阅读经文 

神使祂的子民脱离了埃及的奴役，（参出 12:31-38）正当他们要离开时，在红海边停了下来。他们转身看到法老的军队正在急速追赶而来，不禁感到非常害怕。（参出 14:1-10）但耶和华“用大东风，使海水……退去……海就成了干地”，（参出 14:21）这样祂的子民就可以顺利徒步走到对岸。

我们还在哪里听说过风（灵）与水的互动？在《创世记》第一章2节中，神的灵/风运行在水面上，为祂的创造做准备。然后，在《创世记》第八章1节中，神差遣风将大洪水逼退。现在，神又用大风分开海水，为祂的子民出埃及提供一条救赎之路。

当以色列人安然无恙地站在红海的对岸时，一度分开的海水却向法老的军队铺天盖地而来。神对祂子民的拯救是戏剧性的，也是具有决定性的，这一事件的象征意义正是如此。要记得，在《旧约》的其他经文中，埃及被描述为巨大的海怪“拉哈伯”。（参诗 89:10；赛 30:7，51:9-10）在《出埃及记》中，大海被一分为二。然后，在神的命令下，大海吞没了强大如拉哈伯的埃及军队。

神拯救了祂的子民，将他们从这个混乱、充满破坏力的世界中拯救出来。从奴役中解放出来的他们被分别出来，靠着神的应许为世界带去祝福。

God had set his people free from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 12:31-38), and as they were traveling away, they came to a halt at the Red Sea. Then they were terrified as they saw that Pharaoh's army was pursuing them (Exodus 14:1-10). But the Lord "drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land" (Exodus 14:21)so that his people could cross to the other side.

Where else have we heard of a wind (Spirit) interacting with water? In Genesis 1:2, God's Spirit/wind hovers over the chaotic waters, preparing for his creation. Then, in Genesis 8:1, God sends a wind to push back the waters of the great flood. Now here God drives the sea with a strong wind to provide a way of deliverance for his people.

And while Israel stands safe on the far bank of the Red Sea, the waters come crashing down on Pharaoh's army. God's rescue of his people is dramatic and momentous, and so is the symbolism of this event. Remember that Egypt is described as the great sea monster "Rahab" in other Old Testament passages (see Psalm 89:10; Isaiah 30:7, 51:9-10). Here in Exodus the sea is cut in two. And then at God's command the sea drowns the mighty Egyptian army.

God has delivered his people, saving them from the chaotic, destructive forces of this world. Freed from slavery, they are set apart to bring blessing to the world through God's promises.