Who Parted The Seas In The Bible?
The parting of the sea is one of the most dramatic miracles described in the Bible. This awe-inspiring event has captured people’s imagination for centuries. But who exactly had the power to part the mighty waters and allow the Israelites to walk through on dry land?
Keep reading to learn the full story behind this incredible feat.
If you’re short on time, here’s the quick answer: God parted the Red Sea to allow the Israelites to escape from the pursuing Egyptian army, according to the book of Exodus in the Old Testament.
The Parting of the Red Sea
The Exodus from Egypt
As described in the biblical Book of Exodus, the Israelite people were slaves in Egypt under the rule of the pharaoh. After God unleashed ten plagues on Egypt to convince the pharaoh to let the Israelites go free, the Israelites began their mass exodus from Egypt led by Moses.
According to the Exodus account, there were likely over 2 million men, women and children journeying on foot from Egypt to the Promised Land.
The Israelites had crossed the desert near the Red Sea when the pharaoh changed his mind and sent his army in pursuit to capture them. With the Red Sea before them and the Egyptian army behind, the Israelites seemed to be trapped, facing destruction or re-enslavement.
God Parts the Waters
In perhaps one of the Bible’s most dramatic miracles, God then instructed Moses to raise his staff over the Red Sea. Scripture describes how a strong east wind blew all night, splitting the waters so there was dry land and two walls of water on either side.
The Israelites were then able to flee across the parted Red Sea, walking safely on the dry ground.
Archaeological evidence may support this supernatural event. The Gulf of Aqaba branch of the Red Sea is believed by some scholars to be the possible location of the crossing. Advanced computer simulations indicate a strong east wind could have pushed back waters in a specific location to create a temporary land bridge before abruptly crashing back down.
The Destruction of Pharaoh’s Army
After the Israelites had crossed to safety, the pharaoh’s army followed them into the parted sea. At daybreak, according to Scripture, God allowed the waters to close again over the Egyptian army, destroying them.
The pharaoh and his chariots and horses all drowned when the parted waters came crashing back down. The escaping Israelites rejoiced, believing God had triumphed over the Egyptians who had enslaved them.
This extraordinary escape through parted waters allowed the Israelites to continue to Mount Sinai and eventually to the Promised Land. Jews and Christians today still celebrate the Exodus story as a testimony of their God’s supreme power and protection over his chosen people when they call out to him with faith.
Other Examples of God Parting Waters in the Bible
The Jordan River and the Ark of the Covenant
One of the first examples of God parting waters in the Bible occurs in Joshua 3. As the Israelites were preparing to enter the Promised Land after their exodus from Egypt, they had to cross the flooding Jordan River.
However, as soon as the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant set foot in the river, the waters parted and piled up in a heap, allowing the Israelites to cross on dry ground (Joshua 3:14-17). This miraculous event showed God’s power and care for His people as they followed His call.
Elisha and the Jordan River
The prophet Elisha also witnessed a parting of the Jordan River in 2 Kings 2. After Elijah was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elisha picked up Elijah’s cloak and struck the river with it. Immediately, the waters parted so that Elisha could walk across.
This not only confirmed Elisha’s calling as a prophet, but demonstrated that God’s power was now with him as it had been with Elijah (2 Kings 2:13-14).
Jesus Calms the Storm
In the New Testament, Jesus’ disciples saw an awe-inspiring display of His authority over the forces of nature. While sailing across the Sea of Galilee, a fierce storm arose and waves crashed over their boat. The terrified disciples woke Jesus and pleaded with Him to save them.
Jesus simply rebuked the wind and said, “Peace, be still!” Instantly the wind died down and the sea became perfectly calm (Mark 4:35-41). This miracle left the disciples marveling, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
The Significance of the Miracles
Demonstration of God’s Power
The miracles performed by God in parting the seas demonstrated His awesome power over nature and the elements. By parting the Red Sea, God showed that He has complete control over wind and water. This affirmed His sovereignty as the one true God.
The parting of the Jordan River also displayed God’s might, as He halted the flow of a major river simply by having the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant stand in the riverbed. These miracles revealed that God is all-powerful and able to manipulate nature however He desires.
Strengthening Faith in God
In addition to displaying God’s power, the parting of the seas served to strengthen the Israelites’ faith in God. When they saw the waters split before their eyes as they stood fearfully before the Red Sea, they had visible proof that God would protect them from harm.
This gave them courage to follow God’s instructions and walk through the seabed, trusting that He would bring them safely to the other side. Years later, seeing the Jordan River part reminded the next generation of God’s faithfulness.
His miracles reinforced that He was worthy of their complete trust.
Foreshadowing Jesus’ Miracles
Interestingly, God parting the waters foreshadowed later miracles performed by Jesus Christ. When Jesus calmed the storm on the Sea of Galilee, He demonstrated power over the waters and wind, just as God had done. According to the Gospels, Jesus even walked on water as if it was dry land.
By replicating God’s miracles over water, Jesus revealed His divine identity as the Son of God. His miracles pointed back to the Old Testament examples of God’s power over the seas. So in the big picture, God parting the waters not only displayed His might in the moment, but also gave a glimpse of the coming Messiah who would have equal power over the created world.
Conclusion
In summary, the parting of bodies of water in the Bible served as dramatic demonstrations of God’s omnipotence and sovereignty. By stopping the flow of raging seas and rivers, God showed that He has power over nature and can intervene miraculously to save His people.
These awe-inspiring events helped build faith in God and point ahead to the ministry of Jesus Christ, who would perform similar miracles centuries later. The parting of the Red Sea remains one of the most renowned miracles in the Bible, showing that with God, nothing is impossible.
