[[2026-03-16]] # My notes - How does this go further than the Ten [[Plague]]s? (i.e. how is [[Yahweh]] revealing himself further?) - Synopsis of events: - [[God]] takes a "harder" route "lest the people change their midns and return to [[Egypt]]" - [[Joseph]]'s bones exhumed, as promised - [[Yahweh]] personally leads with overtly supernatural pillar of cloud and pillar of light - Big military defeat of [[Pharaoh]] along with the parting of the [[Red Sea]], despite the doubt of [[Israel]]ites, as promised - Purpose of [[Song of the Sea]]? - What are we learning about [[Yahweh]] here, and why does this matter in the [[Exodus]] story? # [[NET Bible]] - [[Song of the Sea]] is one of the most archaic parts of the [[Bible]] # [[Zondervan NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible]] # [[Exodus FG leaders notes.pdf]] - Note for future studies -- keep an eye out on developing theme of who is actually leading the people, [[Yahweh]] or [[Moses]] - Mostly, they are interchangeable in the text, and the text establishes [[Moses]]' delegated authority from [[Yahweh]]. But the people largely grumble solely against [[Moses]], in the process also rejecting [[Yahweh]] ## [[Exodus 13]]:17-22 -- Leading of [[Yahweh]] - [[Israel]] faces prospect of war no matter what -- only options are to go back to enemy [[Egypt]] or go forward to occupied [[Canaan]] - [[Egypt]] is close to [[Canaan]] via "land of [[Philistines]]", but [[Yahweh]] wants to delay war, not because they might lose, but because they might turn back - Shouldn't [[Israel]] be more confident? But they are not ## Focus -- [[Exodus 14]]:1-31 -- Battle at the [[Red Sea]] - [[Yahweh]] deliberately tells [[Moses]] to halt and wait by the [[Red Sea]], an unsafe tactical position - [[Pharaoh]] decides to pursue the [[Israel]]ites, all according to keikaku - [[Israel]]ites have a crisis of faith, accusing [[Moses]] of bringing them out only to die and expressing preference for serving [[Egypt]]ians over this (as expected by [[Yahweh]] last chapter v. 17) - Now all is set up for [[Yahweh]] to "gan glory through [[Pharaoh]] and all his army", to show his strength in battle - [[Yahweh]] and his "[[Angel]]" move to the rear between the [[Israel]]ites and [[Egypt]]ians, moving from leading them forward to defending their vulnerable backs - Climax of the rescue -- [[Yahweh]] parts the [[Red Sea]] for the [[Israel]]ites to cross, then closes it to drown the [[Egypt]]ians - Yet again echoing [[Genesis 1]], where [[God]] separates the waters so dry ground can appear - Thus fear of [[Yahweh]] is inspired in the witnesses ## [[Exodus 15]]:1-21 -- [[Song of the Sea]] - The song celebrates [[Yahweh]] as a warrior, who fights for his people - v. 11 "Who among the [[God]]s is like you, [[Yahweh]]?" is a poetic device; nothing in all of creation is a match for him - The song then looks forwards towards [[Canaan]] in v. 12-18 - The mountain referenced could be [[Mount Sinai]], or it could be [[Mount Zion]] in [[Jerusalem]], but either way it speaks of [[Yahweh]] planting his people safely in [[Canaan]] ## Application - It's one thing to have a concept that [[God]] is powerful, and another to see him personally intervene to defend *your* life - [[Yahweh]] is a warrior who fights for us - Where should we look for the same confidence that [[God]] will deliver on his promises to us? Not abstract statements of strength, but specific incidents - The text comes with its own structure and interpretation: - [[Exodus 13]]:17 raises a question - [[Exodus 14]] resolves it in action - [[Exodus 15]] reflects on its meaning - Hence, the focus of the study is [[Exodus 14]] but we should also spend healthy time on [[Exodus 15]]