Crossing the Red Sea

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

oldhermit

Senior Member
Jul 28, 2012
9,144
613
113
70
Alabama
#1
Consider the circumstances of this event. There are most probably in the neighborhood of 3,000,000 people and the sea is at this point about 1000' in depth. What application of physics could possibly explain the parting of the Red Sea as it is described in Exodus 14?

BTW, this is not about which site is the supposed correct place of the crossing so please do not go there.
 
Last edited:

valiant

Senior Member
Mar 22, 2015
8,025
124
63
#2
Consider the circumstances of this event. There are most probably in the neighborhood of 3,000,000 people and the sea is at this point about 1000' in depth. What application of physics could possibly explain the parting of the Red Sea as it is described in Exodus 14?
At the time of the Exodus the Reed Sea extended much further west and it is most probable that the crossing took place somewhere near what are now the Bitter Lakes where the waters would have been shallower. We must not over-exaggerate what happened..
 
Mar 4, 2013
7,761
107
0
#5
Consider the circumstances of this event. There are most probably in the neighborhood of 3,000,000 people and the sea is at this point about 1000' in depth. What application of physics could possibly explain the parting of the Red Sea as it is described in Exodus 14?

BTW, this is not about which site is the supposed correct place of the crossing so please do not go there.
First off there was an east wind that parted the waters. That would give us the direction of the water as east to west, or west to east. The wind could not have blown during the crossing, because it was so severe, so there would have to been an embankment of mud to form a damn that formed because of the mighty wind. They crossed on dry land so the wet residue on the bottom would have to have been blown away also. I have seen scenarios played out on the History Channel and nothing makes sense with there analogies in a scientific way or what could possibly correlate with the Biblical records. Where Israel crossed could not have been too wide, for probably close to a million men, women, and children (give or take) crossed in one day. Just sayin'
 

Dan_473

Senior Member
Mar 11, 2014
9,054
1,051
113
#6
Consider the circumstances of this event. There are most probably in the neighborhood of 3,000,000 people and the sea is at this point about 1000' in depth. What application of physics could possibly explain the parting of the Red Sea as it is described in Exodus 14?

BTW, this is not about which site is the supposed correct place of the crossing so please do not go there.
I'm interested in the 3,000,000 figure... I agree that if the 600,000 fighting men is used, the total should be about 3,000,000.

but isn't there something about using the hebrew numbering system differently, and coming up with about 18,000 fighters (or is that total)?

the lower numbers seem to me to fit the other bible stories better... imo...
 

oldhermit

Senior Member
Jul 28, 2012
9,144
613
113
70
Alabama
#7
At the time of the Exodus the Reed Sea extended much further west and it is most probable that the crossing took place somewhere near what are now the Bitter Lakes where the waters would have been shallower. We must not over-exaggerate what happened..
This does not match the description in Ex 14. "And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left." No matter what the depth may have actually been, it was to deep for them to cross.
 

oldhermit

Senior Member
Jul 28, 2012
9,144
613
113
70
Alabama
#8
I'm interested in the 3,000,000 figure... I agree that if the 600,000 fighting men is used, the total should be about 3,000,000.

but isn't there something about using the hebrew numbering system differently, and coming up with about 18,000 fighters (or is that total)?

the lower numbers seem to me to fit the other bible stories better... imo...
We are discussing the application of physics in this event, not debating the number of people involved. The actual number is rather irrelevant. Perhaps we could discuss this on another thread.
 
Feb 7, 2015
22,418
413
0
#9
This does not match the description in Ex 14. "And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left." No matter what the depth may have actually been, it was to deep for them to cross.
Maybe he thinks you won't drown as dead in 50 feet of water as you will in 1,000 feet.
 

oldhermit

Senior Member
Jul 28, 2012
9,144
613
113
70
Alabama
#10
First off there was an east wind that parted the waters. That would give us the direction of the water as east to west, or west to east. The wind could not have blown during the crossing, because it was so severe, so there would have to been an embankment of mud to form a damn that formed because of the mighty wind. They crossed on dry land so the wet residue on the bottom would have to have been blown away also. I have seen scenarios played out on the History Channel and nothing makes sense with there analogies in a scientific way or what could possibly correlate with the Biblical records. Where Israel crossed could not have been too wide, for probably close to a million men, women, and children (give or take) crossed in one day. Just sayin'
Can the presence of this wind explain the parting of the water from the standpoint of physics?
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
#11
Not sure physics is involved, it was a miracle. miracles go against any known laws Jesus caused the storm to stop and winds to cease and waves to calm down in second, that goes against the laws of physics.
 
Dec 18, 2013
6,733
45
0
#12
I don't think physics can explain it. Fun little science fact is that modern physics is still struggling to figure out how a bicycle works.

Spirtually it can be explained very simply that nothing is impossible with God. He says and it is done.
 
Feb 7, 2015
22,418
413
0
#14
I don't think physics can explain it. Fun little science fact is that modern physics is still struggling to figure out how a bicycle works.

Spirtually it can be explained very simply that nothing is impossible with God. He says and it is done.
Oh, c'mon on. Even I know that... you pedal it.
 

oldhermit

Senior Member
Jul 28, 2012
9,144
613
113
70
Alabama
#15
I don't think physics can explain it. Fun little science fact is that modern physics is still struggling to figure out how a bicycle works.

Spirtually it can be explained very simply that nothing is impossible with God. He says and it is done.
Very true. What I am looking for is how you would answer the argument of the naturalist who argues that this can be explained by the application of physics. Look us some of their arguments on this and you will see what I mean. They are attempting to explain a non-natural event by appealing to natural process. This never works but it is not enough to simply say this was a miracle and leave it at that.
 
Jan 6, 2014
991
27
0
#16
So God drowned the Egyptian army in shallow water? Deep or shallow it still remains a miracle, lol, I am no physicist so I can not explain how in natural terms. God parted the sea is my only explanation.

Christ be with you always.
 
P

psychomom

Guest
#18
LOL. I trust you realize there is a big difference between physics and the contravention of physics.
since my knowledge of physics begins and ends at 'fall down; go boom'... :rolleyes:

is it too dumb to suggest God created the physics that govern the universe,
and He can do as He wishes with it? including contravene the 'laws' of physics?

sun standing still, dead people raised...
our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases. :)
 

valiant

Senior Member
Mar 22, 2015
8,025
124
63
#19
This does not match the description in Ex 14. "And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left." No matter what the depth may have actually been, it was to deep for them to cross.
'Dry ground' means that the water had gone, not that the land was completely dry. Indeed the land could not have been so dry for it enmeshed the Egyptian chariots and horsemen. How high is a wall? 3 feet ? 6 feet? I did not suggest that the water was not relatively deep. It was not a ford. But I do not accept that it was 1000 feet deep.
 
Apr 9, 2015
995
10
0
#20
Consider the circumstances of this event. There are most probably in the neighborhood of 3,000,000 people and the sea is at this point about 1000' in depth. What application of physics could possibly explain the parting of the Red Sea as it is described in Exodus 14?

BTW, this is not about which site is the supposed correct place of the crossing so please do not go there.
applying natural physics to a SUPERNATURAL Miracle? YOU cant, God is a Supernatural God, Why did the Lame get up and walk when Jesus Healed them? the Devil Possessed 'freed' and sitting in their right mind?, the 'dead'raised back to life? Can't apply natural laws of physics, science to a SUPERNAUTRAL God and His Event, You get Human reasoning and understanding, thus the confusion and chaos with all the different 'ideas' on How God could of done that 'naturally'... He is Supernatural. just my .02