Exodus 15– The Song of Deliverance

Exodus 15– The Song of Deliverance!

In our study last week, we studied the last stand of Pharaoh

Tonight: The Song of Deliverance!

We concluded last time with these thoughts:

Now comes closure! Real closure!

(Ex 14:26) Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the waters may come back upon the Egyptians, on their chariots, and on their horsemen." {27} And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and when the morning appeared, the sea returned to its full depth, while the Egyptians were fleeing into it. So the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. {28} Then the waters returned and covered the chariots, the horsemen, and all the army of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them. Not so much as one of them remained.

We have just seen one more of God’s Preliminary Judgments

When God judges, then there is a great difference between God’s people and the lost!

(Ex 14:29) But the children of Israel had walked on dry land in the midst of the sea, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. {30} So the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.

A Great Moment!

{31} Thus Israel saw the great work which the LORD had done in Egypt;

so the people feared the LORD,

and believed the LORD

and His servant Moses.

A Great Moment!

If only it could last!

Sad to say, we know it won’t

and they will never see the promised land!

This is a great moment!

It lasts for only a short time!

Let’s listen to their song!

(Exo 15 NKJV) Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the LORD, and spoke, saying: "I will sing to the LORD,

[Some refer to this as “The Song of Moses” Deuteronomy 32 is also a Song of Moses.]

For He has triumphed gloriously!

The horse and its rider

He has thrown into the sea!

{2} The LORD is my strength and song,

And He has become my salvation;

He is my God, and I will praise Him;

My father's God, and I will exalt Him.

{3} The LORD is a man of war;

The LORD is His name.

{4} Pharaoh's chariots and his army He has cast into the sea;

His chosen captains also are drowned in the Red Sea.

{5} The depths have covered them;

They sank to the bottom like a stone.

{6} "Your right hand, O LORD, has become glorious in power;

Your right hand, O LORD, has dashed the enemy in pieces.

“Glorious in power;” God’s power is glorious. We speak of His awesome power!

{7} And in the greatness of Your excellence

You have overthrown those who rose against You; You sent forth Your wrath;

It consumed them like stubble.

{8} And with the blast of Your nostrils

The waters were gathered together;

The floods stood upright like a heap;

The depths congealed in the heart of the sea.

This is reflecting on what God had done!

{9} The enemy said, 'I will pursue,

I will overtake,

I will divide the spoil;

My desire shall be satisfied on them.

I will draw my sword,

My hand shall destroy them.'

“The enemy said, 'I will pursue, I will overtake,

I will divide the spoil;” but the enemy did not have the power to stand against almighty God as is stated in the verses that follow:

{10} You blew with Your wind,

The sea covered them;

They sank like lead in the mighty waters.

{11} "Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods?

Who is like You, glorious in holiness,

Fearful in praises, doing wonders?

"Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods?

God had shown His power over many of the gods of the Egyptians. They were totally powerless to protect the Egyptians.

{12} You stretched out Your right hand;

The earth swallowed them.

All we can say at this point is that this is a wonderful song of praise to God--an indirect way of thanking Him for their deliverance.

{13} You in Your mercy have led forth

The people whom You have redeemed;

You have guided them in Your strength

To Your holy habitation.

“You in Your mercy have led forth The people whom You have redeemed;” -- This is a wonderful summary statement of God’s deeds.

“In Your mercy,” but for whom? “The people whom You have redeemed;” It was a day of catastrophe for the Egyptians.

Now consider the future effects:

{14} "The people will hear and be afraid; Sorrow will take hold of the inhabitants of Philistia.

{15} Then the chiefs of Edom will be dismayed; The mighty men of Moab,

Trembling will take hold of them;

All the inhabitants of Canaan will melt away. {16} Fear and dread will fall on them;

By the greatness of Your arm They will be as still as a stone,

Till Your people pass over, O LORD,

Till the people pass over Whom You have purchased.

{17} You will bring them in and plant them

In the mountain of Your inheritance,

In the place, O LORD, which You have made For Your own dwelling,

The sanctuary, O LORD, which Your hands have established.

[We have to wonder if they had any idea how special this land was to God, and for how many centuries God would be concerned about this land.]

(Isa 14:25-26 NKJV) That I will break the Assyrian [modern day Iraq] in My land, And on My mountains tread him underfoot. Then his yoke shall be removed from them, And his burden removed from their shoulders. {26} This is the purpose that is purposed against the whole earth, And this is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations.

Now back to Exodus 15

{18} "The LORD shall reign forever and ever."

A great stand alone statement.

{19} For the horses of Pharaoh went with his chariots and his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought back the waters of the sea upon them. But the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea.

The celebration continues with Miriam leading in singing and dancing. This is interesting.

It seems to be totally spontaneous. I find no commands for it of any kind, but it is a great outpouring of praise and thanksgiving.

{20} Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took the timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. {21} And Miriam answered them:

"Sing to the LORD,

For He has triumphed gloriously!

The horse and its rider

He has thrown into the sea!"

{22} So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea; then they went out into the Wilderness of Shur. And they went three days in the wilderness and found no water.

{23} Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah. {24} And the people complained against Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?"

{25} So he cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There He made a statute and an ordinance for them. And there He tested them,

{26} and said, "If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you."

Little is said to help us understand what “diseases” He is talking about. The translations do not vary, and the dictionary confirms “diseases” to be the right word. It may have simply been diseases that that the children of Israel were familiar with.

{27} Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees; so they camped there by the waters.

This is not far from Marah. What a pleasant change from the bitter to the pleasant. Both are encountered on our road to the promised land. I think the main thought is: It was an oasis! It was a break from the barren dessert. God provides us with the “breaks” of life.

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