In our series so far, we’ve seen, “4By faith Abel… 5By faith Enoch… 7By faith Noah… 8By faith Abraham… 11By faith even Sarah… 20By faith Isaac… 21By faith Jacob… 22By faith Joseph… 23By faith Moses….” Now, in verse 29, we see a shift from individuals to a group of people, the Israelites. Hebrews 11 reminds us that a life of faith is not reserved for a select few, it is the calling of all God’s people.
The story of Israel crossing the Red Sea reveals a pattern that still defines how God works today: He brings us out, He brings us through, and He brings us into His promises.
God Brought Them Out of Egypt
The Israelites did not escape Egypt by their own strength. They didn’t fight their way to freedom or organize a rebellion. God delivered them. In the same way, salvation is not something we accomplish. It is something God does on our behalf.
“By faith he instituted the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn might not touch the Israelites.” – Hebrews 11:28
The Passover points us directly to Jesus. The Israelites were instructed to take a spotless lamb and put its blood over their doorposts so that judgment would pass over them. That moment foreshadowed Christ, our perfect sacrifice. Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
We often think we found God, but the truth is even more humbling: You did not find God, He found you! Christianity is not about striving to earn God’s favor. It is about receiving what Christ has already finished.
Christianity is not spelled D-O but D-O-N-E.
Through His sacrifice, we are brought out of bondage, rescued from death, and given a new beginning. The enemy may try to accuse and condemn, but his voice does not have the final say. The blood of Jesus has the last word!
God Brought Them Through the Sea
“By faith they crossed the Red Sea as though they were on dry land. When the Egyptians attempted to do this, they were drowned.” – Hebrews 11:29
God doesn’t just bring us out, He also brings us through. Leaving Egypt was only the first step. Soon after, Israel found themselves trapped between the Red Sea and the most powerful army in the world. There was no visible escape, no human solution, no clear path forward. It was an impossible situation.
Many of us know exactly what that feels like. Seasons where life presses in from every side, where fear rises, and where the path ahead seems completely blocked. Yet these are often the very places where God does His greatest work.
They were surrounded by the enemy, but they were surrounded by God.
God will put you in impossible situations to reveal His power and bring Him glory.
God leads us through trials, sickness, fearful experiences, seasons of transition, and days of uncertainty.
“Is anything too hard for the Lord?” – Genesis 18:14
“For with God nothing will be impossible.” – Luke 1:37
The Red Sea moment teaches us that faith is not passive. It requires movement. The waters did not part while Israel stood still in fear. They parted as they stepped forward in obedience. Faith is not in your feelings but in your feet!
God opened the sea at just the right moment, making a way for their advancement, and then closed it behind them for their protection. Yet even in the midst of miracles, Israel wrestled with fear. At the first sign of trouble, they forgot everything God had already done. Just one trial caused them to forget ten miracles. Fear led to complaining, doubt, and even a desire to return to bondage. But complaining never solves anything, it only deepens the struggle. Instead, God called them to trust Him, to be still, and to stand firm:
“Don’t be afraid. Stand firm… The Lord will fight for you.” – Exodus 14:13-14
The same God who goes before us also stands behind us. His presence surrounds us, guiding and protecting every step, even when we do not fully understand the way.
God Brought Them into the Promise
Hebrews 11 moves straight from the Red Sea to the walls of Jericho without mentioning the forty years in the wilderness or the many failures in between. Why? Because God defines His people not by their failures, but by their faith and His promises. Their lives were not one of perfection, but of promise.
That truth should encourage every one of us. Our past does not have to define our future.
The Red Sea itself becomes a powerful picture of salvation. Just as the Egyptian army was buried beneath the waters, our sins were buried with Christ. When Jesus rose again, our sins did not rise with Him, they were left behind forever. Not one of your sins will ever come back for you.
Scripture reminds us that God casts our sins into the depths of the sea and removes them as far as the east is from the west. What once pursued you has been dealt with. What once held you in bondage has been broken.
Notice the sea was not removed, but it was redeemed. The very obstacle that seemed like it would destroy them became the pathway that delivered them. God still works that way today. He uses what looks impossible to reveal His power and to bring glory to His name.
What is your Red Sea? What stands between you and what God is calling you into? You may feel caught between where you’ve been and where God is leading you, but the message of this story is clear: The way out is always forward.
What God has for you is not in the rearview mirror.
God has already brought you out. He is bringing you through. And He is leading you into something greater than you can see right now.
Faith calls for a step. And what you do today, this day, can shape everything about that day when you stand before Him.
