Page 1 of 1
Moses and the story of the parting of the Red Sea
Posted: July 5th, 2018, 3:46 pm
by Dusty52
Many years ago I read a book about Moses
In the film the 10 commandments we see Moses standing on a rock waiving his rod in the air and parting the Red Sea
In the book I read it stated that Moses actually walked into the Red Sea and just before the water reached his head the sea parted. I like the second version because for me it showed that Moses had to demonstrate his faith, faith precedes the miracle. Has anyone else heard the story? Which version do you prefer? Hollywoods or the book?
Re: Moses and the story of the parting of the Red Sea
Posted: July 5th, 2018, 3:57 pm
by Alaris
Dusty52 wrote: ↑July 5th, 2018, 3:46 pm
Many years ago I read a book about Moses
In the film the 10 commandments we see Moses standing on a rock waiving his rod in the air and parting the Red Sea
In the book I read it stated that Moses actually walked into the Red Sea and just before the water reached his head the sea parted. I like the second version because for me it showed that Moses had to demonstrate his faith, faith precedes the miracle. Has anyone else heard the story?
I just posted on the movie 10 commandments recently. Definitely do not take the movie as gospel, which I'm sure goes without saying.
I'm not sure about the second account - perhaps it's a Jewish oral tradition or something along those lines?
Re: Moses and the story of the parting of the Red Sea
Posted: July 5th, 2018, 4:03 pm
by Dusty52
Yes I read the account in a Jewish historical book I remember now
Re: Moses and the story of the parting of the Red Sea
Posted: July 8th, 2018, 5:29 pm
by righteousrepublic
Exodus 14
16 But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.
21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by 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 upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
26 ¶ And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.
27 And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.
28 And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.
So we see that it wasn't Moses that parted the Red Sea, it was the Lord through Moses by having Moses stretch forth his hand over the Sea holding a rod.
Re: Moses and the story of the parting of the Red Sea
Posted: July 9th, 2018, 1:46 pm
by Alaris
righteousrepublic wrote: ↑July 8th, 2018, 5:29 pm
Exodus 14
16 But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.
21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and
the Lord caused the sea to go back by 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 upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
26 ¶ And
the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.
27 And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.
28 And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.
So we see that it wasn't Moses that parted the Red Sea, it was the Lord through Moses by having Moses stretch forth his hand over the Sea holding a rod.
Eastern wind ... interesting.
Isaiah 51:9 ¶ Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon?
10 Art thou not it which hath dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; that hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over?
Isaiah 41:2 Who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? he gave them as the dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow.
Isaiah 63:11 Then he remembered the days of old, Moses, and his people, saying, Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his flock? where is he that put his holy Spirit within him?
12 That led them by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm, dividing the water before them, to make himself an everlasting name?
Isaiah 53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?
Re: Moses and the story of the parting of the Red Sea
Posted: July 10th, 2018, 9:46 am
by inho
I have heard that version too. However, I'm not sure if there really are versions of that story, where the one walking to water is Moses himself. I tried to google it, but found mostly references to a midrash about Nachshon. This is from
Wikipedia:
The Midrash relates that during the Exodus, when the Israelites reached the Red Sea, it did not automatically part. The Israelites stood at the banks of the sea and wailed with despair, but Nahshon entered the waters. Once he was up to his nose in the water, the sea parted.