Movie Review: The Red Sea Diving Resort and Biblical Hope

I recently watched The Red Sea Diving Resort, a film that tells the story of a daring mission to rescue Ethiopian Jewish refugees in the 1980s. The movie dramatizes the real-life Operation Moses, where Israeli Mossad agents set up a fake diving resort on the Sudanese coast to secretly evacuate thousands of Ethiopian Jews facing persecution and hardship. While the film takes some creative liberties, the heart of the story is powerful: it’s a story of hope, perseverance, and deliverance in the face of overwhelming odds.

Watching the movie, I couldn’t help but think of another dramatic deliverance involving the Red Sea—this time, not from the 20th century but from the pages of the Bible. The Exodus story is one of the most well-known narratives of hope in God’s deliverance. Trapped between the Red Sea and Pharaoh’s advancing army, the Israelites seemed doomed. In that moment of fear and despair, Moses delivered a message that has resonated through the ages: "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today" (Exodus 14:13-14). This short verse has amazing power!

Can't you see Moses standing there with the dust clouds of the Egyptian army approaching and he so boldly hearkens his people to see God work. "Watch This Y'all"

The parallels between these two Red Sea stories are striking. Both involve people who faced seemingly insurmountable obstacles, yet held onto hope. In both cases, God made a way where there seemed to be no way. This kind of hope is not just optimism or wishful thinking; it’s a confident expectation rooted in the promises of God. The hope that Moses called the Israelites to was anchored in their trust that God would intervene and deliver them. It wasn’t based on their own strength or ability to escape, but on the unshakeable belief that God would fulfill His word.

Biblical hope often requires standing firm in the face of adversity. Throughout Scripture, we see this theme repeated: God delivers those who trust in Him. Whether it’s David standing before Goliath, Daniel in the lion’s den, or Paul imprisoned for preaching the gospel, the message is clear—hope in God is never misplaced. It transcends our circumstances because it’s based on who God is, not on what we can see with our eyes.

Paul captures this beautifully in Romans 15:4: "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope." 

The Exodus story, like so many other stories of God’s deliverance, is meant to remind us that God is faithful. Just as He parted the waters for the Israelites, God remains a strong deliverer for those who trust in Him today.

As I reflect on these two stories—I’m reminded that God’s power to save is timeless. From the shores of the Red Sea to the deserts of Sudan, God has always been at work delivering His people. Whether we’re facing a life-threatening crisis or simply struggling to find our way through a difficult situation, we are called to stand firm in the hope that God will make a way.

Isaiah 43:2 offers a beautiful reassurance: "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you." 

Our hope is in the God who delivers—yesterday, today, and forever. The same God who parted the Red Sea for Moses and guided the Ethiopian Jews to safety is the God who walks with us through whatever waters we face in our own lives.

Reflecting on these stories, I find myself asking: Where do I need to stand firm today? In what areas of my life do I need to hold onto the hope of God’s deliverance? These stories can inspire all of us to trust in God’s ability to bring us through whatever challenges we face, no matter how daunting they may seem.

Where do you need to see Him today? Stand firm and watch Him work!