“Lesson 45: Exodus 14—‘Fear Ye Not,’” Old Testament Seminary Student Manual (2026)
Moses Parting the Red Sea, by Robert T. Barrett
Exodus 14–18: Lesson 45
Exodus 14
“Fear Ye Not”
Visit “Studying the Scriptures” to help prepare yourself spiritually to learn.
We might feel hopeless at times, similar to how the Israelites might have felt while trapped between the Red Sea and Pharaoh’s army. However, Moses’s counsel to them still applies today: “Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord” (Exodus 14:13). This lesson can help you place your trust in the Lord for strength and deliverance.
Study the Scriptures
While walking through a crowd, you hear someone shout your name. When you turn around, they are standing in front of you. “Come with me,” they say, grabbing your wrist. “There’s no time to explain. Just trust me.”
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How would you decide whether to trust the person?
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What difference would it make if the person were a friend, a family member, or a stranger?
How much we trust someone is a key factor in whether we are willing to follow them.
As the children of Israel left Egypt, the Lord commanded Moses to lead them to Pi-hahiroth (Exodus 14:2). Shortly after letting the Israelites go, Pharaoh realized that “the wilderness [had] shut them in” (Exodus 14:3), so he hardened his heart and pursued them.
President Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained the following about the Israelites’ circumstances:
The children of Israel [were in a] horrible predicament. … There were chariots behind them, sand dunes on every side, and a lot of water immediately ahead. … In this case it was literally a matter of life and death. (“Cast Not Away Therefore Your Confidence,” Ensign, Mar. 2000, 9)
Read Exodus 14:10–14. Mark what the Israelites said in one style and what Moses said in another.
Make a note next to verse 14 that answers the following:
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What did the Israelites focus on in these circumstances? What did Moses focus on?
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What do you learn from this account that could help you with your challenges?
Review the following study options. Complete one or more. Then complete the “Now What?” section at the end of the lesson.
Option A
Why should I rely on the Lord in difficult times?
Read the following passages, looking for reasons to trust Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ to deliver you. You might want to tag each passage as “attributes of Christ.”
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Doctrine and Covenants 88:41. Joseph Smith receives revelation that addresses God’s knowledge.
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Mosiah 4:9. King Benjamin describes the power of Jesus Christ.
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2 Nephi 26:24. Nephi explains Jesus’s motivation for His actions.
Watch the video “Finding Christ During Difficult Times” (4:35), or think of a challenge a teenager might face. Then answer the following questions in your notebook:
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Why do you think focusing on Jesus Christ can help us when we feel surrounded or trapped by our challenges or trials?
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How does understanding the attributes described in these passages make it easier to trust Jesus?
Option B
How do I know when the Lord is guiding me?
When we’re unsure if it’s truly the Lord speaking to us, we might doubt His guidance.
Read Exodus 14:15–16. Mark the instructions the Lord gave Moses.
Some might imagine that the Lord appeared to Moses or that He spoke to him in a vision or a dream.
Read Doctrine and Covenants 8:2–3, looking for how Moses received the instructions to part the Red Sea. Link the passage to Exodus 14:15–16.
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What do you learn about revelation?
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When has the Lord spoken to your mind or heart?
Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught the following about the subtle way the Lord speaks to us:
I have talked with many individuals who question the strength of their personal testimony and underestimate their spiritual capacity because they do not receive frequent, miraculous, or strong impressions. Perhaps as we consider the experiences of Joseph in the Sacred Grove, of Saul on the road to Damascus, and of Alma the Younger, we come to believe something is wrong with or lacking in us if we fall short in our lives of these well-known and spiritually striking examples. If you have had similar thoughts or doubts, please know that you are quite normal. Just keep pressing forward obediently and with faith in the Savior. As you do so, you “cannot go amiss” (Doctrine and Covenants 80:3). (“The Spirit of Revelation,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2011, 89)
Create a drawing or meme that shows Moses receiving revelation by the Holy Ghost to part the Red Sea. On the visual, answer this question:
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Why might it be important to understand that the Lord guides us by the Holy Ghost through our hearts and minds?
Now What?
Are you ready to see how the story ends? Read Exodus 14:15–31, or watch the video “The Passover” (1:28 to 2:32).
Answer the following question in your notebook:
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How can this story inspire you to trust the Lord?
Share Your Thoughts
Lesson Purpose: To help you place your trust in the Lord for strength and deliverance.
Share one or more of the following with your teacher or class:
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One of the attributes you studied that makes you want to trust the Lord.
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The visual you made about Moses receiving the revelation to part the Red Sea.
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Something specific you did to achieve the purpose of this lesson.
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Any questions this lesson raised for you. How will you try to find answers to your questions?