What is the significance of the parting of the Red Sea?

from the old testament

• The Red Sea incident was God’s deliberate plan to show His might. He told Moses, “Tell the people of Israel to turn back and encamp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, in front of Baal-zephon; you shall encamp facing it, by the sea” (Exodus 14:2), intentionally placing them in front of the sea. He did that to set a trap, saying “Pharaoh will say of the people of Israel, ‘They are wandering in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.’ And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them” (Exodus 14:3–4a). God explained his reasoning: “I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD” (Exodus 14:4b).
• Thus, God placed Israel in a position to make it easy for the Egyptians to pin them down and capture them. The Israelites' reaction when they saw the Egyptians shows how dire the situation was. They cried out, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness” (Exodus 14:11–12).
• However, Moses told them to be patient and watch what God was about to do: “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent” (Exodus 14:13–14).
• God told Moses to “Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground” (Exodus 14:16). Moses obeyed, and God parted the sea, allowing the Israelites to cross on dry land (Exodus 14:21–22).
• The Egyptians took the bait and pursued them into the middle of the sea (Exodus 14:23), and the LORD looked down from the pillar of cloud and caused them to become confused and get stuck in the ground (Exodus 14:23–25).
• Then God sprang the trap, telling Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen” (Exodus 14:26). Moses again obeyed (Exodus 14:27), and the entire pursuing army drowned (Exodus 14:28).
• The account ends with the comment, “Israel saw the great power that the LORD used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses” (Exodus 14:31). The significance of the Red Sea crossing was to both display God’s glory and to mark Moses as God’s servant to be obeyed.
• This miracle became a definitive act, recounted throughout the Old Testament to remind the Israelites that their God was powerful (e.g., Psalm 66:6; 78:13; 106:9–11; Isaiah 43:16–17).

from the new testament

• The Exodus was a type of salvation, a small example of what Jesus accomplished (1 Corinthians 10:1–2). Just as the Israelites crossed the sea in faith (Hebrews 11:29), so also are people saved by faith (Ephesians 2:8–9). In the end, there will be a greater Exodus, in which Jesus will rescue His people from the world before destroying it in judgment. At that time, they will sing the song of Moses (Revelation 15:3–4), referencing the song Moses wrote after God brought them through the Red Sea (cf. Exodus 15:1–27).

implications for today

There’s a reason that the Old Testament repeatedly mentions the Red Sea crossing: it was a great display of God’s power, saving the Israelites from certain death. We can sometimes become “immune” to God’s miracles after reading them so often in Scripture, but the impossible sight of a sea splitting apart and the Israelites walking through it on dry land must have been an incredible sight. The God who can do that can do anything!

Yet it’s also unsurprising, because God created everything (Genesis 1). Therefore, He also has power and authority over everything. He has authority to move the seas and land at will. But that also means that, as your Creator, God has authority over you. For believers, the Red Sea is a comforting reminder that God can save them. For unbelievers, it’s a warning that God destroys His enemies.

At the end of time, there will be another exodus. Instead of rescuing His people through water, Jesus will come and rescue them from the world (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17), leaving His enemies to face His final judgment (Revelation 20:11–15). Just as the Red Sea displayed both God's salvation and His judgment, Jesus' return will ultimately bring salvation to His people and destruction to His enemies.

Who are you more like? Are you like the helpless Israelites, unable to save themselves, saved by faith in their God? Or are you more like the Egyptians who pursued His people to their own destruction? If you fear that you will be destroyed with the rest, we implore you to turn and repent right now. God is merciful. The Israelites weren’t saved because they deserved it, and neither can you earn it. Trust in Jesus, and when He returns, He will save you, too!