The Israelites were not baptized in water at the Red Sea — their baptism was a placing, as they crossed on dry ground, baptized unto Moses and unto the cloud.
Les Feldick explains that 1 Corinthians 10 calls the Red Sea crossing a baptism, but it was 'not water baptism in any way, shape, or form.' The Greek word baptizo means 'engulfed,' and the crossing placed Israel under Moses and the cloud as their deliverer and guide (Clips 1, 6). It also pictured the death and burial of Christ, as Israel came out the other side a redeemed people (Clip 4).
1 Corinthians 10:1-2 — Paul explicitly calls the Red Sea crossing a baptism — 'baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea' — which is the core text for the question.
Exodus 14:22 — Shows the crossing was on dry ground, proving the baptism was not in water.
The Bible calls Israel's Red Sea crossing a baptism. In 1 Corinthians 10:1-2, Paul writes that all the fathers 'were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea.' The crossing itself took place entirely on dry ground. Exodus 14:22 says 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.' Moses had told them, 'Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD' (Exodus 14:13), and the LORD divided the sea (Exodus 14:21). So the baptism was accomplished without the people being immersed in water. Stephen also rehearsed this history in Acts 7:36, saying that God 'brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.'
Les Feldick teaches that the Red Sea crossing was indeed a baptism, but it was 'not water baptism in any way, shape, or form' — Israel crossed on dry ground, so the word must indicate something else: a placing. In 1 Corinthians 10:1-2, Paul says all the fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, and all were 'baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea.' Les explains that the Greek word baptizo means 'engulfed,' and he notes that Homer and Plato used the same word of ships sunk at sea. Israel was engulfed in the Exodus experience and placed under Moses as God's appointed leader, as well as under the cloud of God's presence. Les also connects this to the Ecclesia — the called-out assembly, called 'the church in the wilderness' — but he is careful to say Israel was not baptized to become members of that assembly. The baptism was a change of position and identification, not a church ordinance. Beyond the placement, Les sees the crossing as a picture of the Gospel. The Red Sea experience was 'a picture again of the burial and the death of Christ'; Israel came out the other side 'a redeemed people' — a resurrection experience. The scene leading up to it was one of complete helplessness: Egypt behind, mountains on either side, the sea ahead. God told them to 'stand still,' then opened the sea — just as the helpless sinner is saved by grace through the death of Christ. Afterward, the waters drowned the Egyptians, and Moses led the people into the wilderness, where they soon met bitter waters at Marah.
No. Les Feldick is emphatic that 'this is not water baptism in any way, shape, or form.' Exodus 14:22 records that Israel went through the sea 'upon the dry ground,' and Les notes that God chose the deepest part of the sea rather than an easy crossing. The word Paul uses in 1 Corinthians 10:2, 'baptized,' in this context indicates a placing — not immersion in water.
Les teaches that the word baptism indicates a placing. When Israel passed through the sea, they were placed under Moses as their deliverer and leader, and under the cloud that accompanied them. This was not a baptism into church membership — Israel was not baptized to become members of the Ecclesia (the called-out assembly, the 'church in the wilderness'). It was a change of position and identification: they came out from under Egypt and were placed under God's appointed leader.
God led Israel to the sea at a point where there was no escape: the Egyptian army was behind them, mountains hemmed them in on both sides, and the Red Sea lay ahead. The people were 'without strength' and 'knew not what to do.' Moses told them to 'stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD' (Exodus 14:13), and then the power of God opened the sea. Les uses this to show that salvation is entirely the power and grace of God, not human effort.
Les teaches that the Red Sea experience 'was a picture again of the burial and the death of Christ.' The Passover lamb's blood began the deliverance, then Israel went into the sea as a burial experience, and they came out on the other side 'a redeemed people' — a resurrection experience. They did not work for it; it was all the power of God. Just as Israel was helpless and God opened the way, believers were 'without strength' and 'without hope' until God opened the way through grace — 'in due time Christ died for' us.
