The Passover: A Torah Study

The Exodus Begins

That same night, Yasharal left Matsarim. After 430 years, the promise Yah made to Abraham was fulfilled:

"And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years — on that very same day — it came to pass that all the armies of Yah went out from the land of Matsarim." — Shamwath 12:41

They did not leave empty-handed. Just as Yah had told Abraham — "afterward they shall come out with great possessions" — so it happened:

"And the children of Yasharal had done according to the word of Moshe, and they had asked from the Matsarim articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing. And Yah had given the people favor in the sight of the Matsarim, so that they granted them what they requested. Thus they plundered the Matsarim." — Shamwath 12:35-36

About six hundred thousand men on foot, besides children and a mixed multitude, departed that night. They carried their dough before it was leavened, their kneading bowls bound up in their clothes on their shoulders.

"And they baked matsah cakes of the dough which they had brought out of Matsarim; for it was not leavened, because they were driven out of Matsarim and could not wait, nor had they prepared provisions for themselves." — Shamwath 12:39

Yah Leads the Way

Yah did not send Yasharal by the shortest route through the land of the Philistines, even though that was nearer. He said: "Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Matsarim" (Shamwath 13:17).

Instead, Yah led them by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea.

"And Yah went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people." — Shamwath 13:21-22

Day and night, Yah was visibly present with His people. A cloud by day. Fire by night. He never left them.

Par'oh Pursues

Par'oh's grief turned to rage. He gathered six hundred choice chariots and all the chariots of Matsarim, with captains over every one of them, and pursued Yasharal.

"And when Par'oh drew near, the children of Yasharal lifted their eyes, and behold, the Matsarim marched after them. So they were very afraid, and the children of Yasharal cried out to Yah." — Shamwath 14:10

The people panicked. They said to Moshe: "Because there were no graves in Matsarim, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness?" (14:11). They accused him of bringing them out only to be slaughtered.

Moshe answered:

"Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of Yah, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Matsarim whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. Yah will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace." — Shamwath 14:13-14

The Splitting of the Sea

Then Yah said to Moshe: "Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Yasharal to go forward. But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it" (Shamwath 14:15-16).

"And the Messenger of Alahim, who went before the camp of Yasharal, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them. So it came between the camp of the Matsarim and the camp of Yasharal. Thus it was a cloud and darkness to the one, and it gave light by night to the other, so that the one did not come near the other all that night." — Shamwath 14:19-20

The same pillar that led Yasharal now became a barrier against Matsarim. Light for His people. Darkness for their enemies. The same presence of Yah — experienced completely differently based on which side you stood.

"Then Moshe stretched out his hand over the sea; and Yah caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided. So the children of Yasharal went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left." — Shamwath 14:21-22

Yasharal walked through on dry ground. The waters stood as walls on both sides. When the Matsarim pursued them into the sea, Yah threw them into confusion — their chariot wheels came off, they could not move.

"Then Yah said to Moshe, 'Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the waters may come back upon the Matsarim, upon their chariots and upon their horsemen.' And Moshe stretched out his hand over the sea; and when the morning appeared, the sea returned to its full depth, while the Matsarim were fleeing into it. So Yah overthrew the Matsarim in the midst of the sea." — Shamwath 14:26-27

Not one of them survived.

The Song of Moshe

On the other side of the sea, Moshe and all Yasharal sang to Yah. This is the first recorded song in Scripture:

"I will sing to Yah, for He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea! Yah is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; He is my Alahim, and I will praise Him; my father's Alahim, and I will exalt Him. Yah is a man of war; Yah is His name." — Shamwath 15:1-3

"Who is like You, O Yah, among the mighty ones? Who is like You, glorious in set-apartness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?" — Shamwath 15:11

And Miryam the prophetess, the sister of Aharon, took the timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. Miryam answered them:

"Sing to Yah, for He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!" — Shamwath 15:21

This was not quiet reverence. This was a people who had just witnessed the impossible — the sea split, their enemies destroyed, their freedom secured. They sang. They danced. They declared the name of Yah before all creation.

Discussion Questions:

1. Yah did not take Yasharal by the shortest route. He led them toward the sea, into what looked like a trap. Why would Yah lead His people into a place that seemed hopeless?

2. The pillar of cloud was light to Yasharal and darkness to Matsarim — the same presence, two opposite experiences. What determines how we experience Yah's presence?

3. Moshe said, "Stand still, and see the salvation of Yah." When in your life has Yah asked you to be still and watch Him work?

4. The Song of Moshe declares, "Yah is His name." After everything they witnessed, why do you think this declaration of His name was so central to their worship?