Only by a miracle — God moved Israel faster than a normal walk and opened the Red Sea wide enough for a dry-ground crossing.
Les Feldick teaches that the enormous multitudes of Israel, with their livestock, could not have crossed the Red Sea in such a short time at an ordinary three-mile-an-hour pace. He insists that God both accelerated their movement and opened the sea an amazingly wide distance, making the crossing a supernatural act rather than a natural event.
Exodus 14:21-22 — This is the core account of the Red Sea being divided by God so Israel could enter on dry ground.
Exodus 19:4 — Les cites this verse to show God bore Israel on eagles' wings, picturing His miraculous deliverance in the Exodus.
The biblical account records that Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all night, making the sea dry land. The waters were divided, and the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, with the waters as a wall on their right hand and on their left. When Pharaoh's army chased after them, the waters returned and covered the chariots, horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh, so that not one remained. Exodus 19:4 later describes how God bore Israel on eagles' wings and brought them to Himself, an image of His extraordinary, miraculous care rather than normal travel.
Les Feldick says that given the vast size of the Israelite multitude and their livestock, and the short amount of time involved, God had to move them miraculously faster than a three-mile-per-hour walk. He also believes God opened the Red Sea an amazingly wide distance to let such a large group pass through in the time they did. Les rejects the idea that they crossed at the shallow northern end or that natural tidal waves explain the event. Instead, he points to the deep-water, dry-ground miracle as the supernatural working of God. He also notes the use of eagles' wings imagery in Exodus 19:4, while clarifying that Israel actually walked — they did not fly. For Les, the crossing is a picture of salvation, with the sea representing burial and coming out the other side representing resurrection.
Les Feldick stresses that even though God describes bringing Israel on eagles' wings, they actually walked out of Egypt. They did not have helicopters or planes to pick them up. The miraculous part was not that they flew, but that God moved the entire multitude faster than a normal walking pace and opened the Red Sea wide enough for them to cross on dry ground.
Les points out that God deliberately did not lead Israel through the short Philistine route, and therefore he knows they did not cross at the shallow upper end. He insists the crossing happened at the deep part of the sea, where there was no easy place to cross, so that God's power would be unmistakable. Any attempt to explain the crossing by shallow water or tidal waves, he says, is 'hogwash' and 'bilge water.'
Scripture records that the waters returned and covered the chariots, horsemen, and all of Pharaoh's host that had come into the sea after Israel, so that not one remained. Les sees the entire event as a picture of salvation: the crossing itself pictures burial, and coming out on the other side pictures resurrection. He also uses the Red Sea crossing as a backdrop for the supernatural nature of God's work with Israel throughout their history.
Route to the Red Sea
Les explains that God did not let Israel take the short route through the Philistines, which is part of why he knows they did not cross at the shallow northern end.
Miraculous Speed and Width
Les teaches that God moved the whole multitude miraculously faster than a three-mile-an-hour walk and opened the Red Sea an amazing distance to allow the crossing in a short time.
Supernatural vs. Natural Explanations
Les rejects natural explanations like an 18-inch-deep crossing or tidal waves, calling the parting a miraculous act of Almighty God.
The Crossing and the Overthrow
Les reads the scriptural account of the waters returning and covering the Egyptians, showing that the crossing and destruction were direct acts of God.
Deep-Water Crossing
Les insists the crossing happened where the sea was deepest, and Israel went across on dry ground, proving God's power.
Crossing the Jordan on Dry Ground — What Most People Miss
Well, the water just suddenly piled up. And like they did at the Red Sea experience, Israel is able to cross Jordan even though it's at flood stage on dry ground. Now, I think I've emphasized before, and I constantly remind my classes that when you deal with God and Israel, the supernatural is commonplace. Never be shocked by any kind of a supernatural miraculous event when God deals with Israel.
Eagles' Wings Imagery
Les clarifies that while God said Israel came to Him as on eagles' wings, they actually walked — they had no aircraft or supernatural transportation.
Miracle After Miracle
Les places the Red Sea crossing in the sequence of miracles Israel witnessed, emphasizing that the exodus and dry-ground crossing were supernatural.
Exodus 14:21: 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.
Shows God directly causing the sea to become dry land for the crossing.
Exodus 14:22: And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were unto them a wall on their right hand, and on their left.
Confirms Israel entered the sea on dry ground with walls of water on both sides.
Exodus 14:28: 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.
Records the destruction of Pharaoh's army in the same sea Israel had crossed.
Exodus 19:4: Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.
Les uses this verse to illustrate God's miraculous care in bringing Israel out of Egypt.
Yes, according to Les Feldick. He teaches that God moved the whole multitude miraculously faster than a three-mile-an-hour walk, and that God opened the Red Sea an amazing distance to allow them to pass through in the time they did.
No. Les rejects that idea, insisting they crossed at the deepest point on dry ground. He says any attempt to explain the crossing by shallow water or tidal waves is a naturalistic explanation that misses the miraculous power of God.
Yes. Scripture states the waters returned and covered the chariots, horsemen, and all of Pharaoh's host, so that not one of them remained.
Watch the Teaching: Why God Led Israel the Long Way: The Red Sea & The Pillar of Fire