The Red Sea crossing illustrates that salvation is entirely God's work — accomplished by His grace and power, not by any human effort.
Israel stood trapped with the Egyptian army behind and the Red Sea ahead, without strength and with no human solution. God told them to "stand still" and then opened the sea, showing that deliverance came only through His power. Les Feldick draws the same picture for the sinner: we are helpless and separated from God, and salvation comes when we recognize our hopelessness and trust in God's grace through Christ's death and resurrection.
Exodus 14:13 — Moses tells Israel to "stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD," showing the deliverance would be the Lord's work alone.
Exodus 14:14 — The promise that the LORD would fight for Israel eliminates any human effort from the salvation picture.
Exodus 14:21-22 — The Lord's power opens the sea and Israel crosses on dry ground — the actual demonstration of salvation by God's power.
After Israel left Egypt with the blood of the Passover lamb on their doorposts, they came to the Red Sea and were trapped. Pharaoh's army was behind them and the sea was in front. Moses told 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. The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace" (Exodus 14:13-14). Then the LORD stretched out the sea: "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. 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" (Exodus 14:21-22). When Israel saw the great work the LORD did upon the Egyptians, they feared the LORD and believed (Exodus 14:31).
Les pictures Israel at the Red Sea as a perfect picture of the sinner's helplessness. With the Egyptian army behind, mountains to the right, and no way to the left, Israel was "locked in" and "without strength." Instead of building bridges or finding boats, God simply said, "Stand still," and then opened the Red Sea. Les says that is exactly where we are before salvation — helpless, without hope, with nothing we can do to save ourselves (Clips 1, 2). He emphasizes that redemption required three elements: a person (Moses, and ultimately Christ), the blood (the Passover lamb), and then the power of God at the Red Sea. Israel did not walk across by her own ability; she had to wait on God's power. For us, that power is epitomized in the resurrection of Christ, making salvation possible; otherwise we are "yet dead in our sins" (Clips 5, 6). Les also calls the Red Sea crossing a picture of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Israel went through the sea as through a burial and came out the other side a redeemed people — not by works, but by the power of God. Yet he insists there is an order: we must hear the word of truth, recognize our hopelessness, and believe. The same grace that justifies us freely is God's love and mercy poured out on sons of Adam (Clips 0, 3, 7).
Les teaches that the Red Sea experience was a picture of the burial and death of Christ. Israel went through the sea and 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, but it had to have the shed blood indicative of Christ's death. The same process applies to us in salvation.
When Israel stood trapped before the Red Sea, God did not tell them to construct a bridge or find a boat. He told Moses to tell the people, "Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD." Les explains that this showed Israel there was nothing they could do; they were without strength and had to wait for the power of God. In the same way, we cannot save ourselves by works; we must recognize our helplessness and trust in God's grace.
Les is clear that Israel could do nothing to open the sea. They could not throw up a pontoon bridge or requisition ships. God exerted His power while they could do nothing. They did have to move by faith and walk through on dry ground, but the deliverance itself was entirely God's doing. Likewise, salvation is not something we earn; it is the grace of God poured out on sinners who believe.
Les points out from Ephesians 1:13 that we must first hear the word of truth before we can believe. He uses the Red Sea to show that, just as Israel could not move out of slavery except by the power of God, we have to come to the place where we recognize our hopelessness. Then, by faith, we respond to God's grace. The Passover blood had to be applied first, then the power of God was exercised at the sea.
Grace as God's Attribute for Salvation
Les defines grace as the attribute of God by which He pours out on sons of Adam the opportunity for eternal life if they believe, and he shows that justification is freely given even though we do not deserve it.
Israel at the Red Sea as a Picture of Helplessness
Les describes Israel locked in with the Egyptian army behind, no way to the left, and mountains on the right; they were without strength and God told them to "stand still" before He opened the sea. This pictures our helplessness before salvation.
The Power of God as the Only Escape
Les says Israel was doomed until the power of God entered in, and that every one of us was separated from God and in bondage to sin, needing the same power for salvation.
Recognizing Hopelessness and Hearing the Word of Truth
Les shows that Israel could do nothing while God exerted His power, and that we too must recognize our hopelessness and hear the word of truth before we can trust Christ.
Redemption from Bondage Through Blood and Power
Les explains that Israel was in bondage and God had to buy them back; redemption began with the Passover blood on the doorposts, and then God led them to the Red Sea where they were trapped.
God's Power, Not Human Means
Les emphasizes that Israel could not build a pontoon bridge or requisition ships; they had to wait on the power of God. For us, salvation is epitomized in the resurrection of Christ.
Person, Blood, and Power
Les outlines redemption as based on a person, the blood, and the power of God; at the Red Sea the power of God moved in and the sea opened at the deepest place.
A Picture of Death, Burial, and Resurrection
Les interprets the Red Sea crossing as a picture of the burial and death of Christ; Israel came out the other side a redeemed people, a resurrection experience, and we go through the same process by God's power.
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.
This is the key verse that connects the Red Sea event to the idea of "salvation," showing that Israel was to stand still and watch God work.
Exodus 14:14: The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
This emphasizes that the battle and the deliverance belonged entirely to the LORD.
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.
This records the miraculous power of God that opened the sea for Israel's escape.
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.
This shows Israel walking through on dry ground — deliverance accomplished entirely by God's power.
Exodus 14:31: And 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.
This shows the result of God's saving work: Israel feared and believed the LORD.
Ephesians 1:13: In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Les uses this verse to show that salvation has an order — hearing the word of truth comes before believing.
Romans 3:24: Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
This supports Les's teaching that justification is by grace alone, which the Red Sea pictures.
No. Israel could do nothing to open the Red Sea; they could not build a bridge or find ships. God told them to stand still and then opened the sea by His power, showing that salvation is entirely God's doing.
Les teaches that Israel going through the Red Sea was a burial experience, and coming out on the other side was a resurrection experience. They came through as a redeemed people — not by works but by the power of God, with the shed blood of the Passover lamb pointing to Christ's death.
A person must hear the word of truth, recognize their hopelessness as a sinner, and believe that what Christ did on their behalf is all that God demands. Just as Israel stood still and saw God's salvation, the sinner turns to God's grace and is justified freely.
Les says Israel could do nothing while God exerted His power, but they did have to move by faith and walk through on dry ground. In salvation, we do not work for it, but we must personally hear the word of truth, believe, and trust in God's grace.
Watch the Teaching: Romans 3: Why No One Can Be Saved by the Law