SEA
SEA, THE
RIVER
RIVER
RED SEA
RED SEA, PASSAGE OF
EXODUS
RED SEA
I. The Bitter Lakes region
II. The Gulfs of Suez and Aqabah
JORDAN
I. Archaeological sites
II. Topographical features

Before the people left Egypt, the Egyptians provided them with the materials they would shortly need to build their first church, the Tabernacle, in the desert.

New Testament Fulfilment: This is an area that the church has struggled with over the centuries. Should ‘tainted’ worldly funds be used to extend God’s Kingdom? Does the Lord provide through the world?

There is no doubt that one of the major themes of the New Testament is a dire warning about dangers inherent in the excessive acquisition and love of money. Practical observation too, indicates that money is one of the greatest causes of dissension and dissatisfaction in the church.

This is highlighted in the hard to understand Parable of the Shrewd Manager, which we generally, me included, try to avoid. Primarily, because we don’t understand the traditions of Jewish society at the time. However, this parable is really the New Testament equivalent of the unusual action of the Egyptians in giving away their wealth.

Today’s Application: Its overall message is yes, use the world’s money, but don’t let it take hold of you and lead you away from godly pursuits. For money is the lubrication of the world. It can be used for noble purposes or spent on selfish carnal, even religious, desires. The basic problem is not with money, but with our hearts.

during their journey.

New Testament Fulfilment: Our guiding light today is the Holy Spirit, leading us from within. He points out the way we are to go.

Today’s Application: While our guide isn’t physically visible, He is present within 24/7. Wherever we are, He tailors His guidance specifically to our unique, personal situation. The challenge for us is simply to cut out the static and listen! Practically speaking, static reduction, the hearing of the voice of the Holy Spirit, is achieved as we submit ourselves to Jesus and obey the Father’s will for our life.

to the Egyptians, and so, were considered an easy target to attack.

New Testament Fulfilment: The world cannot understand the Church, so its ways appear as foolishness to them.

Today’s Application: Church organisation can be frustrating for us too, when we have our ‘human blinkers’ on! We think the Church should be organised in an ‘authority downwards’, traditional pyramid management structure. The reality though, is that the Church is to run in the apparently unstable fashion of an upside down pyramid, the point at the bottom!

Operated on a ‘servanthood’ basis, where the most senior should be the greatest servant of all in the organisation. As reflected in the example of Jesus.

of the apparent confusion to attack with all his military might.

New Testament Fulfilment: The Church is attacked by those in the world using human methods, trying to exterminate it or reduce its influence.

But we have the ultimate victory through our faith in and obedience to Jesus!

Today’s Application: The reality is that the world and the church are in opposition camps! One living in the sin of Adam and Eve, the other under the blood of Jesus, shed on the cross for each believer, to remove the sin from our lives. Black v white! At least the Church should be white, not a shade of gray! However, we must avoid ‘fighting ‘ the world with its own weapons of criticism, anger and force, but rather, reflect the godly attributes of love and servanthood.

These are the weapons that have the most effect, effects the world cannot counter. A parallel can be drawn with guerrillas or terrorists fighting a powerful army. By avoiding direct confrontation, engaging in battle on our own terms.

when they saw the Egyptian army and wanted to give up.

New Testament Fulfilment: Fear of the apparent power of the world to control or kill us is a natural human reaction, but we have Jesus who has overcome death and hell on our behalf, to counteract our fear.

Today’s Application: We all like life. We have a natural, inbuilt survival instinct. However, Jesus overcame death to bring us eternal life, so that earthly death is no longer to be feared. Now it is simply a transition point to a better life to come. It is only the complete absorption of this understanding that overcomes fear in our life.

Moses told the people.

New Testament Fulfilment: We can now rely upon Jesus, through a direct personal relationship, as evidenced by the Holy Spirit living within. During the exodus, this provision was only available to the people via Moses.

Today’s Application: Many Christians prefer to return to Old Testament times and let others hear from God for them. To follow the ‘modern Moses’! Whether it is the TV evangelist, a pastor or other leader. But God lives in us all individually through His Holy Spirit who is to be our primary teacher and guide. Of course, godly leaders can advise and assist us, for their experience and wisdom can help us avoid many of the common pitfalls we are wont to make. However our lives are to be guided by the Holy Spirit within, not controlled by leadership without. We must rely upon the Lord, not man. This is the godly way. Not as the ‘independent human spirit’ so common today, but being truly submitted to the Holy Spirit within, and working ‘interdependently with other believers.’

The second part of our look at the crossing of the Red Sea and its application to today's church. 

I love the way that the Old and New Testaments blend together to reveal God's truths! The form in the Old, the substance in the New.

Once again, the study on dividing the waters confirms this method of God's revelation.

EGYPTIANS COUNTING HANDS

This sketch represents how the Egyptians would count the severed hands of enemy corpses after a battle. They would usually cut off the hands or the genitals of the dead and make a heap before their king. In one case 12,535 of these "battle trophies" were counted and assembled into a mound after a victory of Ramsees III over the Libyans.

The Lord warned His people many times concerning the idolatry and abominations of the sons of Ham (Egypt), and eventually allowed the King of Babylon (Nebuchadnezzar II) to march upon Egypt to conquer it. The first time Egypt was completely conquered according to history.

"Then I said to them, 'Each of you, throw away the abominations which are before his eyes, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.'" (Ezekiel 20:7)

"The king of Egypt did not march out from his own country again, because the king of Babylon had taken all his territory, from the Wadi of Egypt to the Euphrates River." (2 Kings 24:7)