Introduction: What a change! Pharaoh is now throwing the Hebrews out of Egypt, and ordinary Egyptians are paying them to leave. Do you recall when you took a new job, or moved to a new town? Your life took a new direction. But you also faced new challenges. Assume that the new direction is going from being a slave to a free person living in a fabulous place! You are now on a journey to your next home. Let’s plunge into our study of the Bible and learn about the challenges and opportunities for the Hebrews in this new life!

I. The Launch

A. Read Exodus 12:39. How is the food situation at the beginning of this new journey? Recall that Exodus 12:37 reports that there were 600,000 men. One commentary says that would mean about two million Israelites.

B. Read Exodus 12:38. What is the good and bad news here on the issue of having enough food? (The two million estimate numbered the Hebrews. We now find that there are others, a “mixed multitude” that went with them. While they might not have much bread, they have livestock to eat.)

1. Why would those who are not Hebrews want to go with them? (In our last lesson, God showed everyone that He was God over all others. They likely wanted to go with the winners!
2. Read Numbers 11:4. How is the “mixed multitude” later viewed? (As “rabble.”)

II. The New Government

A. Read Numbers 2:1-2. If you had two million (plus) people going on a journey, would you need to organize them? Is this what we see in these two verses? (Yes. We are not going to dive into details now, but this is the “secular” organization. If you are interested, the rest of Numbers 2 gives the details.)

B. Read Exodus 13:1-2 and Exodus 13:14-15. What does it mean to redeem the firstborn? Especially the firstborn of the sons? (Read Numbers 3:12 and Numbers 3:46-48. God claims all the firstborn sons as belonging to Him. God told the Hebrews that He would trade. The existing firstborn would be counted and then “traded” for an equal number of Levite males. For the rest of the firstborn, and those born later, a redemption tax was paid to the Levites. By this, God set up those in charge of the religious side of things (the Levites) and established their funding.)

1. Why does God claim the firstborn sons and animals? (This flows directly from the last plague that killed all the Egyptian firstborn. Of course, as we learned from the plagues, God is in charge of everything.)
2. Look again at Exodus 13:14. What is the first reason God gives for the sacrifice/redemption system? (It is to preserve the story of what God did to free His people from the Egyptians.)
3. How does this compare to Matthew 22:17-21?
4. Aside from educating the next generation, what point is God making? (This brings glory to God. It is a reminder of His authority. And it creates a practical way to organize and fund the ministry of the Levites.)

III. The Red Sea

A. Read Exodus 13:17-18 and Exodus 13:21-22. What do you think about the attitude of God toward His people? (He is trying to make the trip less challenging and way more obvious.)

1. Will God do that for you in your life path?

B. Read Exodus 14:4-7. God’s motivation is that His glory will increase. How do you reconcile that with God’s statement (Exodus 13:17)that He wanted the people not to be discouraged by war? They now have the entire Egyptian army after them!

C. Read Exodus 14:9-12. Recall I just asked you about your path in life and God’s help? If you thought, “My path has been neither plain nor easy,” does this turn of events seem more like your life?

1. What do you say about the attitude of the people?

D. Read Exodus 14:13-14. Recall my question about avoiding war yet bringing the Egyptians? What does Moses say is the answer? (The people do not have to fight, God will fight for them. God is protecting His people, and they should “be silent.”)

E. Read Exodus 14:15-16. Moses told the people to stand silent, and God asked the people to move forward. Let’s revisit the question about God’s past guidance in your life. If you did not see God’s hand in your life, is it because you did not “move forward” in the direction you thought God wanted you to take?

1. What is the assumption when God says, “Why cry to Me, move forward?” (The way forward seemed impossible. But God had just done the impossible with the Egyptians. God wants us to trust Him with the impossible!)

F. Read Exodus 14:19-22. I’ve read all sorts of “natural” explanations for the Red Sea dividing. What do you think is the reason for all these details being revealed to us? (God did use nature, the wind, to drive back the sea. But these details about the cloud, the dark, and the light show this was no accident of nature. Rather, it is God controlling nature.)

G. Read Matthew 8:24-27. What do those who claim a natural cause for the division of the Red Sea show? (Little faith.)

H. Read Exodus 14:23-28. If you were an Egyptian charioteer, would you be panicked? (The sea being walled up was an obvious danger when dealing with a God who could control water to the extent of turning it into blood.)

