The Egyptian gods have been judged in the plagues, and the Egyptians have been plundered. A mixed multitude of Israelites and others then leaves Egypt and comes to the bank of the Red Sea.

God, through Moses, splits the sea, and this new people walks through on dry ground, with water coming onto them from above (Psalm 77). Paul calls this a baptism (1 Cor 10), and the people safely pass through the waters en route to the promised land. This will happen again at the Jordan as the next generation enters.

The enemy seeks to destroy the people, but instead comes under judgment as the opening in the waters closes and they are rejoined.

History is an exodus in slow motion.

This is not the first time that God has separated waters. On day two of creation, He separates the waters above from the waters below, placing the firmament in between. This is the only day not marked with the phrase “and God saw that it was good,” which suggests that this separation awaits a greater fulfillment, when heaven and earth are joined. On the third day, the dry land appeared. When we stand by bodies of water with a blue sky above, we get a glimpse of this pattern: the waters above and the waters below. We live on the dry land.

Life and history occur between the divided waters.

At the Red Sea, God makes a safe passage for His people. The division of the waters gives us a picture of history as one of crossing waters, as God brings His people toward their promised land and to a feast with Him.

History-as-Exodus includes God deliberately and visibly tearing down the false gods of the world: turning Niles to blood, filling homes with frogs, making objects of pagan adoration into instruments of a curse.

Biblically, the sea often pictures the Gentile nations, and already at the exodus, some from those nations join Israel’s trek through the sea. The non-Israelite people separate from their old people and masters to become part of Yahweh’s people. Jesus still calls disciples to make this separation and crossing, to forsake their old allegiances, even family when faithfulness requires it, and enter a new life with Him

History is a mixed multitude of nations joining the church’s exodus, walking through on dry ground and receiving baptismal water from above, crossing through waters of judgment safely.

Our deliverance comes through Jesus, who bore the judgment Himself. His flesh was torn, and the temple curtain followed. Through His torn body, which hung rent in the firmament, we draw near to God with sprinkled hearts and washed bodies (Heb 10:19–22).

History is the time of safe crossing for the people of God and impending judgment for the wicked. On the last day, that opening will be closed, and the wicked will reap judgment and death while the righteous stand beside the waters they safely passed through and sing the song of Moses and of the Lamb (Rev 15:2–4). The invitation to cross will give way to everlasting communion. God will dwell with His people, and heaven and earth will be one.

Consider your life and the people around you as living in the midst of the waters of judgment. The church is she who finds safe passage in the Lord Jesus. Keep walking. Plunder the wicked. Bring your children, and call your neighbors to join the crossing. The way is open. May we continue along on the dry ground and enter safely into the joy of our Master, where we will see Him face to face.