Daily Scripture Reading Exodus 15:1-21

There are many religions in the world. Every person needs to decide which religion they will follow, which means choosing which god they will obey. Even people who claim to be atheist or non-religious still have a belief system of some sort which dictates how they live their life, meaning they have a god whether they realize it or not.

The 15th chapter of Exodus articulates the truth that there is only one God who is a Living God, and He is far superior to all other so-called gods.

After the Israelites left Egypt, Pharaoh regretted the loss of his slave labor, so he mobilized his entire army and pursued Israel. He pinned them against the Red Sea. Yahweh parted the waters, and Israel walked through the sea on dry land, but when Egypt entered the sea, Yahweh returned the waters to their place and the entire Egyptian army was destroyed.

Notice the word “sang” and the word “song” in the following verse. Most of chapter 15 is a song the Israelites sang to praise Yahweh and thank Him for what He did for them at the Red Sea.

Ex. 15:1 ¶ Then Moses and the sons of Israel sang this song to Yahweh and said,

“I will sing to Yahweh, for He is highly exalted;

The horse and its rider He has hurled into the sea.

Ex. 15:2 Yah is my strength and song,

And He has become my salvation;

This is my God, and I will praise Him;

My father’s God, and I will extol Him.

Take note of the line, “This is my God”. Egypt had many gods, so the Israelites had exposure to and knowledge of multiple gods. The Israelites had many options to choose from when they made decisions on which god to follow and obey. In this song, the Israelites declared that Yahweh was their God.

Look at the phrase “My father’s God”. The Israelites acknowledged that Yahweh was the God of their ancestors.

Ex. 15:3 Yahweh is a warrior;

Yahweh is His name.

Notice the word “warrior”. Christians do not generally think of God as being a warrior. However, Yahweh defeated Egypt on behalf of Israel, so they rightly called Him a warrior.

Look at the word “name”. People in Bible times approached names differently than we do today. Today, we choose names based on the sound. When we name our children, we choose a name that we like to hear. In Bible times, they chose names to communicate meaning and truth. Jacob is the Hebrew word for heel. When Jacob was born, he was holding his twin brother’s heel, so they named him heel.

In this song, the Israelites sang “Yahweh is His name.” Yahweh is a Hebrew verb that means “He is”. Yahweh is the only living thing in the entire universe that was not brought into existence by another living thing. The name “Yahweh” articulates that truth, because when you ask the question, “Where did the God of the Bible come from?” the answer is “He is”, meaning He was not brought into existence, He has always existed. Yahweh simply is.

Ex. 15:4 Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has cast into the sea;

And the choicest of his officers are sunk in the Red Sea.

Ex. 15:5 The deeps cover them;

They went down into the depths like a stone.

Ex. 15:6 Your right hand, O Yahweh, is majestic in power,

Your right hand, O Yahweh, shatters the enemy.

Ex. 15:7 And in the greatness of Your exaltation You pull down those who rise up against You;

You send forth Your burning anger, and it devours them as chaff.

Think about the words “burning anger”. Christians do not generally sing about God’s burning anger, but God’s destruction of Egypt illustrates His anger.

Ex. 15:8 And at the blast of Your nostrils the waters were piled up,

The flowing waters stood up like a heap;

The deeps were congealed in the heart of the sea.

Ex. 15:9 The enemy said, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil;

My desire shall be fulfilled against them;

I will draw out my sword, my hand will dispossess them.’

Ex. 15:10 You blew with Your wind, the sea covered them;

They sank like lead in the mighty waters.

Ex. 15:11 Who is like You among the gods, O Yahweh?

Who is like You, majestic in holiness,

Fearsome in praises, working wonders?

The answer to both of these questions is no one. No one is like Yahweh. No other god or so-called god can do what Yahweh did to Egypt. The reason Yahweh brought the plagues upon Egypt and destroyed the Egyptian army in the Red Sea was to prove that He is a real, living Being Who has real power.

Ex. 15:12 You stretched out Your right hand,

The earth swallowed them.

Ex. 15:13 In Your lovingkindness You have guided the people whom You have redeemed;

In Your strength You have led them to Your holy habitation.

Ex. 15:14 The peoples have heard, they tremble;

Anguish has seized the inhabitants of Philistia.

Ex. 15:15 Then the chiefs of Edom were dismayed;

The leaders of Moab, trembling seizes them;

All the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away.

Look again at verses 14-15 and think about the ramifications of the references to Philistia, Edom, Moab, and Canaan. As we read the book of Exodus, we are tempted to think that Israel sang this song immediately after they crossed the Red Sea and that they only sung it once. However, verses 14-15 tell us the neighboring countries heard what happened to Egypt and became afraid. It would have taken a little bit of time for the news of the Egyptian Army demise to reach other countries. Therefore, I think it is better to think of this song as something that developed over time and was sung over and over again to celebrate Yahweh’s actions that delivered them from the threat of Egypt’s army.

Ex. 15:16 Terror and dread fall upon them;

By the greatness of Your arm they are still as stone;

Until Your people pass over, O Yahweh,

Until the people pass over whom You have purchased.

Ex. 15:17 You will bring them and plant them in the mountain of Your inheritance,

The place, O Yahweh, which You have made for You to inhabit,

The sanctuary, O Lord, which Your hands have established.

Ex. 15:18 Yahweh shall reign forever and ever.”

Verse 18 is the end of the song. The following verse explains why they sung the song.

Ex. 15:19 ¶ For the horses of Pharaoh with his chariots and his horsemen went into the sea, and Yahweh brought back the waters of the sea on them, but the sons of Israel walked on dry land through the midst of the sea.

Ex. 15:20 ¶ And Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took the tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and with dancing.

Ex. 15:21 And Miriam answered them,

“Sing to Yahweh, for He is highly exalted;

The horse and his rider He has hurled into the sea.”

There are many religions in the world. Every person needs to decide which religion they will follow, which means choosing which god they will obey. Even people who claim to be atheist or non-religious still have a belief system of some sort which dictates how they live their life, meaning they have a god whether they realize it or not.

The 15th chapter of Exodus articulates the truth that Yahweh is the only God who is a Living God, and He is far superior to all other so-called gods. Just as Israel acknowledged that Yahweh was their God, so too any person who wants to spend eternity in heaven instead of hell needs to declare that Jesus is their Lord and God.

Who is your God?

Have you ever declared that Yahweh/Jesus is your God?

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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”