Although some Biblical miracles are inexplicable outside of faith, others have scientific evidence to prove them true. Finding water in the desert, for example, is self-explanatory for someone who understands the environment although it may seem miraculous to the person telling the story.
A story which has long intrigued Christians and non-believers alike is how Moses parted the Red Sea so the Israelites could escape Pharaoh’s troops. At this point in time, there is no way to prove it happened to a nonbeliever, but it seems it likely did happen.
As the biblical passages are studied and researched more thoroughly, there seems to be evidence it could have happened the way it’s described.
In this article, we’ll explore where Scripture and science agree on the parting of the Red Sea.
Winds Theory
For years, the story of Exodus has been explained by a natural occurrence known to happen where the Nile meets the Gulf of Suez and Mediterranean Sea, where winds can reach speeds of 60-80 mph and forcibly part water. Such an explanation requires the story to not be interpreted literally, as the Gulf of Suez is not the Red Sea, although perhaps with telling over time the substitution may have been inserted. Another problem with this story is the opening typically only lasts about 20 minutes, which is not long enough for the Israelites to have crossed. There is no proof the event has never lasted longer, and that could be the miracle of the story.
Tidal Patterns
A more reasonable explanation is that of the tide coming in and out, a phenomenon the Israelites who lived in the area would be aware of while the Egyptian soldiers would not.
When the tide goes out, an area of the Gulf of Suez bordering the Red Sea opens up. Considering 600,000 Israelite men along with women and children, beginning the journey as the tide begins to go out would leave just enough time to finish crossing as it comes back in. The pursuing Egyptians would be caught in a death trap as the tide came back in, being too far from either bank to reach safely.
Military and Strategic Genius
The act of making such a crossing would be one of strategic genius and military bravery. The logistics of moving that many people across the space with no time for errors would not likely be attempted by even the boldest of leaders even with today’s technology and communication tools. Supply caravans always have the potential to break down or get caught in a traffic jam.
Another potentially devastating aspect of the journey would have been had Pharaoh’s armies caught up with the Israelites on the tidal plain. However, the Egyptians would have thought they had the Israelites cornered and trapped against the sea to confront at their leisure. Moses likely would have known this, and would have been aware of how long it would take the Egyptians to gather their gear and build their formations before beginning the chase. In the meantime, he had time to prepare for the crossing, which is what makes the story a true miracle.
Divine Inspiration
Historical and scientific evidence of Moses parting the sea doesn’t supersede the spiritual aspect of this and other Miracle Stories told in the Bible. No similar escape with such intricate planning has ever been conducted before or since. Surely, divine inspiration gave him the idea, and divine intervention prevented anything from going awry during the exodus from Egypt. The Israelites showed remarkable discipline and faith to commit to such a feat and proceed according to the plan.
To add a bit of perspective as to the miraculous nature of this story even with a scientific explanation, imagine how much trouble some people have getting their children to school on time. Now imagine trying to get over two million people to move in unison, on foot, for nearly 20 miles, in a limited time frame of 10-12 hours. Such a task would only be possible with God’s help.
~ 1776 Christain
