DCLM Search The Scripture Youth For January 15, 2023 : Topic – Israel’s Miraculous Passage Through The Red Sea
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YOUTH STS
LESSON 45
ISRAEL’S MIRACULOUS PASSAGE THROUGH THE RED SEA
TEXT: Exodus 14:1-31; 15:1-27
MEMORY VERSE: “And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt” (Exodus 12:4)
The previous chapter reveals the exodus (mass exit) of the children of Israel from Egypt’s bondage and the institution of the Passover. Israel had dwelt in Egypt for 430 years under the leadership of different kings; both the king that knew Joseph and the cruel one that knew not Joseph. Prior to this exit from Egypt, God had brought judgment through plagues on the Egyptians for refusing to release Israel.
Question 1: What do we learn from the reaction of Pharaoh’s refusal to let the Israelites go and God’s ability in seemingly impossible situations?
Our lesson today reviews the decision of the Egyptians to pursue Israel after it seemed they had released them, and God’s power which parted the sea into two for the Israelites to pass through the Red sea. Christian youths should remember that there are enemies, so they should not relent but trust God at all times for them to overcome. Besides, seemingly impossible situations cannot limit God’s power in our academics, spiritual and other facets of life if we trust in Him.
PHARAOH’S DECISION TO PURSUE THE ISRAELITES (Exodus 14:1-9; 15:9; Job 9:4; Isaiah 14:12-17; Proverbs 29: 1, Joshua 24:6)
The foreknowledge of God is clearly seen here, as He had foretold what the action of Pharaoh would be after their exit from Israel and declaring it to His servant, Moses. “For pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in” (Exodus 14:3). God understood both the foolishness and the hardness of a depraved man. He knew they would likely pursue Israel so as to overtake, overshadow and possibly overrun them.
Question 2: What were Pharaoh’s motives for pursuing Israel and what can you learn from them?
Pharaoh’s intent for pursuing the israelites are one, “I will pursue”. He had initially released Israel after the death of the firstborn reluctantly. He had to revert his plan to wait and pursue them as they would not have gone far in their journey. This teaches Christian youths to always have a relentless pursuit in a positive direction, not as Pharaoh. We must understand that quitters don’t win, and winners don t quit. Two, “I will overtake”. This is a language of self-assurance. Israel might have gone far, but Pharaoh still believed he would overtake them. Youths must also believe in their given ability to excel. We must delete the traits of inferiority Complex and realise all that God has purposed for us. Three, “l will divide the spoil”. This is a statement of victory before the cornmencement of the war. Children of God must treasure the resources that God has given them. The Pursuing enemies see those resources as goodies, if they Conquer. Besides. Christian youths must also see themselves accomplishing great things for God, though they are still young. -Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase’ (Job 8:7). Four, “My lust shall be satisfied upon them’. Lust is an evil, strong desire that runs against the will of God. Christians youths must not lust after the things of the world” (1 John 2:15-17). Pharaoh was looking forward to seeing his evil desire accomplished upon the Israelites on overtaking them in the wilderness. The desires of Satan upon a youth are countless, but they culminate in wanting to deceive and destroy. We must give no room for youthful lusts, for they war against the soul (1 Peter 2:11; 2 Timothy 2:22). Five, “1 will draw my sword”. The enemy is not coming to joke as Satan had no time for fun. He is coming with a drawn sword. We must be ready to fight the fury of the foes with the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God. Six, “my hand shall destroy them”. One of the three-fold missions of Satan as revealed by Christ in John 10:10 is to destroy. We must stand fast in Christ and watch unto prayers to resist his destructive mission and terminate his vision.
Question 3: What can we learn as Christian youths on the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart and crossing God’s red line?
God hastened the ruin of Pharaoh because he crossed His red line. God hardened Pharaoh’s heart to pursue Israel because he refused reproof for a long time and God had to give over to his own lusts (Proverbs 29: 1). God will not lent His effort on to save any youth who refuses to obey the word of God (Romans 1:21-32). The Egyptians pursued and met Israel encamping by the sea, with the hope of fulfilling their lusts on God’s heritage. But as seen in Exodus 14: 9 though they tried, they couldn’t succeed. Their first agenda (to pursue) was achieved but others (to overtake, divide, satisfy’ draw the sword and destroy) remained a mere illusion. Even the first agenda which was achieved led to their destruction. The enemy may fight, but God never assures them of a minute victory (Jeremiah 1:19), but rather, they are defeated.
PRACTICAL DELIVERANCE OF GOD’S OWN PEOPLE (Exodus 14:10-31; 2 Chronicles 20:20; Hebrews 3:12; 1 Corinthians 10: 10)
As pharaoh and the army of Egypt pursued them, Israel was faced with a big dilemma: the Red sea was ahead, the army of Egypt was behind and there was no where else to run. As the Egyptian army drew nearer, their fear got deeper. “And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them…” (Exodus 14:10-12).
