Review of Exodus 15

— by Victor Fawole

I welcome everyone to another dramatic chapter in the history of Israel. This chapter has it all, as the Israelites moved from worship — and word — to wailing. It begins with a song of praise and concludes with complaints about provision. God ensured that these events were recorded for our instruction (1Cor. 10:11). And we must glean as many lessons as we can.

Let’s review together:

1. SONG OF SALVATION

Exo. 15:1 Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord, and spoke, saying: “I will sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!

Man’s most important response to God’s deliverance should be worship. Here, Moses praised the Deliverer. This was the oldest song in the Bible. There are several examples in the Bible, where deliverance is followed by a song of praise:

• Deborah & Barak (Jdg. 5)
• Hannah (1Sam. 2:1-10)
• David (2Sam. 22)
• Mary (Luke 1:46-55)
• Zecharias (Luke 1:68-79), and so on.

As believers, there is no greater a thanksgiving than the thanksgiving for our salvation. (Rabbi D.V. Akins)

Moses’ song is a song of redemption, a song of victory, a song of praise, a song of testimony, and a song of dedication. It was a worship totally focused on the abilities and the activities of God. Let us consider some of the descriptions he used for God:

GOD’S ABILITIES
In the first three verses, Moses mentioned SEVEN specific abilities of God. You could take them as “job titles”. They revealed the different dimensions of the Personality of God that they have enjoyed.

• MY SAVIOUR:
  I will sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously!
• MY STRENGTH:
  The Lord is my strength
• MY SONG:
  The Lord is my… song
• MY SALVATION:
  He has become my salvation
• MY SOURCE:
  He is my God… My father’s God
• MY SUPREME COMMANDER:
  The Lord is a man of war
• MY SOVEREIGN LORD:
  The Lord is His name

You will observe how Moses emphasised his personal possession of God. He repeatedly used “my”. You will see the same pattern in David’s psalms, especially Psalm 18. Check out the first two verses:

I will love You, O Lord, MY strength. The Lord is MY rock and MY fortress and MY deliverer; MY God, MY strength, in whom I will trust; MY shield and the horn of MY salvation, MY stronghold.

In those two verses, David used “my” nine times! Oh, how sweet to know that not only are we God’s, God is also ours. In GOG, this is one of the beauties that we engage in our prayers. Also observe the connection between “strength” and “song”. When we let God be our strength, He will also be our song. We will sing because of the victory won by the great strength of the Lord.

GOD’S ACTIVITIES
In his song, Moses also mentioned SEVEN specific activities of God in bringing their deliverance. You could take them as “job descriptions”. They revealed the different specific actions of the Power of God that they have enjoyed.

• THE SINKING:
  Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has cast into the sea; His chosen captains also are drowned in the Red Sea. The depths have covered them; They sank to the bottom like a stone.
• THE SHATTERING:
  “Your right hand, O Lord, has become glorious in power; Your right hand, O Lord, has dashed the enemy in pieces.
• THE SUBDUING:
  And in the greatness of Your excellence You have overthrown those who rose against You;
• THE SCORCHING:
  You sent forth Your wrath; It consumed them like stubble.
• THE SPLITTING:
  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.
• THE SWALLOWING:
  You blew with Your wind, the sea covered them; they sank like lead in the mighty waters… You stretched out Your right hand; The earth swallowed them.
• THE SHEPHERDING:
  You in Your mercy have led forth the people whom You have redeemed; You have guided them in Your strength to Your holy habitation.

One more thing that I’d want us to observe in Moses’ song is how the news spread so fast to other countries, causing the fear and terror of God to fall on them. If the news of God’s deliverance at the Red Sea were shared on social media, it would have sparked global conversations, amazement, and viral contents. Here’s how I imagine it would have trended:

• Thousands of videos on Youtube, with millions of views, analysing the event from historical, theological, or scientific perspectives.
• Millions of Facebook articles, with several comments from all over the world.
• Billions of selfies and videos on WhatsApp status updates.
• Countless livestreams and skits on Instagram and Tiktok.
• Billions of tweets, trending with different hashtags like #DeliveranceFromDeath #PharaohHasPerished #RedSeaRescue #FaithOverFear #DivineDeliverance

When the other nations heard what happened, fears were sent down their spine. The story was widely and well known. The glad tidings of the Israelites were terrifying and disheartening to their other enemies. In fact, Moses mentioned some specific “world powers” and the impact it has had on them.

• PHILISTIA:
  The people of Philistia heard and trembled at the news of Israel’s miraculous deliverance.
• EDOM:
  The leaders of Edom were dismayed, gripped with fear and panic over what had happened.
• MOAB:
  The mighty men of Moab were seized with trembling, their courage melted in the face of God’s power.
• CANAAN:
  The people of Canaan melted away in fear, their strength and resistance vanishing as they heard of God’s great deeds.
• OTHERS:
  The other nations feared and stood in awe for what had just happened to Egypt, and how God fought for Israel.

Moses’ song must have been so melodious that Miriam led the women to repeatedly sing verse 1 as the chorus. They praised God with timbrels and with dancing – one of the Psalmist recommendations (Psa. 150:4). Moses led the men’s band, while Miriam led the women’s. How harmonious!

2. SIGHS OF SORROW

Exo. 15:22 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.

After their wonderful worship experience, the Isralites moved to an area without water. Our attitudes in our low times reveal our hearts. They trusted God as He controlled the waters when they crossed the Red Sea on dry ground. But here, after being without water for three days, they lamented.

Notice:

• THIRSTY & TROUBLED:
  And they went three days in the wilderness and found no water. Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter.

