The Sea in the Old Testament

1. The Sea’s Significance in Both the Old and New Testaments

When God created the sea on the second day, He did not declare, as He did after other acts of creation, that “it was good.” This omission may suggest that the sea symbolizes something untamed or potentially dangerous. From the beginning, God used the waters—the sea—as an instrument of judgment. The next major appearance of the sea after Genesis 1 occurs in Genesis 7, during the flood:

“The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually... He blotted out every living thing that was on the face of the ground, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens. They were blotted out from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those who were with him in the ark. And the waters prevailed on the earth” (Gen. 7:23–24).

Later, God again used the sea as an instrument of judgment against Pharaoh and the Egyptian army. Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and even after the ten plagues, he refused to submit to the Lord. After the Israelites safely crossed the Red Sea, God commanded Moses:

“So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal course when the morning appeared. And as the Egyptians fled into it, the Lord threw the Egyptians into the midst of the sea” (Exod. 14:27).

Throughout Scripture, the sea often symbolizes fear and chaos. When Jonah fled from the presence of the Lord, the sea became violent. Jonah 1:5 records,

“Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god.”

The power of the sea has always seemed greater than that of humans—anyone could drown without help. The prophet Isaiah also used the imagery of flooding to describe divine judgment. Referring to Israel’s exile, Isaiah portrays God’s judgment as the overwhelming waves of the sea (Isa 44:27–28).

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2. Application for Believers Today

As believers, we should not fear, for we trust in the One who created and rules over the sea. Nothing in life should disturb or shake our peace, because our God has authority over all creation. He is our protector, and there is no longer any judgment or condemnation for those who belong to Christ.

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1).

Through Christ’s sacrifice, we have received life, peace, and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit—whose fruit includes peace (Gal. 5:22).

Jesus demonstrated His divine authority over the sea when He walked upon it and silenced its storm. When Peter stepped out of the boat to walk toward Jesus, he began to sink as soon as he looked around and became afraid. Yet Jesus immediately reached out His hand, rescued him, and they returned safely to the boat together.

This same power over the sea was also affirmed in the Old Testament:

“You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them” (Ps. 89:9).

Finally, the vision given to John in Revelation offers us great comfort:

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more” (Rev. 21:1).

The sea, which throughout human history has brought death, fear, and destruction, will no longer exist in eternity. In the presence of God, His people will experience everlasting peace, free from all fear and turmoil.