Exodus 14: “Saved Through the Waters”
1. God Leads His People into Apparent Danger
“The Lord said to Moses… encamp by the sea.” (Ex 14:1–2)
This is startling.
God deliberately leads Israel:
away from safety
toward danger
into a place with no escape
The Fathers insist this is intentional.
St Gregory of Nyssa explains:
“God leads the soul where escape is impossible, so that salvation may be known to come from Him alone.”
(Life of Moses)
This teaches a hard but consoling truth:
God sometimes leads us into situations where only He can save us.
2. God Explains Why He Is Doing This
“Pharaoh will say, ‘They are wandering in the land.’” (v. 3)
God allows the enemy to think victory is possible.
Why?
So that pride may fully reveal itself — and be destroyed.
St Augustine of Hippo writes:
“God allows the enemy to pursue so that the enemy may perish.”
(Sermons)
3. Pharaoh’s Heart Turns Back to Slavery
“What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go?” (v. 5)
Sin always regrets letting go of its slaves.
Freedom threatens the oppressor.
This verse teaches a vital Catholic lesson:
Sin does not surrender quietly; it pursues.
4. Pharaoh Mobilises All His Power
“He took six hundred chosen chariots… and all the chariots of Egypt.” (v. 7)
This is overwhelming force.
Chariots represent:
military power
speed
human strength
Israel has:
no weapons
no training
no escape
Salvation is now clearly impossible by human means.
5. Israel Sees the Enemy and Panics
“They were very afraid, and the people cried out.” (v. 10)
This is brutally honest.
The redeemed people are still afraid.
Catholic faith never pretends believers are fearless.
St John Chrysostom comments:
“Fear does not mean faith is absent; it means faith is being tested.”
(Homilies on Exodus)
6. The People Turn on Moses
“Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us here to die?” (v. 11)
Fear turns gratitude into accusation.
This mirrors human experience:
when danger returns
when old fears reappear
The Church recognises this as temptation to return to sin.
7. Moses’ Great Word of Faith
“Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord.” (v. 13)
This is one of the greatest lines in Scripture.
Moses gives three commands:
Do not fear
Stand firm
Watch what God will do
Catholic faith is often:
waiting
trusting
watching
St Augustine says:
“God saves not the running, but the trusting.”
(Sermons)
8. “The Lord Will Fight for You”
“You have only to be silent.” (v. 14)
This verse is central to Catholic theology.
Salvation is:
God’s work
not ours
Our role is cooperation, not control.
9. God Commands Action
“Why do you cry to Me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward.” (v. 15)
Trust does not mean passivity.
Faith moves when God commands.
This balances verse 14 perfectly:
God fights
we obey
10. The Sea Is Divided
“The Lord drove the sea back… and the waters were divided.” (v. 21)
This is the decisive miracle.
The Fathers are unanimous:
The sea is death; the crossing is salvation.
St Gregory the Great explains:
“The waters that destroy the enemy become the path of life for the faithful.”
(Moralia on Job)
11. Israel Walks Through on Dry Ground
“The people went into the midst of the sea on dry ground.” (v. 22)
This is not chaos.
This is ordered salvation.
The Church has always seen here:
Baptism
Passing from death to life
St Cyril of Jerusalem teaches:
“You pass through the water and the enemy is drowned; this is the image of Baptism.”
(Catechetical Lectures)
12. The Pillar Moves Behind Them
“The pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them.” (v. 19)
God now protects from behind.
Grace guards the past as well as the future.
This shows:
God stands between us and what once enslaved us.
13. Darkness for Egypt, Light for Israel
“The cloud was darkness to the one and light to the other.” (v. 20)
The same presence:
comforts the faithful
confounds the proud
St Augustine explains:
“The same God is light to the humble and darkness to the proud.”
(City of God)
14. The Enemy Follows into the Sea
“The Egyptians pursued and went in after them.” (v. 23)
Sin always overreaches.
What God opens for salvation, the enemy enters for destruction.
15. God Confounds the Enemy
“He clogged their chariot wheels.” (v. 25)
Human strength collapses.
Power fails.
Speed is useless.
This teaches:
What once terrified us cannot save itself.
16. The Enemy Finally Recognises the Truth
“Let us flee… for the Lord fights for them.” (v. 25)
Truth is recognised — too late.
This echoes many Gospel warnings.
17. The Waters Return
“The sea returned to its normal course.” (v. 27)
Judgment is complete.
There is no escape for the oppressor.
The Fathers insist this is necessary:
Salvation is incomplete if the enemy survives.
18. The Enemy Is Completely Destroyed
“Not one of them remained.” (v. 28)
This is final.
Sin is not wounded — it is defeated.
St Gregory of Nyssa writes:
“The enemy who pursued the soul is destroyed in the very waters he misused.”
(Life of Moses)
19. Israel Is Safe on the Other Side
“But the people of Israel walked on dry ground through the sea.” (v. 29)
Freedom is now real.
There is no going back.
20. The People See and Believe
“Israel saw the great power… and believed in the Lord and in His servant Moses.” (v. 31)
Faith is strengthened after salvation is experienced.
The Church knows this pattern well.
Key Catholic Themes in Exodus 14
| Theme | Catholic Meaning |
| Pursuit | Sin does not surrender easily |
| Fear | Faith is tested |
| Crossing | Baptism |
| Waters | Death defeated |
| Destruction of enemy | Sin truly overcome |
| Belief | Faith confirmed by salvation |
Christ at the Centre of Exodus 14
The Fathers are unanimous:
Moses → Christ
Pharaoh → sin and death
Sea → death
Crossing → Baptism
Enemy drowned → sin destroyed
Other side → new life
St Augustine summarises:
“The people passed through the water and the enemy was destroyed; this is the mystery of Baptism.”
(Sermons)
Spiritual Application
Do not be surprised when sin pursues after conversion.
Trust God when escape seems impossible.
Stand firm and obey when God commands.
Remember your Baptism — the enemy is defeated.
Live as one who has crossed over.
Closing Prayer
Lord God, mighty deliverer,
You led Your people through the sea
and destroyed the power that enslaved them.
Strengthen our faith when fear rises,
remind us of our Baptism,
and teach us to trust You completely.
May we never return to slavery,
but walk always in the freedom
won for us by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
St. Mary's, St. John Bosco and St. Edward's 