Read Exodus 15
The Song of Moses and Miriam
1 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord:
“I will sing to the Lord,
for he is highly exalted.
Both horse and driver
he has hurled into the sea.
2 “The Lord is my strength and my defense;
he has become my salvation.
He is my God, and I will praise him,
my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
3 The Lord is a warrior;
the Lord is his name.
4 Pharaoh’s chariots and his army
he has hurled into the sea.
The best of Pharaoh’s officers
are drowned in the Red Sea.
5 The deep waters have covered them;
they sank to the depths like a stone.
6 Your right hand, Lord,
was majestic in power.
Your right hand, Lord,
shattered the enemy.
7 “In the greatness of your majesty
you threw down those who opposed you.
You unleashed your burning anger;
it consumed them like stubble.
8 By the blast of your nostrils
the waters piled up.
The surging waters stood up like a wall;
the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea.
9 The enemy boasted,
‘I will pursue, I will overtake them.
I will divide the spoils;
I will gorge myself on them.
I will draw my sword
and my hand will destroy them.’
10 But you blew with your breath,
and the sea covered them.
They sank like lead
in the mighty waters.
11 Who among the gods
is like you, Lord?
Who is like you—
majestic in holiness,
awesome in glory,
working wonders?
12 “You stretch out your right hand,
and the earth swallows your enemies.
13 In your unfailing love you will lead
the people you have redeemed.
In your strength you will guide them
to your holy dwelling.
14 The nations will hear and tremble;
anguish will grip the people of Philistia.
15 The chiefs of Edom will be terrified,
the leaders of Moab will be seized with trembling,
the people of Canaan will melt away;
16 terror and dread will fall on them.
By the power of your arm
they will be as still as a stone—
until your people pass by, Lord,
until the people you bought pass by.
17 You will bring them in and plant them
on the mountain of your inheritance—
the place, Lord, you made for your dwelling,
the sanctuary, Lord, your hands established.
18 “The Lord reigns
for ever and ever.”
19 When Pharaoh’s horses, chariots and horsemen went into the sea, the Lord brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground. 20 Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her, with timbrels and dancing. 21 Miriam sang to them:
“Sing to the Lord,
for he is highly exalted.
Both horse and driver
he has hurled into the sea.”
The Waters of Marah and Elim
22 Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water.23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.) 24 So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?”
25 Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink.
There the Lord issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test. 26 He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.”
27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water.
Go Deeper
This celebratory chapter is written commemorating God’s remarkable deliverance of his chosen people in redemption from slavery. It’s a celebration of God’s rescue plan of two million people from the cruelty of Pharaoh’s regime. How extraordinary that a commemorative song was born as a creative way to both remember and pass down these remarkable events to future generations, and ultimately be recorded in Holy Scripture. The expression of excitement and worship of God is contagious as their darkest moments are turned into their greatest joys.
This chapter is aptly titled a song of deliverance. The stories in Exodus are mind blowing and hard to wrap our minds around. Who can even comprehend the parting of the sea when Pharaoh’s horses and chariots rushed into waters and the Lord brought waves crashing down on them in the exact place where the people of Israel had safely walked through on dry ground? David Guzik of the Enduring Word Bible Commentary explains, “This remarkable song is assumed to have come spontaneously as Moses led the nation in the wilderness on the other side of the Red Sea. They sang this song when their salvation was real to them. They sang it when the power and presence of God were real to them.” The lives of the Israelites would be forever marked by the goodness of God.
Who was this God that performed one miracle after another that was worthy of honor and glory and praise, the one who reigns forever and ever? The lyrics of their anthem resonated with undeniable traits of the One who had visited them in their sorrow and rescued them. They sang of His glorious triumph (v. 1), strength and victory (v. 2), as a powerful warrior (v. 3, 6), one holy and glorious, awesome in splendor, performing wonders (v. 11), who showed unfailing love, ransomed, and redeemed (v. 13), who provided a shelter and sanctuary (v. 17). There truly is no god like our God, and the same God who rescued the Israelites created the greatest redemption plan of all through his Son, one that includes all humanity. The One who never stops loving us, sees us as his treasure, and who would chase away fear and death by sending the rescuer, Jesus.
Ironically, it didn’t take long for the Israelites to forget the goodness of God and fall into an unbelieving, grumbling attitude against God who had delivered them. They had just witnessed the miracle of parting of the waters, now they failed to trust God to provide water to drink in the desert.
Questions
- Have you forgotten the joy of your salvation? Pause and praise God, then share your personal redemption story with someone today.
- Do you exhibit a life of gratitude or are you quick to murmur and forget? If so, confess and replace grumbling with journaling what you are thankful for and seek accountability.
- Do you believe God is sovereign and can transform the bitter, hard places of your life into something of beauty? Is the power and presence of God real to you?
Did You Know?
Exodus 15:20 is the first mention of Moses’ sister, Miriam. She is described as a prophetess, which is the highest accolade a person can receive in the Hebrew Bible. A prophet or prophetess is a spokesperson for God. Miriam is the first woman to receive this description.
6 thoughts on “Exodus 15”
It seems that day after day is Red Sea momemts. God protects us from some thing or another, and we are excited and praise Him. The very next breath, we complain. Where is the good water? What am I going to eat? God has never said life would be easy BUT GOD does promise powers equal to the task He gives us. Complaining is evidence of unbelief, where as obedience is evidence of faith.
God thank You for my words being praises to You. Let every breath I breathe be filled with praises. Because Your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise You. So I will bless You as long as I live; in Your name I will lift up my hands.(Psalm 63). For You, God formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother’s womb.I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it very well. (Psalm 139). God thank You for the minutes of this day. Thank You that I can pray consistantly, hear and listen to obey. Thank You for Your words of edification coming out of my mouth. Thank You for not trying to control or fix anybody today. Thank You for loving the lost and unlovable, being a blessing and to take on what ever task You desire me to with an excited heart to Glorify and Honor You, my God. Thank You for today, these minutes, that Your name be in all my breathes in Jesus name amen.
WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Once again in v.26, we see that great big word that God uses throughout His Word, if.
IF thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in His sight, and wilt give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, (then) I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee. (KJV)
How many of us look for the then results without diligently doing the if commandments. I’m guilty! God teach me to do the if before expecting the then results. in the name of Jesus Christ amen.
I’m learning how fickle humanity is, one moment praising the very next one grumbling. It’s taken me a lifetime to comprehend that joy and pain can co-exist. Because of Christ who said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
There is testing of our faith in the hardships, and we would never learn of the aspects of God’s character. God is Sovereign, Faithful, Merciful, Compassionate, Loving and unrelentless in His pursuit of our hearts.
2 “The Lord is my strength and my defense;“
Amen! And not just after amazing victories, but at all times!
Because I don’t see the spiritual realm. I tend to sometimes forget how large of an impact god brought on my family and I. One of healing and maturity. Thank u Jesus!!! I am so happy to have a relationship with you without sin in the middle. I thank u that u see me without my faults. U called me out of my misery and u never had to do that