Question 4: What are the pitfalls to avoid as Christian youths when faced with seeming possible challenge?
Christian youths must be wary of the use of their tongues whenever they come across any problem. The Israelites murmured in the midst of the challenges, preferring to die in Egypt rather than in the wilderness. Faithless youths have concluded their failures before they even write an examination because of what they have heard or seen. We must not walk by sight but by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7).
Question 5: What can we learn from God’s command to Israel to move forward?
The command of God in spite of fears and complaints is Challenging. “And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward” (Exodus 14:15). This may look foolish or senseless, but it is an action of faith. The impassable Red Sea was flowing with currents; God commanded a step of faith to part the sea. How great we ought to appreciate and embrace the possibilities of faith in God! Many youths are Unaccomplished because they are afraid of taking the first step of faith. There are some basic lessons that Christian youths must learn from this incidence at the Red Sea. One, God, who brought us out of the world, can keep us against getting entrapped in the ocean of life, academic failures, tribulations and persecutions. Two, complaints and murmurings will not resolve our challenges but increase. Three, God can break natural to favour His children. Four, the closeness of the pursuing enemy does not depict their victory, God may be using that to hasten their ruin. Five, God’s’ protection is always sure on His elect despite the raging of the foes. Six, God’s command of faith may look senseless to the natural man, but we must obey Him and progress. Seven, fear limits a man and will hamper his progress in spite of God’s presence. Eight, we must be ready to take action of faith if we really profess to believe in God. Nine, we must’ understand that God is not cruel or callous; He repays all men according to their deeds. Ten, anyone oppressing or fighting against the people of God is fighting against God.
PRAISING GOD FOR DELIVERANCE AND PROMISED HEALTH (Exodus 15:1-21; Psalms 29:2; 96:9; 136:13-15; 1 Chronicles 16:29; Lamentations 3:22; Exodus 15:22-27; Philippians 2:14, Philippians 4:19; 2 Peter 1:6; James 5:10,11; Hebrews 10:36; 6:12)
God exhibited His great power, destroying the host of Egypt and their chariots. When Israel saw the defeat and death of the Egyptian army, Moses, Miriam and all Israel were caught up in the aura of praises. The center of their praises was God and Him alone. They cast their minds back to how God had miraculously caused them to escape the fury of the hell-bound Pharaoh. Moses was not left out in the period of praise while Miriam led the women in a God-inspired song. “Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord…” (Exodus 15:1,20,21).
Question 6: What do we discover from the songs of Moses, Miriam and the children of Israel?
Checking through this song of victory, we see a lot of lessons that are worth emulating in the music ministry. One, the song is God glorifying, exalting and appreciating. The song has God as the center message. Our songs also must only point attention to Christ (verse 1). Two, there is a personal relationship between the singer and God through salvation experience as reflected in verse two of the text. Christian youths’ songs will only be acceptable to God, if they have first made themselves acceptable to Him by genuine repentance. Three, the attributes of God are mentioned and emphasized above the gifts of men (verses 3,6,8). Four, the strength of the defeated foes was paralyzed to place God higher than them. (verses 4-7; 9, 10, 18, 19). We must also see God as the supreme authority that cannot be conquered by anyone. Five, they praised God in the majesty of His holiness and the absoluteness of His power to do wonders (verse 11). We must also remember that songs become a pagan’s chant if holiness is missing in the life of the melodious singers. Six, they appreciated the mercy of God that had kept them. No space to vaunt or boast on the achieved success, they rather see themselves as instruments of mercy (verses 12, 13). Eight, they pictured the terrific sting the victory will send to the pines of the upcoming enemies (verses 14-17). We must also know that a victory is a testimony to overcome the challenges ahead. The news of this great victory has reached Jericho as Rehab the harlot testified. “And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for You, when ye came out of Egypt…” (Joshua 2:9-11). Seven, the song of Moses became a song to be reckoned in the book of Revelation as being sung with the song of the Lamb. “And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints” (Revelation 15:3). As the journey into the Promised Land continued, Israel departed from the Red Sea and journeyed in the wilderness for three days without water. Surprisingly, that little problem of no water generated murmurings. In the previous three days, they were singing of the miracles, today, they are slighting at Marah. One consistent thing about the Israelites has been their inconsistency. Their endurance is always soiled by grumblings. We must be careful of not getting used to murmurings in our schools, home and churches.Finally, it is instructive that the challenge of bitter water and turning it to healthy drinkable one brought about the establishment of covenant of healing and health from the Lord for all and sundry.