Exodus 15

The song of Moses (vs. 1-19)—It must have been a tremendous relief and joy for the children of Israel finally to be out from under the oppression of Egypt and its tyrannical Pharaoh. Moses’ song is an expression of that rejoicing. It is largely a poetic rendition of what God did to the Egyptians. It starts out, as it should, with a recognition that it was Jehovah Who threw “the horse and its rider…into the sea” (v. 1). He thus is worthy of praise and exaltation (v. 2). Verse 3, “The Lord is a man of war” must be understood in poetic framework in which it is written; He makes war on His enemies when He needs to.

Pharaoh and “his chosen captains” certainly learned that and were “drowned in the Red Sea” (v. 4). Verse 5’s ”they sank to the bottom like a stone” is picturesque. The Lord “dashed the enemy in pieces” (v. 6), and overthrew “those who rose against You” by “the greatness of Your excellence” (v. 7). “With the blast of Your nostrils the waters were gathered together” (v. 8). The Egyptians pursued in vain (v. 9) because “You blew with Your wind” and “they sand like lead in the mighty waters” (v. 10). There is no god like Jehovah, “glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders” (v. 11). By His mercy He led His people forth (v. 13). The nations around “will hear and be afraid”—Philistia, Edom, Moah, Canaan—“trembling will take hold of them” and they “will melt away” (vs. 14-15). “Fear and dread will fall on them” until the Lord brings His people into the land He promised them (vs. 16-17). “The LORD shall reign forever and ever" (v. 18). A victory song of beauty and power.

Miriam’s dance and song (vs. 20-21)—Moses’ and Aaron’s sister adds her elation to the celebration, “and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances” (v. 21). Another short song sung by Miriam is recorded in verse 21.

Getting water in the wilderness (vs. 22-27)—Providing enough water in a desert wilderness for the tremendous host of people and livestock that left Egypt was going to be a continual problem, and the Lord will have to work miraculously more than once to solve it. In this case, after leaving the Red Sea, “they went three days in the wilderness and found no water” (v. 22). Storing and carrying water would not be easy, so they would depend upon natural sources. They came to a place called Marah—or perhaps they gave it that name, which means “bitter” because that’s how the water there tasted. The people complained “against Moses” (v. 24)—blaming him—asking what they would drink. A fair question, but not the complaining. Why could they not simply ask, in faith, trusting that the Lord would provide? These people would never do that. Moses took the issue before the Lord, Who “showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet” (v. 25). He then put a test before the people: “"If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you” (v. 26). Unfortunately, the children of Israel miserably failed the exam.

They traveled on to a place called Elim, where they found “twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees.” Sounds like a lovely place, and they camped there for awhile (v. 27).