I. Read Exodus 14:29-31. How would you feel if you were one of the Hebrews who was saved? (Jubilant! My God demonstrated such extraordinary power!)

IV. The Details

A. Let’s go back and discuss some details. We learned in Exodus 13:18 that the Israelites were “equipped for battle.” They had 600,000 men, yet they feared the Egyptians. Why? (Exodus 14:7 says that Pharaoh brought 600 chariots. Chariots were a great breakthrough in battle technology. Imagine a foot soldier facing a running horse pulling a chariot with armed men inside. The Hebrews were slaves, not trained soldiers. And they had the women and children with them.)

B. Read Psalms 136:11-15 and Exodus 15:3-4. Also read Exodus 14:6-7. Did Pharaoh die in the water? (We are told that Pharaoh’s “chariots” and “chosen officers” were sunk, but Exodus does not tell us Pharaoh died. Psalms tells us “Pharaoh and his host” were overthrown. Again, the Bible does not explicitly mention that he died – which I think it would if “chosen officers” are mentioned. If you continue in Psalms 136, it names specific kings God killed, yet does not say Pharaoh was killed. At the same time, we know from Exodus 14:6 that Pharaoh’s chariot was in the group. We simply do not know.)

1. If Pharaoh was drowned, and we know that his firstborn son previously died, this might have created conflict in the Egyptian leadership.

C. Read again Exodus 14:4. Exodus repeatedly refers to God hardening the heart of Pharaoh. In this text it says God did this for His own glory. Does this seem fair to you? All these Egyptian soldiers who were fathers and husbands died because God made Pharaoh unrepentant? (Let’s read Exodus 14:5. This shows us that the decision was not only that of Pharaoh, but “his servants” agreed they should not have let the Hebrews go.)

D. Read Romans 1:21-25. How does Romans describe the advance of evil in a human heart? (It says that God “gives them up.” God did not make Pharaoh rebel or fight. Pharaoh rebelled and fought against God. Once Pharaoh set his course on rebellion, God let him do it. God let his heart be hardened.)

1. Does it sound like I’m making excuses for God? Does God require any excuses for showing His glory at human expense? (Read Ephesians 2:10. We are created by God to bring glory to Him. Pharaoh unwittingly managed to bring great glory to God. And that is the natural order of things.)

E. Read Exodus 14:13 and Exodus 15:14-16. How does this event, which brings glory to God, provide a very important blessing to His people? (This brought a final solution to the Egyptian problem. The nations that stood between the Hebrews and the promised land are now in “terror and dread” of God and His people.)

F. Friend, remain faithful. Trust God. Let Him fight your battles. But you must move forward in faith and trust. He is an absolutely amazing God, and we must trust Him. Will you decide, right now, to trust Him?

V. Next week: The Bread and Water of Life.

Copr. 2025, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Suggested answers are found within parentheses. If you normally receive this lesson by e-mail, but it is lost one week, you can find it by clicking on this link: http://www.GoBible.org. Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as you study.

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/6-through-the-red-sea-exodus-12-15-teaching-outline/

Daily Lesson for Thursday 7th of August 2025

The whole Egyptian army was overthrown; no one survived, including Pharaoh (see Psalms 136:15). It was a stunning defeat for the Egyptians and a complete victory for God’s people. No wonder all through their history, and even to this day, the Jews recount this story.

This song praises the Lord because He is a mighty warrior who defeated those who opposed His people. Moses personally elaborates on this theme by stressing that the Lord, his God, is also his strength, song, and salvation. No one is like Him, “ ‘majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders’ ” (Exodus 15:11, NIV).

Image © Lifeway Collection at Goodsalt.com

Moses’ song is all about God, about who He is and what He is doing. The Lord is exalted, praised, and admired for His outstanding work for His people. Gratitude and worship are natural outcomes of God’s goodness toward us. Appreciation for His love is the pre­requisite of a vibrant spiritual life. God’s steadfast love is especially emphasized and glorified because He will lead the people whom He has redeemed, and He will guide them to the holy abiding place. Moses predicts that God will establish the sanctuary on the mountain of His inheritance (Exodus 15:17), all pointing ahead to Zion and to the temple in Jerusalem.

