Exodus 14:28Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

This incredible miracle left many astonished—how one and the same essence can bring death to the old self while justifying the person renewed, eradicate sin, and restore truth. Therefore, to prevent the Jews from dismissing the doctrine of Christianity as mere myth—questioning how a single water can both kill and revive, performing two distinct actions from one essence—what does God do in advance to counter this disbelief of the Jews?

And he himself, along with all Israel, traversed through, while the Egyptians—Pharaoh, his chariots, and horsemen—pursued behind them. Once the Israelites had crossed, the waters returned and engulfed the Egyptians. But let me ask you, O Jew, who inquires how the water in baptism generates two outcomes—one being the death of the old self and the other the revival of the one baptized (Rom. 6:2-6)—explain to me how that sea, unified in nature, granted life to some while bringing death to others, drowning some while paving the way for others, even though it was all part of the same turbulent waters? How has it treated some with honor, like a servant, and responded to others as an enemy? Enlighten me, Jewish unbeliever of the cross, on how that same water could bring death to some yet salvation to others. There was but one water, one sea, that did not leave the feet of some untouched, nor did it spare others, but it enveloped them all, covering them completely, making the sea a common grave for all the Egyptians. So I ask again, how did this occur? Do you perceive how the shadow preceded the truth, creating a path for belief, showing that this was the shadow, while that is the reality, this the symbol, and that the essence? Do you understand that, as I stated earlier, when God seeks to perform a remarkable work, he first signifies it through a shadow, predestining its manifestation so that the depicted truth may find acceptance? However, this image must be inherently less than the truth; were it to be entirely perfect, it would cease to be a shadow and would instead be the truth. The shadow comes first, and then emerges the truth, concealed within the shadow, unveiling the pure reality.

Harsh words can be likened to a stone cast from a slingshot; the urge to be irritable resembles a spear trembling at its tip; and the desire for pleasure can be envisioned as steeds, inexorably drawing a chariot with three riders, whom history aptly labels ‘tristates.’ Through these three charioteers, understanding the mystical implications of podvos and praga elucidates the tripartite nature of the soul, which comprises the rational, the passionate, and the irritable facets. Consequently, all these entities and all those sharing their names, alongside the chief of this evil assault, are engulfed in the waters following the path of the Israelites. From that moment, the essence of water, guided by faith in the staff and the illuminating cloud, became life-giving for those who approached it, while it resulted in death for the oppressors. Moreover, historical accounts instruct us on the qualities necessary for those who navigate through the waters; upon emerging from the waters, they must not carry anything from the enemy host. For even if an enemy emerges with a person, after passing through the waters, they remain in bondage if they do not fully submerge the tormentor who has not perished in the depths. To clarify this profound insight, it signifies that all who undergo sacramental baptism must annihilate all armies of sin within the waters, including greed, lascivious desires, predatory instincts, vanity, anger, bitterness, jealousy, and hatred. Since it is customary for passions to accompany human nature, each of these, along with the most distorted thoughts and their repercussions, must be drowned in the sacrament of the Passover. This sacrament, whose blood offers liberation from death to those who partake, requires that the law mandates the consumption of unleavened bread during the Passover—made without the inclusion of the old leaven. This serves to show that those who disrupt the continuous journey toward a better life must not carry remnants of sin into the life to come, but should form a new beginning thereafter; thus, in the baptism of salvation, akin to a profound immersion, every Egyptian face—representing all forms of sin—must be submerged, allowing us to emerge solely and without incorporating anything foreign into our lives. Historical records clearly demonstrate that in the same waters, life and death are discerned between friend and foe—the enemy perishing and the friend receiving revival. Yet many who have received holy baptism, through ignorance of established protocols, reintroduce the leaven of past vices into their post-baptismal lives, thereby reviving the Egyptian host alongside themselves. For should someone be enriched by wrongdoing prior to receiving baptism, whether through ill-gotten gain, fulfilling oaths to possess something, or engaging in illicit activities, believing that they are liberated from sinful bondage post-baptism, they fail to realize their continued subjugation to malevolent forces. The fierce ruler, the passion for immorality, torments the enslaved mind with such severity that it becomes unbearable. Another pronounced ruler is greed, relentless in its pursuit, causing its servant to labor incessantly to fulfill its demands, pressing them further with every success. Every action taken for the sake of sin falls under the influence of these tormentors and rulers; indeed, if anyone serves them, despite having traversed the waters, they have yet to truly experience the sacred waters that uniquely defeat evil oppressors.

It was dawn, and the scripture states, “The water shall be put in its place by day.” The morning light revealed the dire predicament of the Egyptians. By the might of a fierce whirlpool, the Lord dislodged the Egyptians from the sea and cast them down into its depths. Those aboard chariots and horses were unexpectedly hurled from their seats and consumed by the abyss. Each one met their demise, leaving no survivors to report the calamity to those who remained behind.

The calamity that struck Egypt did not obliterate its might, as only a few thousand soldiers were lost; however, by targeting the king and principal leaders, it significantly hindered their advance for an extended period. If it is indeed likely that Thotmes II was the Pharaoh of the Exodus, it is noteworthy that after his unrecorded death, the nation was governed by a woman, while his brother ascended the throne only after a gap of 22 years. Additionally, it took 17 years before any memorials indicated a campaign in the Sinai Peninsula, and only after a further 22 years post-Thotmes II's death is there any mention of an expedition to Syria aimed at reclaiming lost influence.