What Does the Red Sea Crossing Represent?

by Anita Wood · Published April 22, 2023 · Updated July 30, 2023

Under water; what does the parting of the Red Sea represent?; Pain and Suffering In the Bible

Photo by Sime Basioli

“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” Exodus 15:19.

The Israelites had just left Egypt after hundreds of years of bondage. They were being pursued by Pharoah and his army. They escaped through the sea that Moses parted with his staff at the Lord’s command.

We Must Go Through to Come Out

I believe this passage represents an important principle about how to get delivered from bondage to sin. In order to get set free, it’s necessary to go through a figurative fire or sea. To read chapter 14 for context, click here.

The Israelites would not have been delivered from their captors or captivity had they not gone through the sea.

I think the sea represents sorrow or suffering. After all, it’s made of salt water, like tears. And according to Revelation 21: 1-4, the new heaven and earth will not have two things: seas and death (or mourning, crying, pain).

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. . . And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’”

Also, Zechariah 10:11 refers to the sea as a hard place as well. “They will pass through the sea of trouble. . . “.

Woman standing near ocean with arms outstretched in elation; what does the parting of the Red Sea represent? — Photo by Fuu J

Deliverance In the Fire

And when the three young Hebrew men were thrown into the furnace, their bonds were loosed. See Daniel 3:16-28. This speaks of deliverance from bondage or captivity. In order to be delivered of our bondages, or captivity to sin, we have to go through the sea or the fire.

In other words, we have to suffer. We may even experience pain that is so great that if not for the grace of God it would wreck us.

The Egyptians were destroyed by the very sea that brought deliverance to the Israelites. The furnace that loosed the bonds of the Hebrew men killed their captors.