Today’s Bible Study Lesson is Exodus Chapter 15- Led By Sis Tiffany Sheppard
Be encouraged to Read, Respond, and Share.
📖 Exodus Chapter 15 — “The Song of Moses: Victory and Praise”
Introduction
Exodus 15 is one of the most powerful songs of praise in Scripture. It’s sung by Moses and the Israelites after God miraculously delivered them from Pharaoh’s army at the Red Sea. The chapter celebrates God’s unmatched power, faithfulness, and deliverance — and closes with the Israelites arriving at Marah, where God shows that He is not only a Deliverer but also a Healer.
Verse-by-Verse Study (NLT)
Verses 1–2
Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord: “I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; he has hurled both horse and rider into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. This is my God, and I will praise him—my father’s God, and I will exalt him!”
Explanation:
The Israelites express heartfelt praise to God for their deliverance. This song marks the first recorded song of praise in the Bible. They acknowledge that God alone is their strength, victory, and salvation — a deeply personal declaration of faith.
Verse 3
“The Lord is a warrior; Yahweh is his name!”
Explanation:
God is portrayed as a divine warrior — one who fights for His people. “Yahweh” signifies His covenant name, showing His personal relationship with Israel.
Verses 4–5
“Pharaoh’s chariots and army he has hurled into the sea. The finest of Pharaoh’s officers are drowned in the Red Sea. The deep waters gushed over them; they sank to the bottom like a stone.”
Explanation:
This recounts the destruction of Egypt’s army — the most powerful military of its time. God’s power is unmatched; human strength cannot stand against Him.
Verse 6
“Your right hand, O Lord, is glorious in power. Your right hand, O Lord, smashes the enemy.”
Explanation:
The “right hand” represents God’s strength and authority. His power completely defeats all opposition.
Verse 7
“In the greatness of your majesty, you overthrow those who rise against you. You unleash your blazing fury; it consumes them like straw.”
Explanation:
God’s wrath against evil is likened to fire consuming straw — swift and total. This shows His justice and holiness.
Verse 8
“At the blast of your breath, the waters piled up! The surging waters stood straight like a wall; in the heart of the sea the deep waters became hard.”
Explanation:
This verse poetically describes the miracle of the Red Sea parting — a display of God’s control over nature. His “breath” symbolizes His power and Spirit.
Verses 9–10
“The enemy boasted, ‘I will chase them and catch up with them. I will plunder them and consume them. I will flash my sword; my powerful hand will destroy them.’ But you blew with your breath, and the sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters.”
Explanation:
The Egyptians’ prideful confidence contrasts with God’s effortless victory. One breath from God ends the threat completely — a reminder that no enemy can prevail against Him.
Verse 11
“Who is like you among the gods, O Lord—glorious in holiness, awesome in splendor, performing great wonders?”
Explanation:
This rhetorical question glorifies God’s uniqueness. His holiness, majesty, and miraculous acts set Him apart from any false god or power.
Verse 12
“You raised your right hand, and the earth swallowed our enemies.”
Explanation:
A summary of God’s judgment — He simply acts, and creation obeys Him. His command is enough to secure victory.
Verse 13
“With your unfailing love you lead the people you have redeemed. In your might, you guide them to your sacred home.”
Explanation:
God’s relationship with His people is rooted in love and redemption. This verse points prophetically to both the Promised Land and to salvation through Christ.
Verses 14–16
“The peoples hear and tremble; anguish grips those who live in Philistia. The leaders of Edom are terrified; the nobles of Moab tremble. All who live in Canaan melt away; terror and dread fall upon them.”
Explanation:
News of God’s mighty acts spreads, striking fear in the hearts of surrounding nations. God’s power goes before His people to prepare the way.
Verses 17–18
“You will bring them in and plant them on your own mountain—the place, O Lord, reserved for your own dwelling, the sanctuary, O Lord, that your hands have established. The Lord will reign forever and ever!”
Explanation:
This looks forward to the time when God’s people will dwell with Him in His sanctuary — a picture of eternal worship and divine rule. God’s reign is everlasting.
Verses 19–21
“When Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and charioteers rushed into the sea, the Lord brought the water crashing down on them. But the people of Israel had walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground! Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine and led all the women as they played their tambourines and danced. And Miriam sang this song: ‘Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; he has hurled both horse and rider into the sea.’”
Explanation:
Miriam leads the women in praise, echoing Moses’ song. Worship becomes a community celebration — joyfully acknowledging God’s deliverance through music and dance.
Verses 22–24
“Then Moses led the people of Israel away from the Red Sea, and they moved out into the desert of Shur. They traveled in this desert for three days without finding any water. When they came to the oasis of Marah, the water was too bitter to drink. So they called the place Marah (which means ‘bitter’). Then the people complained and turned against Moses. ‘What are we going to drink?’ they demanded.”
Explanation:
After victory comes testing. The Israelites quickly forget God’s power and begin to complain — revealing how short-lived human gratitude can be without faith.
Verses 25–26
“So Moses cried out to the Lord for help, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. Moses threw it into the water, and this made the water good to drink. It was there at Marah that the Lord set before them the following decree as a standard to test their faithfulness to him. He said, ‘If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping all his decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the Lord who heals you.’”
Explanation:
God turns bitter water sweet — symbolizing how He transforms bitterness into blessing. He reveals Himself as Jehovah-Rapha, “The Lord who heals,” emphasizing obedience and faith as the key to wholeness.
Verse 27
“After leaving Marah, the Israelites traveled on to the oasis of Elim, where they found twelve springs and seventy palm trees. They camped there beside the water.”
Explanation:
After bitterness comes refreshment. Elim represents God’s provision and rest after trials — a reminder that every test is temporary and leads to renewal.
🌿 Takeaways
1. God deserves our praise for every victory.
Worship should always follow deliverance. Gratitude keeps our hearts humble and focused on Him.
2. God fights for His people.
We don’t have to win battles in our own strength — God’s “right hand” is mighty to save.
3. Trials test our faith, not God’s power.
The same God who parted the Red Sea can sweeten bitter waters in our lives.
4. Obedience leads to healing and blessing.
God’s promises are tied to faithfulness — spiritual health depends on spiritual alignment.
5. God provides both victory and refreshment.
After every Marah (bitterness), there’s an Elim (refreshment). Trust the process.
💖 Personal Observation
Exodus 15 reminds me that worship is not just a reaction to what God has done, but a declaration of who He is — mighty, faithful, and ever-present. Like Israel, my marriage went through a “wilderness season.” We faced misunderstandings and emotional distance that felt like bitter water — difficult to drink and hard to bear. But when we cried out to God and allowed Him to lead, He turned that bitterness into sweetness.
Through prayer, grace, and intentional growth, we found a heightened and renewed love, respect, and admiration for one another. We discovered the new versions of ourselves that had emerged through the struggle and learned to honor each other’s growth.
Just as God brought Israel to Elim after Marah, He brought us to a place of peace, refreshment, and renewed joy. Our marriage became a living testimony that God still heals, restores, and leads His people with unfailing love.