Sermon Guide: Exodus 14 "Grace & Faith"

Key Passage

Exodus 14:13–22 ESV

And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

The LORD said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground. And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they shall go in after them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, his chariots, and his horsemen. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”

Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was the cloud and the darkness. And it lit up the night without one coming near the other all night.

Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.

Sermon Overview

From Israel’s desperate moment at the Red Sea, this sermon highlights that salvation is entirely God’s work from start to finish: he takes the initiative, he fights the battle, and he brings his people through from death to life. The crossing is portrayed as a new-creation event—dark waters divided, dry land appearing—showing that just as God created the world without help, so he saves sinners by sheer grace. Israel contributed nothing but need; they were told to be still and see the Lord’s salvation. Yet grace does not eliminate response: salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone. Faith is not vague sentiment but active trust—stepping into the path God opens, abandoning all self-made “rafts,” repenting daily, and living in light of Christ’s promises. Because God fights first and wins, believers can stop trying to earn rescue and instead follow Jesus confidently, even when obedience feels like death, trusting him for resurrection life on the other side.

Sermon Structure

#1 Grace Alone

• God takes the initiative

• God does all the saving work

• Creation was grace

• New Creation is grace

#2 Faith Alone

• Faith is the means of salvation, not the cause

• Israelite #1 — all talk, no walk

• Israelite #2 — scared, but walks forward

• Israelite #3 — goes forward, but builds a raft for backup

• Three applications (rely on Christ alone; repent; live in light of his promises)

Questions for Discussion & Reflection

1. In Exodus 14, what specific details show that God alone takes the initiative and does the saving work? Where are we tempted to subtly “help” God with our salvation?

   
   

2. The difference between cause (grace) and means (faith) is emphasized. Why does confusing those two lead to boasting or insecurity? How does keeping them distinct produce humility and assurance?

   
   

3. Where in your life right now is Jesus calling you to “go forward”—to step out in concrete trust? What would it look like to stop building rafts and move forward in trust?