Song of Moses

Exodus 15:1-21

This chapter of Exodus is set on the banks of the Red Sea, where God miraculously saved His people. Can you imagine the scene? Waves were hitting the shore, adrenaline was still coursing through their veins, and no Egyptian was seen. God had just parted the Red Sea for the Israelites and then brought it crashing down on the pursuing Egyptian army. As they stood in shock and wonder at what had happened, Moses led the people in a song of praise. 

This song is one of praise and faith. It starts with the powerful reminder that the Lord has just “triumphed gloriously” (v.1), and then the people sing about how God became their salvation (v.2). He saved them from death at the hands of the Egyptian army. He again showed His people that they could not save themselves, but salvation is found in Him alone. The people had faith in their God, who had saved them, and praised Him as a result of that faith.

The song recognizes God’s superiority and power in the face of how He had just saved them. Verse 11 says 

“Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?”

The Israelites had just come from Egypt, where hundreds of gods were worshiped, and here they recognized that their God was more accurate, more powerful, and more personal than any of the false gods of Egypt. The incredible act of splitting the sea and allowing millions of people to walk through it led them to worship and praise Him for what He had done.

True worship points to the character and person of God in praise and faith. We can cling to this song today and remember that our God is still the same God who split the seas and was “glorious in power” (v.6). This song that is thousands of years old can lead us to remember that, just as the Israelites sang on the shores of the Red Sea, there is still no God like Him (v.11), and He is still worthy of our worship in praise and faith. 

Finally, the words “the Lord will reign forever and ever” (v.18) close out the song and reflect the truth that our God is eternal, and therefore our eternity is secure. God will reign forever and ever, and one day, we will worship Him in praise and faith before the throne, singing praises to Him for the rest of eternity.