Les notes that after the crossing, the waters came back and drowned the Egyptians. Moses then led Israel into the wilderness of Shur, where they went three days without water. When they came to the oasis of Marah, the water was bitter and undrinkable — a picture Les applies to believers: shortly after salvation, they will encounter bitter experiences.
Ecclesia and the Called-Out Assembly
Les begins answering the question of the Red Sea baptism by distinguishing it from membership in the Ecclesia (the called-out assembly, called the 'church in the wilderness'), then points to Acts 7 where Stephen refers to Israel being brought out of Egypt under Moses after wonders and signs.
The Greek Word Baptizo Means 'Engulfed'
Les shows that the Greek word baptizo means to be engulfed or inundated — Homer and Plato used it of ships sunk at sea. Yet Israel crossed the Red Sea on dry land, so their baptism unto Moses and unto the cloud was not a water baptism.
Crossing on Dry Ground at the Deepest Point
Les notes that God opened the Red Sea at its deepest part, and Israel went across on dry ground — the power of God, not an easy shallow ford, brought them through.
Israel Trapped and Needing Redemption
Les sets the scene: Israel redeemed by the Passover blood, led out of Egypt under Moses, only to be trapped at the shores of the Red Sea with the sea in front of them — the impossible situation that makes the power of God so evident.
A Picture of Death, Burial, and Resurrection
Les teaches that the Red Sea experience was a picture of Christ's death and burial: Israel came out on the other side a redeemed people, a resurrection experience — all by the power of God, not works.
The Aftermath: Egyptians Drowned, Bitter Waters Ahead
Les shows that after the crossing the waters drowned the Egyptians, and Moses led Israel into the wilderness where they found bitter, undrinkable water at Marah — a reminder that bitter experiences often follow salvation.
Not Water Baptism — It Indicates a Placing
Les is emphatic that 1 Corinthians 10's baptism is 'not water baptism in any way, shape, or form' — the word indicates a placing, as Israel was baptized unto Moses and under the cloud.
Helpless Israel and the Power of God
Les pictures Israel locked in at the Red Sea — Egypt behind, mountains on both sides, no way forward — and shows that God's answer was 'stand still,' then He opened the sea, just as the helpless sinner is saved by grace through Christ's death.
1 Corinthians 10:1: Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
Paul grounds the Red Sea baptism in the history of all Israel's fathers in the Exodus.
1 Corinthians 10:2: And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
This is the exact phrase — 'baptized unto Moses' — that defines the Red Sea crossing as a baptism.
Exodus 14:13: And 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.
God's instruction before the sea opened was to stand still and watch His salvation.
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.
Records the LORD opening the sea to make dry land for Israel.
Exodus 14:22: 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.
Proves the crossing was on dry ground — no water baptism occurred.
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.
Shows the waters drowning the Egyptians after Israel crossed safely.
Exodus 14:29: But 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.
Again confirms that Israel walked on dry land in the midst of the sea.
Exodus 15:23: And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.
Records the bitter waters Israel encountered immediately after the Red Sea crossing.
Acts 7:36: He brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.
Stephen rehearses God bringing Israel out of Egypt under Moses.
Romans 5:6: For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
Connects the helplessness of Israel at the Red Sea to the believer's helplessness before salvation.
No. Les Feldick says it was 'not water baptism in any way, shape, or form.' The Israelites crossed on dry ground — the waters were a wall on their right and left (Exodus 14:22). The baptism Paul speaks of in 1 Corinthians 10 indicates a placing under Moses and the cloud.
The word baptized indicates a placing. Israel was placed under Moses as God's appointed deliverer and leader, and under the cloud of God's presence. It marked their complete separation from Egypt and identification with Moses.
The Greek word baptizo means 'engulfed' — Homer and Plato used it of ships sunk at sea. The whole experience engulfed Israel, placing them under Moses and the cloud. It also pictured Christ's death and burial, as Israel came out the other side a redeemed people.
Watch the Teaching: What "Baptized Unto Moses" Really Means — 1 Corinthians 10 Explained