In Revelation 15:2-4, the redeemed sing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb. Can you imagine how this will sound in heaven, this praise to God for His great and marvelous deeds, praise to God for His just and true judgments, and praise to God for His righteous acts and His holiness?

Notice the last line of the song. “ ‘For all nations shall come and worship before You. For Your judgments have been manifested’ ” (NKJV). That is, when all of God’s judgments—especially His judgments upon the evil and oppression that have for millennia gone unpunished—have all been made manifest, the redeemed of the nations will praise Him for those judgments.

<–Wednesday Friday–>

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/25c-06-the-song-of-moses-and-miriam/

Daily Lesson for Wednesday 6th of August 2025

Because Moses wholeheartedly trusted God and His Word, he encouraged the people. He presented four crucial points on how to act in difficult situations:

1. “ ‘Do not be afraid’ ” (Exodus 14:13, NKJV). The first appeal is to trust the Lord, because only in this way can fear be overcome. Isaiah reminds us of this truth by stating that believers are in God’s hands, and He will act for them when they accept Him as their God and Lord: “ ‘So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. . . . For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you’ ” (Isaiah 41:10,13, NIV).

2. “ ‘Stand [firm] still’ ” (Exodus 14:13, NKJV). To “stand still” does not mean only to stop murmuring and to expect great things but also to trust God and to wait patiently for His mighty intervention, because He will act.

3. “ ‘You will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today’ ” (Exodus 14:13, NIV). For our faith to grow, it is important to recognize God’s leadership and help and to be grateful for His promised assistance. To “see” means to open one’s eyes (because disbelief is blind). Only God can provide victory, safety, and salvation. God is always for us, caring and providing what is needed at the ap­propriate time.

4. “ ‘The Lord will fight for you’ ” (Exodus 14:14, NKJV). This indicates what God will do: He will personally fight for His people. Calvary is the ultimate proof of this reality, for on the cross Christ defeated Satan in order to give us eternal life (John 5:24; Hebrews 2:14; Revelation 12:10-11). Later, even the Egyptians recognized that the Lord was fighting for the Israelites (Exodus 14:25).

Image © Lifeway Collection at Goodsalt.com

God’s command to Moses was clear: “Move on.” God unfolded His action plan step by step: (1) the Angel of God and the pillar of cloud moved from the front of Israel’s camp and stood behind them, protecting them from the Egyptian army; (2) by faith Moses had to stretch out his hand over the sea; (3) the Lord divided the water and dried it up with a strong wind; and (4) the result was that the Israelites went securely through the sea on dry ground to the other side. The Egyptians blindly pursued them, because they did not see that God was doing extraordinary things for His people; that is, they didn’t see until it was too late, as their confession in Exodus 14:25 revealed.

<–Tuesday Thursday–>

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/25c-06-marching-forward-by-faith/

As we study this week’s Sabbath School lesson, which also covers Exodus 15:1-21, I found myself pondering three things that the lesson did not cover. 

In Exodus 15:1-18, Moses and all the Israelites are singing a song of celebration about how the Egyptians were defeated. Even singing (celebrating?) how they were drowned in the sea. What would this look like today?

Years ago, a friend from church told me about a neighbor who had been molesting his daughters and beating his wife. He died of a sudden heart attack, and my friend told me that when she went to the funeral, the entire family was sitting there dry-eyed. Not a single tear was shed for this abuser. It wasn’t because they were all cried out either. The family never showed any sorrow over his demise. Should the family have been happy that they were delivered from their abuser, and that, because of his death, he will never abuse again? Should Israel have been singing songs of praise because the Egyptians drowned? 

I believe this is why so many victories of good over evil have to be celebrated privately. Some think we should be “nicer than God” and judge those who are celebrating the victories God gives them over abusive situations because,

1. Others don’t even have a clue about the abuse going on and may even sympathize with the abuser, and
2. Some think we should never celebrate the death of anyone, no matter how wicked. 

While it is true that we will not be celebrating the death of the wicked after the thousand years, but rather God will have to wipe the tears from our eyes, there is plenty of biblical support for celebrating the deliverance from evil persons. Let’s consider this passage for a moment. 

