Dividing the Sea Before the People of Israel - Nehemiah 9:11

In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared how the Levites said of Jehovah God, “you are righteous. And did see the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heard their cry by the Red sea. And showed signs and wonders upon Pharaoh, and on all his servants, and on all the people of his land: for you knew that they dealt proudly against them. So did you get you a name, as it is this day”, and in chapter nine and verse eleven of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared how Jehovah God, “did divide the sea before them” where we read,

And you did divide the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry land; and their persecutors you threw into the deeps, as a stone into the mighty waters.

The verse reads, “And you did divide the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry land;”Nehemiah began with the words, “and you did divide the sea” which means “and you, Jehovah God, split, cleaved and separated the large body of water known as the Red Sea” “before them” or “in front and in the presence of them, the people of Israel”, “so that they went through the midst of the sea” which means “which allowed them, the people of Israel, to walk or travel through the middle of the large body of water known as the Red Sea” “on the dry ground” or “upon the arid land”. Nehemiah shared how Jehovah God separated the water of the Red Sea so the people of Israel could walk through it on “dry” ground. (See Exodus 14:21-28) 

The verse goes on to say, “and their persecutors you threw into the deeps, as a stone into the mighty waters.” Nehemiah continued with the words, “and their persecutors” or “and their, the people of Israel's, harassers and pursuers ” “you threw into the deeps” which means “you, Jehovah God, hurled, cast and flung into the depths or bottom places of water”, “as a stone” or “similar and in likeness to hewn rocks or stone-like objects” “into the mighty waters” which means “in the strong, fierce and powerful water-springs and watercourses”. Nehemiah shared how the Levites recalled that Jehovah God cast the harassers of Israel in the depths of the waters of the Red Sea similar to the way a stone-like object is tossed into a powerful water-spring. (See Exodus 14:28) 

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Nehemiah how the Levites continued to remember the way Jehovah God provided for the people of Israel when they were being pursued by the Egyptians. Not only did He separate the Red Sea in front of the people of Israel, but He caused the sea to drown the Egyptians within the deep waters. God protects and provides for the people of Israel, and He desires to do the same for us as well. When we yield to His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead three days later, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and teach us the value of allowing Him to contend with our enemies according to His provision and plan. (See Isaiah 63:4; Romans 12:19)

Next time Nehemiah shares how Jehovah God, “led them … by day … and in the night”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".