Reading: “I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.” 1 Corinthians 14:15

Exodus Chapter 15 records the “Song of Moses.” This song is the poetic version of the story recorded in the previous chapter—it is the epoch story of deliverance from Egypt through the Red Sea. This is the first song recorded in Scripture and one that would echo through all eternity (Revelation 15:3).

Fresh from deliverance and buoyed with consecrated emotion, Moses led the congregation of Israel in a song of praise to the God of creation and providence. It is not past blessings only that this song celebrates; Moses looked forward with prophetic insight and joyful anticipation to what the Lord could do and what He had promised to do for them.

The song of Moses (Exodus 15:1–19) was both declaration and anticipation: it looked back and forward. Within a few hours of singing this masterpiece of praise, however, the Israelites were murmuring! How many Israelites sang in the congregation that day with insincerity?