The Law · Chapter 15 of 40

Exodus 15

On the far shore of the sea, Moses and Israel burst into song, praising the LORD who hurled Pharaoh's horses and riders into the deep and became their salvation. The song exalts God's holiness, power, and steadfast love, and looks ahead to His people planted in His holy mountain. Miriam leads the women in dance. Then at bitter Marah, God sweetens the water with a tree and reveals Himself as the One who heals.

What happens in Exodus 15

Standing safe beyond the Red Sea, Moses and Israel sing a triumphant song to the LORD, celebrating that He has thrown horse and rider into the sea and become their strength, song, and salvation. They marvel at His right hand shattering the enemy, His blast piling up the waters, and His mercy leading the redeemed. The song looks forward, foreseeing surrounding nations melting in fear and God planting His people in the mountain of His inheritance, declaring that the LORD shall reign forever.

Miriam the prophetess takes a timbrel, and the women follow with dances. Then Moses leads Israel into the wilderness of Shur, where after three waterless days they reach Marah but cannot drink its bitter water. The people murmur, Moses cries out, and God shows him a tree to cast into the water, making it sweet. There God gives a statute, promising health to those who heed His voice, and they camp at Elim.

Exodus 15 in context

Exodus 15 contains the Song of the Sea, one of Scripture's oldest and greatest hymns, celebrating the defining act of the Old Testament: deliverance through the divided waters. Ancient victory songs often followed a triumph, and here worship answers redemption.

The song moves from past rescue to future hope, from the sea to the sanctuary. The chapter then turns to Marah, showing that the God who saves also tests and provides for a journey only three days old.

Main themes of Exodus 15

Exodus 15 (KJV)

1Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. 2The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him. 3The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name. 4Pharaoh’s chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea. 5The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone. 6Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy. 7And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble. 8And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea. 9The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them. 10Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters. 11Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? 12Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them. 13Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation. 14The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina. 15Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away. 16Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased. 17Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O LORD, which thy hands have established. 18The LORD shall reign for ever and ever. 19For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea. 20And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. 21And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. 22So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. 23And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah. 24And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? 25And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, 26And said, 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, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee. 27And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.

Verses to carry from Exodus 15

“The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.”Exodus 15:2

“Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?”Exodus 15:11

“And said, 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, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.”Exodus 15:26

Reflection

Between the sea behind and the promise ahead lies Marah, where the water is bitter and the singing has stopped. What bitter place are you in only days after a clear rescue? The God who split the sea can sweeten the water. Bring Him your murmuring, and let Him show you the tree that heals.

A prayer from Exodus 15