Crossing the Red Sea is a pivotal moment in the history of Israel similar to Passover for this generation. Passover is marked by an annual feast but this dramatic event is something of a final death blow for the armies of Egypt. It demonstrates not only to Egypt but the surrounding nations the power of God, the God of Israel, and for a time causes the people to fear God, trust God, and his servant Moses.

Exodus 14

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

2 “Speak to the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, in front of Baalzephon: before it you shall encamp by the sea.

3 For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel ‘They are entangled in the land, the wilderness has shut them in.’

4 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, that he follows after them; and I will receive honor because of Pharaoh, and all his host, that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD.” And they did so.

5 The king of Egypt was told that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said “Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?”

6 And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him:

7 He took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them.

8 The LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel were marching out boldly. 

9 But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them camping by the sea, beside Pi Hahiroth, before Baalzephon.

10 When Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel looked up, and saw the Egyptians marching after them; and they were greatly afraid: and the children of Israel cried out to the LORD.

11 And they said to Moses “Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us this way, to bring us out of Egypt?

12 Did we not say to you back in Egypt ‘Leave us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians?’ For it would be better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”

13 Moses said to the people “Fear not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD that he will show to you today: for the Egyptians you have seen today, you will never see them again. 

14 The LORD shall fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”

15 The LORD said to Moses “Why do you cry to me? Speak to the children of Israel, that they go forward:

16 But lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go through on dry ground in the midst of the sea.

17 I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get honor through Pharaoh, and all his army, his chariots, and his horsemen.

18 And the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD, when I have received honor through Pharaoh, his chariots, his horsemen.”

19 And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: 

20 And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to the other: so that the one did not come near the other all the night.

21 Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD pushed back the sea with a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.

22 And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground: and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand, and on their left.

23 The Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea; all of Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and horsemen.

24 In the morning watch the LORD looked down at the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and he threw the army into confusion, 

25 And took off their chariot wheels, that they drove them with difficulty: so that the Egyptians said “Let’s flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fights for them against the Egyptians.”

26 The LORD said to Moses “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, their chariots, and their horsemen.”

27 Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; as the Egyptians fled from it, the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.

28 And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, the horsemen, and all the army of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.

29 But the children of Israel walked on dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall on their right hand, and on their left.

30 So the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.

31 And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses.

Read Exodus 14 in the ESV, HSCB, NASB and NIV at Bible Gateway.