In just three days, the thirst of the Israelites challenged their memory of the triumph of God. It is easy to forget the great victory and power of God when tough times come knocking. They were not only thirsty, they were also troubled by the fact that the only water they found was bitter. After three waterless days, they got undrinkable water. They murmured and complained. You’ll notice:

• i. The REASON for the Murmuring: They focused on their circumstances more than on God.
• ii. The RAPIDITY of the Murmuring: The speed at which they murmured is condemning.
• iii. The REVILING in the Murmuring: Their murmuring was targeted at criticising and discrediting Moses, although he was neither at fault nor their problem.

Hmmm…!

• TRANSFORMED & TANTALISING:
  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.

Moses turned his attention from the circumstances to the God Who controls circumstances. He did what Israel actually did back when they experienced Egyptian oppression (Exo. 2:23). And God gave the solution in a tree. The bitter waters of Marah became sweet and refreshing waters. Oh wow! I want us to know that this earth is cursed at Eden, and it has the propensity to bring bitterness to man. But thank God for the work of Christ on the tree (cross). Whenever the fear of the bitter waters of life grip us, we can pray to God to cast out our fears. Jesus is the One who gives us the satisfaction and joy of abundant life.

I recommend that you read this article written by Pastor Dammy: Pictures Of Christ In The Old Testament – Part 4

• TESTED & TRUSTED:
  There He made a statute and an ordinance for them, and there He tested them

God tests those who belong to Him, and when He does, it is not to break us but to make us better. The test here revealed that the major concern of the Israelites was not how to please God but “What shall we drink?” Jesus said that questions like this are signs of a worrying and anxious heart, not a trusting heart (Matt. 6:21–33). This kind of heart can generate all kinds of problems.

God tested His people, not because He didn’t know their hearts, but because they didn’t know their own hearts. God uses His tests to show us areas we need to trust more and rest more, feed more and pray more. So, very quickly, let us consider the lessons that we can learn in this episode of Israel’s history.

LESSONS ABOUT ISRAEL

• i. SELFISH PURSUIT — They Were Living For Self:
  They were only concerned with their bodily satisfaction. They forgot the great things God had just recently done in their lives. Instead of being caught up in His wonder, glory and worship, they were totally consumed with their personal needs. We must remember that God doesn’t want us living for self and selfish needs. He wants us to live for Him. When we live for Him, He will take care of our needs (Matt. 6:33).
• ii. SHALLOW PERCEPTION — They Were Walking By Sight:
  Israel was guilty of looking for satisfaction in the world around them, instead of the God Who redeemed them. They became disappointed with God. Our duty as believers is to learn to depend on the Lord, completely and totally, for every situation in life. We are to be a people of faith. When we step outside of faith and walk by sight, we have left God’s best, and sin is lurking around.
• iii. STARVING PASSION — They Were Not Satisfied:
  I believe that their complaint was because God did not meet their need for water in their own way, and in their own time. When we are up on the mountain, we can be so quick to glorify God. However, with a little trial, we grumble and complain about the terrible time we are going through. God wants us to learn to give Him glory in every situation. On the mountain, we praise Him for His blessings. In the valley, we praise Him for His faithfulness. Whatever we face in life, we are to praise His Name.

LESSONS ABOUT GOD

• i. ABUNDANT PERCEPTION — He Is Aware Of Our Needs:
  God knew what they would face at Marah. He planned their journey, and knew about their needs before they did. Nothing in our lives takes God by surprise. He is already in our tomorrow and He knows what we will face when we get there. I have joy because I serve a God who knows what I need before I ever need it. He is aware!
• ii. ABUNDANT POTENTIAL — He Is Able To Meet Our Needs:
  God manifested His power by giving them refreshing waters. There is no need of ours that God is not able to meet. He did it for the Israelites, and yes, He is able to meet our needs as well (Phil. 4:19, Eph. 3:20). Through Jesus’ death on the cross, we find everything we need to have our needs met. Through the cross of Christ, the bitter waters of life are made sweet again. Through the cross, God is able to meet our needs. Not only of salvation, but in every area of life.
• iii. ABUNDANT PREPARATION — He Has Already Provided For Our Needs:
  In His wisdom, God had already prepared that tree to meet their needs. Years before Israel arrived at Marah, God had caused a seed to germinate in the very place where they would need it. When they arrived, He was ready. He had looked ahead and prepared a way before a way was ever needed. He does the same for us. You will never face a need in life that God hasn’t already met. He has given us all that pertains to life and godliness (2Pet. 1:3).
• iv. ABUNDANT PASSION — He Loves To Meet Our Needs:
  There is this loving willingness of God to meet our needs in life. He does this in order to show His character. Here, God revealed Himself to Israel as Jehovah Rapha (I am the Lord who heals you). If Israel had never faced this bitter time, they would have never known this aspect of God’s character. God uses the bitter episodes of life to reveal Himself more fully to His children.

If these lessons sink into our minds, they will change our lives forever. They will totally destroy worry, doubt and fear. They will liberate us from selfish interests and give us peace in life. Hallelujah!

Dear Gogolights, in the last verse of this chapter (Exo. 15:27), we see how a time of refreshing followed a time of testing. They went through the much water of the Red Sea, to no water in Shur, to the bitter waters of Marah, and now to the twelve wells/springs of water at Elim.

Refreshing abundance.

Twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees.

Sweet spring water…

Sweet fruits… and…

Sweet palm shade.

God made them to lie down in green pastures, and He led them beside still waters.

Where their grumbling abounded, grace did much more abound.

Where sourness abounded, sweetness did much more abound.

Where scarcity abounded, supply did much more abound. Hallelujah!

Tag five people and tell them: I enjoy refreshing abundance in Christ!

God bless you for reading. We continue tomorrow.

Grace to you, Church!