CROSSING THE RED SEA Exodus 13:20-15:21
MOSES AND AARON LED THE PEOPLE OUT OF EGYPT, BUT THEY DID NOT CHOOSE THE WAY TO GO. GOD WENT WITH THEM AND HE CHOSE THE WAY. IN THE DAYTIME HE WAS IN A GREAT CLOUD THAT MOVED SLOWLY BEFORE THE PEOPLE. AT NIGHT THE CLOUD BECAME A PILLAR OF FIRE AND GOD WATCHED OVER THEM WHILE THEY RESTED. BY DAY OR BY NIGHT THE ISRAELITES COULD LOOK AT THE CLOUD, OR PILLAR AND SAY, "OUR GOD IS GOING WITH US, AND HE IS LEADING THE WAY.
AFTER THE GREAT COMPANY LEFT GOSHEN, GOD LED THEM BY THE CLOUD TO THE RED SEA. HERE THEY CAMPED. THEY PLANNED TO REST FROM THEIR MARCH. BUT SUDDENLY SOMEONE RAN THROUGH THE CAMP SHOUTING, "PHARAOH-S ARMY IS COMING! WE SHALL BE TAKEN PRISONERS OR KILLED!"
WHEN MOSES CRIED TO GOD FOR HELP, THE LORD TOLD MOSES TO SPEAK TO THE PEOPLE AND QUIET THEM. THEY WERE ALL CRYING IN FEAR. THEN HE SAID TO MOSES,"TELL THE ISRAELITES TO GO FORWARD. LIFT YOUR ROD OVER THE RED SEA AND DIVIDE IT."
WHEN THE CLOUD LIFTED, PHARAOH AND HIS ARMY SAW THE ISRAELITES WALKING THROUGH THE SEA ON A DRY PATH BETWEEN TWO WALLS OF WATER. THE EGYPTIANS RUSHED AFTER THEM. WHEN PHARAOH'S ARMY WAS FAR OUT FROM SHORE, TROUBLE BEGAN. THE HORSES GOT TANGLED IN THE HARNESS AND THEIR FEET BEGAN TO SINK IN THE SAND.
"LEG'S GO BACK!" THE SOLDIERS CRIED. "ISRAEL'S GOD IS AGAINST US!"
BUT IT WAS TOO LATE. THEY COULD NOT GO BACK, FOR THE WALLS OF WATER FELL DOWN AND THE WHOLE ARMY WAS DROWNED.
AT LAST THE ISRAELITES WERE FREE. THEY KNEW GOD HAD SAVED THEM FROM THEIR ENEMIES. MOSES WROTE A BEAUTIFUL SONG ABOUT THE CROSSING OF THE RED SEA AND THE PEOPLE SANG AND REJOICED.