O daughter of Babylon, who are to be destroyed, Happy the one who repays you as you have served us!  Happy the one who takes and dashes Your little ones against the rock! Psalm 137:8-9 NKJV

Many find this passage disturbing. It is disturbing, but it has its place. What Babylon has done to Israel will finally come back on Babylon. Israel is not happy to see innocent children killed. However, their innocent women and children were raped and abused by the Babylonians, and God is showing His love by showing He has Israel’s back.

There is no need to create a theology where we are “nicer than God” to the point that we can’t celebrate justice and deliverance from evil. There is no need to create a “god” who does nothing to defend His people, but merely waits for “natural law” to work itself out. Psalm 137:8-9 is simply celebrating the justice of God. A God who takes an active role in defending His people and working out justice is a God of love. We need to know God has our back in order to feel secure in His love. Moses and all Israel could celebrate God’s justice and love when God showed that He had their back and drowned their relentless abusers in the Red Sea. 

It is important for me to share this because too many abuse victims have been made to feel guilty for celebrating their deliverance from narcissistic abuse. Too many abuse victims have had to hold their peace, instead of praising God for His miraculous deliverances from evil, because others would not understand. I know Moses would much rather have seen Pharaoh repent and be converted rather than drowned in the sea. Still, Moses had to celebrate the goodness of God by delivering His people and destroying their cruel abusers once and for all. 

My second observation deals with the song of Moses. In Revelation 15 we find the song of Moses, but this time it is also the song of the Lamb. Let’s take a look.

And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and [a]over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the [b]saints! Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested.” Revelation 15:2-4 NKJV 

Here we see another celebration after the victory over spiritual Babylon. God gave Israel victory over Egypt through Moses, and God gave Spiritual Israel victory over the beast through the Lamb. These songs are about experiences, and while Moses and the Lamb both experience victory, they both share another experience. Both were willing to say goodbye to life forever if that is what it took to honor God and save others. Moses did this in Exodus 32:32 when he asked God to blot His name out of the book of life if He could not forgive them. The Lamb, Jesus, experienced this at the cross when He cried out, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?“ Matthew 27:46. Jesus had always called God His Father. In My Father’s House are many mansions. I always do those things that please My Father. I and My Father are One. But when Jesus was on the cross being treated the way you and I deserve, so you and I can be treated the way He deserves, Jesus could not call God His Father, so He cried out, “My God, why have you forsaken me.“ Jesus was not asking why God had forsaken Him until Sunday morning. You don’t forsake someone when you leave them for half the weekend. You forsake them when you leave them forever. Obadiah 1:16 says the wicked will be as though they had never been. Jesus was not dying the death of the righteous. We die that first death ourselves. Jesus was tasting the death of the wicked, which meant experiencing being utterly forsaken by God – forever.. 

Amazingly, the entire 144,000 sing the song of Moses and the Lamb. That means they also have the same attitude as Moses and the Lamb. They also would rather die an eternal death than dishonor their heavenly Father. 

My last observation has to do with Mirriam. 

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. Exodus 15:20 KJV 

There is a notion that God does not have women prophets. Yet Mirriam was a prophet, and we know there were others in Scripture as well. Yet with Mirriam, there is another observation that needs to be made. I have heard it said that the only reason God picked Ellen White as a prophet was because there were no men available. After all, God called two men who had refused before He chose Ellen. But those were not the only two men left in the world. There were countless other men God could have called before He called young Ellen Harmon. Now I also believe the Bible teaches that the man is the priest of the family, and that there is a grave spiritual responsibility that God has placed upon the man that many men seem to be ignore today. At the same time, God does not call women only when  there are no men available. After all, God was already using Moses and Aaron as prophets, and He still used Miriam at the same time.  God uses men and women together. After all, concerning the day of the Lord, does the prophet Joel not tell us, 

And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. Joel 2:28-29 NKJV

While the man is the priest of the family, God uses women just as much. A grave and solemn responsibility rests upon men that many need to wake up to. Meanwhile, God is using women, not as second-class citizens, but right along with men. 

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/three-observations-in-exodus-15/

Join It Is Written Sabbath School host Eric Flickinger and this quarter’s author, Dr. Jiří Moskala, as they provide additional insights into this week’s Sabbath School lesson.”

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/6-through-the-red-sea-it-is-written-discussions-with-the-author/