The Song of Moses

Story:  The Song of Moses

Passage: Exodus 15:1-21

Characters:  Moses, Miriam, Israel

Summary: Moses and the people of Israel sang a song of worship to God.  I will go through it in the notes.

  

Notes:   This song of worship was quite profound and it demonstrates how much the Israelites were affected by the visual display of God’s power.  The song begins by addressing God’s power.  He has cast the horse and its rider into the sea.  He is our strength and our song.  The Lord is a man of war.  His power is emphasized.  Then the song describes what had just happened.  It describes the Egyptians pursuing Israel into the sea and then God collapsing the waters on them.  It attributes the events to God.  Even though they were caused by a wind, it was a wind from God.  Next, the song recognized the superiority of God.  Who is like our God, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?  At His command, the earth obeyed.  The next section details His love, leadership, and reputation.  It is acknowledged that is was an act of love to lead them out of Egypt.  The surrounding people will tremble when Israel comes near out of the fear of God.  Israel will be brought to God’s dwelling place.  Then Miriam, Moses’ and Aaron’s sister danced and sang and the women joined in singing, “Sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.” This is the first line of Moses’ song.  This entire scene is like a real life musical!  The people began signing as a nation as soon as they were delivered.  After the men sang the song, the women danced and sang the chorus.  But the important thing was that the song was focused on God’s provision, power, and love.  If only the Israelites could remember this their entire lives!

Questions:  Was this song written by Moses?  Was it written later to express the feelings of Israel at the time?  What was the atmosphere of the people like at this point? 

Lessons: God is a God of war and a God of love.  His holiness demands war, but His grace, mercy, and love demands salvation and deliverance.  God is not just a God of war or a God of love, He is both!