Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Hebrews 11:29

"By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were swallowed up." — Hebrews 11:29 (ASV)

Some of those who went out of Egypt with Moses were anything but shining examples of faith. But they must have had some faith to follow Moses through the sea, and it is on this that attention is focused. The crossing of the Red Sea is attributed to God (Exodus 14:14) and to the east wind that God sent (Exodus 14:21); but the author prefers to concentrate on the faith that enabled the people to respond to what God had done. That their faith and not merely their courage was important is shown by the fate of the Egyptians. The Egyptians were just as courageous as the Israelites, for they attempted to cross in the same way. But they lacked faith, and the result was disaster. Their fate shows that the faith of Moses and his followers was real and not just a formality.