# Crossing the Red Sea: the story of the Exodus (Exodus 14)

> Freed from slavery in Egypt, the Israelites find themselves trapped between the sea and Pharaoh’s pursuing army. Moses tells them that the Lord will fight for them. He stretches his hand over the sea, a strong east wind drives the waters back all night, and the people cross on dry ground.

> The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
> — Exodus 14:14 (King James Version)

> And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
> — Exodus 14:21 (King James Version)

Israel has just left Egypt after generations of slavery. Then Pharaoh changes his mind and sends his chariots after them.

## Trapped by the sea

The people camp by the sea and see the army coming. They are terrified and turn on Moses: were there no graves in Egypt, that he brought them out to die here? Moses answers that they should not be afraid, stand still and see what the Lord will do.

## A path through the waters

The pillar of cloud moves behind the camp, standing between Israel and the Egyptians through the night. Moses stretches out his hand over the sea, and a strong east wind drives the waters back until the seabed is dry. The Israelites walk through, with the water like a wall on either side.

## The morning after

The Egyptians follow them into the sea. At dawn Moses stretches out his hand again and the waters return. Israel sees the power of the Lord, and the next chapter opens with Moses and Miriam leading a song of praise.

## Questions to carry

Where do you feel caught between two impossible things? What would it mean to "stand still" there for a moment before acting?

## Read the chapter

Read [Exodus 14](/en/bible/exodus/14) in full, and Exodus 15 for the song that follows.

## Sources

- [Exodus 14 (King James Version)](https://api.getbible.net/v2/kjv/2/14.json)
- [Gustave Doré, The Egyptians Drown in the Sea (Wikimedia Commons)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:037.The_Egyptians_Drown_in_the_Sea.jpg)