Crossing the Red Sea
by Rosemarie Adcock
Centuries passed since the death of Joseph, and because of a shift in political power, his descendants and those of his brothers became slaves. God raised up Moses, who would lead the slaves in a great Exodus out of Egypt. There were plagues that God brought upon the Egyptians, ending finally with the death of every firstborn male, both people and animals. It was the final, terrifying plague that convinced the Egyptians to release the Hebrew slaves. The Hebrews were protected by sacrificing a lamb and placing the blood on the lintel of the doorways of their homes. An angel of death would “pass over” their households leaving them unharmed, but anyone who did not observe the “Passover” lost a firstborn male. This Passover was to be observed throughout their generations. Once again, this was a symbol of Jesus who was to come, who was called the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
By the miraculous parting of the waters of the Red Sea, the people crossed over on dry land as the waters parted like a wall on either side of them, to the right and to the left. However, when the pursuing Egyptian army tried to do the same thing, the waters came back upon them and they all drowned.
The 4 people are passing the standing waters on dry ground with various types of fish swimming in the wall of water behind them. The chains of their slavery lie on the ground to the left. The figure furthest to the left looks back at the Egyptians who are in pursuit. The second figure delights at the fish staring at him and pokes his finger into the standing wall of water. The third figure, representing doubt, hasn’t quite grasped the idea that the waters of the Red Sea have parted for her to cross, yet she's not drowning. The figure furthest to the right represents people of faith and courage as she dances with the fruit of the Promised Land in her arms, the promise awaiting after the Red Sea is crossed by the entire nation.
This painting received a 2nd place award on exhibition at the Museum of Art, Florida.