorded victory song.
- Deliverance
- Faith
- God's Power
- Miracle
Crossing the Red Sea: common questions
How did the Israelites cross the Red Sea?
Exodus 14:21 says the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind all night, turning it into dry land with walls of water on both sides. Israel crossed on foot; when the Egyptians followed, the water returned and drowned Pharaoh's army.
Was it the Red Sea or the Reed Sea?
The Hebrew is 'Yam Suph,' literally 'Sea of Reeds.' The traditional Greek and English translation is 'Red Sea.' Scholars debate the exact body of water, but the text clearly describes a large sea deep enough to drown an army with chariots.
What was the pillar of cloud and fire?
God led Israel by a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night (Exodus 13:21). At the sea it moved behind them, standing between Israel and the Egyptian army—light for Israel, darkness for Egypt—through the night of the crossing (Exodus 14:19-20).
