Exodus 15:19Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Similarly, through our baptism, wherein we partake in Christ's death, we affirm our faith in Him as the Guide of our salvation. The Israelites found safety underwater from their pursuers. Those who trust in Christ in the waters of baptism, which represent His tomb, experience not only deliverance from the unseen enemies of their souls—the spirits of malice—but also forgiveness of sins. Moses, who emerged safely from the Red Sea to the other shore, foreshadows Christ, who rose from the grave unscathed. The Israelites who survived the sea reflect the faithful who are raised with Christ upon emerging from baptismal waters. The very cross of Christ is prefigured by Moses’ rod, which divided the sea longitudinally and joined the waters together crosswise. The joy of the Israelites as they crossed the Red Sea, paired with their jubilant song of praise to God the Savior, symbolizes the joy and victory of believers celebrating Christ's resurrection. The initial portion of this passage, detailing the drowning of Pharaoh and the Egyptians in the Red Sea and the Israelites' deliverance, is also included in the evening service on June 27 to mark the triumph at Poltava. This commemoration reflects how the Lord 'glorified Himself in this victory no less than in the previous one.' He who once submerged the arrogant Pharaoh in the sea now brings down the pride and defiance of the opposing forces through the blood of his soldiers. A segment of this passage (Exodus 14:15-29) is also read on the Feast of Epiphany, emphasizing that the Red Sea and the cloud symbolized divine baptism, representing both water and the Spirit, as articulated in the words of the Church chanter (1st Canon on Epiphany, para. 7).