Exodus 15:8, commentary and pictures

With the blast of His nostrils God by His own command and power over nature gathered the waters together into heaps that stood upright like walls, and made the depths firm and still and congealed in the heart of the sea. That gathering opened a path through the midst of the sea so Israel could pass on dry ground, with the waters held back from overflowing the passage until the whole vast company had crossed safely without loss. The same divided sea became the means of overwhelming and destroying Pharaoh's pursuing Egyptian army when its piled-up walls rushed together upon them. The verse belongs to the song of triumph and grateful praise sung by the whole host of Israel with voices ringing out over the waters after the Lord led them to the sea, parted it, and delivered them. As an act of God it gives reason to praise Him and to trust Him for deliverance, and it was formed into song by God's command so the people would teach its history to their children and remember His power and care, with their united singing lifting their thoughts above trial, calming the restless spirit, strengthening faith, and bringing them into closer touch with God and with one another.

God Divides the Sea

The blast of the nostrils is God's command and His power over nature, by which the waters of the Red Sea were gathered together into heaps. At that command the floods stood upright as a heap, rising like walls on either hand, and the depths were made firm and still and congealed in the heart of the sea. The sea was thus held back by miracle so that its waters stood like walls and did not overflow the passage.

That gathering opened a path so that Israel could pass through on dry ground, with the depths held back in the middle of the sea until the people had passed. The whole vast company crossed safely without loss, kept from the waters on either side while the way remained open for them. While they passed, the angelic host was on the field of battle with them.

The same divided sea became the means of overwhelming the pursuing Egyptian army of Pharaoh. Its piled-up walls rushed together upon the pursuers and destroyed them, so that Israel escaped while their enemies were overcome and drowned.

Song of Triumph Remembered

Exodus 15:8 belongs to the song of triumph and grateful praise sung by the whole host of Israel after the Lord led them to the sea, parted it, and delivered them from Pharaoh's army. That song, recorded in Exodus 15:1-21, gave glory to God for His power and help on their behalf, with the people's voices ringing out over the waters in praise of their deliverance through the Red Sea and the drowning of the pursuing army. It was sung after God opened a path through the sea for Israel's escape and then brought its piled waters down upon the Egyptians to destroy them, while the angelic host was on the field of battle. The division of the sea set forth in the verse is thus an act of God that led Israel to praise Him and gives reason to trust Him for deliverance. At His command the waters gathered into walls and heaps, the depths stood firm and held back in the heart of the sea, the way opened for Israel to pass through on dry ground, and the pursuing army was overwhelmed.

Moses was commanded to form this deliverance into the song of Exodus 15 so the people could teach its history to their children and remember God's power and care. God used that song to fix precious lessons in their minds for the journey through the wilderness. Singing it lifted their thoughts above the trials and difficulties of the way, soothed and calmed the restless, turbulent spirit, implanted principles of truth in the memory, and strengthened faith. Joining voices together in praise while keeping step to instrumental music taught order and unity and brought the people into closer touch with God and with one another.