Red Sea
The Red Sea is a body of water located between northeastern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. The sea gets its name from the proliferation of red-colored algae that thrive in its waters, giving it a reddish hue.[1] Historically, it has served as a major route connecting Egypt and East Africa with Persia and India. After the Suez Canal was opened in 1869, the Red Sea became the shortest route connecting Europe and Asia through the Mediterranean, eliminating the need to bypass Africa. In the Bible, it is mentioned as the location where the Israelites crossed to escape the pursuing Egyptian army during their exodus from Egypt.[2]
| Red Sea | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | Northeastern Africa and the western Arabian Peninsula |
| Features | It connects the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean via the Suez Canal. |
| Maximum Length | 2,300 km (Approx. 1,430 miles) |
| Surface Area | 440,000 ㎢ |
| Average Depth | 500 m (Approx. 1,640 ft) |
| Maximum Water Depth | 2,213 m (Approx. 7,260 ft) |
| Adjacent Nations | Egypt, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Eritrea, Yemen, Djibouti, Jordan, Israel |
Location and Geographical Characteristics
The Red Sea is located to the north of the East African Rift and between the African continent and the Arabian Peninsula. It is a narrow and long body of water, approximately 2,300 km (1,430 mi) in length and with a maximum width of about 360 km (224 mi). Due to its arid environment, the evaporation rate is high, and there are no rivers flowing into it except for intermittent streams known as wadis, resulting in high salinity.
The Red Sea connects to the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba at its northern end, flowing through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait into the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. The Gulf of Aqaba borders Israel and Jordan, while the western shores are adjacent to Egypt, Sudan, and Eritrea, and the eastern shores are near Saudi Arabia and Yemen. The coasts on both sides feature many cliffs, and the presence of coral reefs along the shoreline limits suitable docking and anchoring locations for vessels.
Despite these challenges, trade and expeditions utilizing the Red Sea have been active since ancient times.[3] The Bible records that Solomon, the third king of Israel, enhanced the nation’s treasury through trade that connected the Red Sea with land routes.[4] Today, ports such as Acre and Jeddah are developed along the Arabian Peninsula’s coast, while ports like Suez and Port Sudan thrive on the African coast.[1]
The Miracle of the Red Sea (The Miracle of Moses)
The Red Sea is well known for the “Miracle of the Red Sea” (the miracle of Moses) recorded in the book of Exodus in the Bible.
Overview
The Israelites, who had been under Egyptian rule for about 400 years, observed the Passover and were liberated from Egypt. At the time of the Exodus, the number of Israelite men exceeded 600,000.[5] When including women and children, the total is estimated to be around 3 million. Although the route to their destination, Canaan, was closer through the land of the Philistines, God led the Israelites along the path toward the Red Sea.[6]
Soon after releasing the Israelites, Pharaoh changed his mind and took all the chariots of Egypt to pursue the Israelites. With the Red Sea ahead and the Egyptian army pursuing them from behind, the Israelites found themselves in a desperate situation and began to blame Moses. God instructed Moses to stretch out his hand over the sea.[7] When Moses obeyed and raised his staff over the water, a strong east wind blew, parting the sea. The water stood as walls on both sides, and the sea became dry land.
Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.
The next morning, all the Israelites crossed the Red Sea safely. At that time, God commanded Moses to stretch his hand over the sea again. When Moses obeyed God’s command and stretched his hand over the sea, the waters returned to their original state. The waters covered Pharaoh’s army, which had entered the sea in pursuit of the Israelites, and not one of them survived.[8]
- The Miracle That Divided the Red Sea (A scene from the movie, The Ten Commandments)
Lesson
The Red Sea, the first obstacle the Israelites faced after their exodus, was deep and wide, posing an insurmountable barrier for them. However, when Moses stretched out his staff in obedience to God’s command, a miracle occurred. With God’s assistance, the Red Sea, once a formidable obstacle, became the shortcut to Canaan and a means of salvation by defeating the enemy. When God’s power is present, nothing is impossible. This event reminds believers on their journey to heaven that they must rely on and trust in God rather than their own strength.[9]
Prophetic Meaning
The works of Moses in the Old Testament serve as a prophecy reflecting the works of Jesus Christ in the New Testament.[10][11] The Bible explains the significance of baptism through the event of Jesus being buried in the tomb and resurrected, while also drawing a parallel to Moses and the Israelites entering the Red Sea and emerging on the other side.[12][13] In comparing the works of Moses and Jesus in relation to baptism, Moses’ entry into the Red Sea symbolizes Jesus’ burial in the tomb, while Moses’ emergence from the Red Sea represents Jesus’ resurrection. This prophetic meaning is related to God’s feasts—the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Feast of Firstfruits (Day of Resurrection).
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Is the Red Sea really red?, Live Science, July 23, 2022
- ↑ "Exodus 14:6–31".
- ↑ Phoenicians, Glenn Markoe, University of California Press, 2000, pg.51
- ↑ "1 Kings 9:26–28".
- ↑ "Exodus 12:37".
- ↑ "Exodus 13:17".
- ↑ "Exodus 14:15–18".
- ↑ "Exodus 14:27–28".
- ↑ "Philippians 4:13".
- ↑ "Deuteronomy 18:15–19".
- ↑ "Acts 3:20–24".
- ↑ "Romans 6:3–7".
- ↑ "1 Corinthians 10:1–2".