After Crossing the Sea

By Mary Vee
Exodus 15:22

I woke this morning still feeling tired.  We had stayed up really late last night singing and dancing praises to God.  It's hard to express what we felt.  Just yesterday we stood on the Egyptian shore with God's presence in a cloud over us.  He told me to hold my staff over the waters.

Yes, yes God said the waters would part and we'd walk across the dry sea bed, but to hear what would happen is completely different from being there.  The wind blew in my face with a great force, it nearly knocked me down.

The people were nervous about walking on the path. Think about it, a wall of water rising above their heads on both sides!  Once they saw the shore on the other side, they bolted in case the wall of water might crash down on them.  I tried to reassure them, but, I guess seeing the water wall concerned them. 

We also had one other problem.  The cloud separating the Egyptian army from us lifted.  Pharaoh screamed at his army to chase after us.  They clattered forward like madmen.  I knew the Lord would care for us, but my heart pounded like it wanted out of my chest the moment I heard them running after us.

I was the last to place my feet on the new shore.  The Lord told me to stretch my hands over the sea again. When I did the walls of water crashed down on the Egyptian army, horses, chariots, soldiers, the whole army.  Just like that.

Sure, I believed the Lord would do as He said, but the water splashed up on me.  It crashed down on the Egyptians running after us. The water roared and swirled about confused which way to go.  Drops sprayed onto my clothes.

We stood silent. Did God throw the water down on the army and kill them?  Or would they swim to shore and come after us? 

We waited. No one swam to shore.  The water and the birds sang the only song. 

Then we cheered.  We cried for joy. We sang, danced, and gave praises to God.  We told stories about what we saw along the way.  When it grew dark we made campfires and sang more praises to God.

I sat up this morning and rubbed the sleep from my eyes.  Many of the Israelites walked along the shore, some cared for the animals, some organized their belongings.  I looked at the cloud above and thanked God. 

After a morning meal the cloud with God's presence shifted to the northeast.  I called out to the people. "God wants us to more forward.  Let's go."

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1. What do you think you would have seen if you walked with the Israelites across the sea ground?
2. Who chased after the people?
3. What happened to the army? 
4. What did the people do when they arrived at the other shore?
5. How did Moses know it was time to move forward?

Pharaoh's Coming-No Place to Hide

By Mary Vee
Exodus 14:10-22

Moses turned back to watch the large group of Israelites.  "Aaron, this is the first time I've seen them happy, real happy."

Aaron walked backwards for a few steps. "You're right.  They’ve dreamed about this day for a long time.  I think many of them never believed it would come, yet, today they're singing praises to the Lord."

Aaron and Moses faced forward to continue in the direction God showed.  Moses pointed upward. "The cloud is shifting east."

The people followed their leader in a southeasterly direction.  They didn't feel tired or complain about their sand filling their sandals.  Some sang, some told stories, some walked silently.

One of the leaders ran up toward Moses. "Look behind.  Up on that ridge."

Moses looked back.  A large cloud of dust rolled forward.  "It’s Pharaoh's army!"

Israelites walking in the front of the group whipped around and stared. Soon the entire group stopped. "Lord, what’s happening!  Save us! Pharaoh will kill us."

A few leaders moved close to the front. "Why did you bring us to the wilderness to die, Moses?  Why did you bring us out of Egypt?  Didn't we say, 'Leave us alone to serve the Egyptians'?  It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.

Moses raised his hands toward the people.  "Shh. Don't be afraid." He looked into their eyes until he had their attention. "Stand still. Watch what the Lord will do for you today. You will never see these Egyptians again. Watch. The Lord will fight for you and bring peace."

The cloud, which led them from Goshen to, the Red Sea floated over their heads and settled behind them. The people looked back and sighed. “We can’t see the Egyptians. Now what do we do?”

Moses walked to the shore and gazed at the water before him.  "Lord, what would you have us do?"

The Lord answered. "Lead the people forward. Lift your rod and stretch out your hand over the water to divide it.  The children of Israel will cross the sea on dry ground.  In the meantime I will harden the Egyptian's heart and they will follow you.  By tomorrow, the Egyptians will know I am the Lord."

Moses raised his rod and stretched his hand over the sea. A strong wind blew from the east across the water chopping the flow in half and pushing the two sides high into the air.  A wall of water stood to the north. A second wall stood to the south. 

Moses laughed as he set his foot on the dry waterbed. He waved the people forward. “Look!  Look what God has done for you.” He waved the people forward again. “Go now. God has made a way, when we thought there was no way.”

Aaron and Moses helped the Israelites across the riverbed, making sure each one safely made it to the other shore. 

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Sometimes problems seem too big for God to help.  This story helps us know for sure that God will always take care of us.

1. What did 3 things did Moses tell the people to do?

2. When Moses didn’t know what to do next, whom did he ask?

3. How did God hide the Israelites from the Egyptians?

4. What was God’s plan to save the Israelites?