Crossing the Red Sea
Trapped between the sea and Pharaoh's army, God parts the waters. Israel crosses on dry ground and the sea closes on the Egyptians.
Exodus 14:1-31
Take the Exodus 14 Quiz
Test your knowledge of this chapter
Explore Exodus Chapters
Study all chapters of Exodus
The Story
God led the people by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. But instead of taking them straight to Canaan, God led them toward the Red Sea. He had a plan.
When Pharaoh heard that the Israelites were hemmed in by the desert and the sea, he changed his mind. 'What have we done, letting Israel go?' He took his army—six hundred of the best chariots, plus all the other chariots of Egypt—and pursued them.
As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and saw the Egyptian army. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. 'Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die?' they complained to Moses.
Moses answered, 'Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.'
Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water.'
The angel of God moved from the front to the rear of the Israelites, and the pillar of cloud also moved behind them, standing between them and the Egyptians. Throughout the night, the cloud brought darkness to one side and light to the other.
Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on their right and their left.
The Egyptians pursued them into the sea. In the morning watch, the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud and threw the Egyptian army into confusion. He jammed their chariot wheels.
'Let's get away from the Israelites!' the Egyptians cried. 'The Lord is fighting for them!'
Then God told Moses to stretch out his hand over the sea. As morning appeared, the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing into it, and the Lord swept them into the sea. The water covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army. Not one survived.
That day the Lord saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians. When the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord against Egypt, they feared the Lord and put their trust in Him and in Moses His servant.
Walking Through the Sea
Kids Version
The Hebrew people were finally free! They followed a special cloud by day and fire by night. God was leading them!
But wait—Pharaoh changed his mind! 'Why did I let those slaves go?' He gathered his army with lots of chariots and chased after them.
The people looked ahead: the Red Sea. They looked behind: Pharaoh's army! They were TRAPPED!
'We're going to die!' they cried. 'Why did you bring us out here, Moses?'
Moses said, 'Don't be afraid! Watch what God will do! The Lord will fight for you!'
God moved the cloud behind the people, between them and the army. It was dark on the Egyptian side but light on Israel's side.
Then Moses raised his staff over the sea. God sent a strong wind that blew ALL NIGHT. And the sea split apart! Water stood up like walls on both sides, and there was DRY GROUND in the middle!
The people walked through on dry ground—right through the sea! Can you imagine? Water on the left, water on the right, walking on the bottom of the sea!
The Egyptian army followed. But God made their chariot wheels fall off! The soldiers got scared. 'God is fighting for them! Run away!'
Moses stretched his hand over the sea again. WHOOSH! The water came crashing back! The whole army was covered. Not one soldier escaped.
The people stood on the other side and saw what God had done. They were safe! God had saved them with His mighty power!
When we feel trapped and scared, God can make a way. Nothing is impossible for Him!
Ready to test your knowledge?
See how well you know this story from Exodus.
Characters in This Story
Settings & Locations
Scripture — Exodus 14:1-31 (KJV)
1And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baalzephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea.
3For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in.
4And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD. And they did so.
5And it was told the king of Egypt 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?
6And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him:
7And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them.
8And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an high hand.
9But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon.
10And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD.
11And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?
12Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.
13And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. for the: or, for whereas ye have seen the Egyptians to day
14The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
15And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:
16But 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.
17And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
18And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
19And 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:
20And 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 these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.
21And 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.
22And 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.
23And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.
24And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians,
25And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians. that they: or, and made them to go heavily
26And 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.
27And 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. overthrew: Heb. shook off
28And 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.
29But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
30Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.
31And 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. work: Heb. hand
Memory Verse
“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,”
— Exodus 14:1 (KJV)
Test Your Knowledge
How well do you know the story of “Crossing the Red Sea”? Take the quiz to find out.
More from Exodus & Wilderness
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the story of “Crossing the Red Sea” in the Bible?
Trapped between the sea and Pharaoh's army, God parts the waters. Israel crosses on dry ground and the sea closes on the Egyptians. This story is found in Exodus 14:1-31.
Where is “Crossing the Red Sea” found in the Bible?
“Crossing the Red Sea” is found in Exodus 14:1-31, in the book of Exodus.
What can children learn from “Crossing the Red Sea”?
This story teaches children about Deliverance, Faith in impossible situations, God fights for His people. The people were trapped! The sea was in front and Pharaoh's army behind. Moses raised his staff and God split the sea in two! The people walked through on dry ground. When the army followed, the water came back.