Crossing the Red Sea

Pharaoh allowed the Israelites to go to their own land. The Egyptians even gave them presents so that they would leave quickly. Everyone was joyful and excited. They were free! The Lord promised them, “I will bring you into a good land. It has a lot of room. It’s a land that has plenty of milk and honey.” God led the people through the desert to the Red Sea. By day, the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud. At night, he led them with a pillar of fire. It gave them light. Pharaoh soon felt sorry that he had let the Israelites go. Now he didn’t have slaves to do the work for him! He gathered his army. They chased after the Israelites with horses and chariots.

The Israelites were camping on the shore of the Red Sea. They looked back and saw the Egyptians coming in their direction. They were terrified. They said to Moses, “Did you bring us to the desert to die? You should have left us alone in Egypt. At least we were safe there!” Moses said, “Don’t be afraid. Stand firm. You will see how the Lord will save you today. The Lord will fight for you. Just be still.”

The pillar of cloud in front of the Israelites moved back so that it was between the Israelites and the Egyptians. The cloud brought darkness to the Egyptians, but light to the Israelites. Then the Lord told Moses to hold his walking stick out over the Red Sea. All that night, the Lord pushed the water back with a strong east wind. He turned the sea into dry land. The people of Israel crossed the sea on dry ground. There was a wall of water on their right side and a wall of water on their left.

The Egyptians followed the Israelites through the Red Sea. Then the Lord threw them in a panic. The wheels of the chariots jammed and couldn’t go forward or backward. All the Israelites arrived safely on the other side. Then the Lord told Moses to reach out his hand over the sea. Moses did, and the water flowed back. It covered Pharaoh’s army. Not one of the Egyptians was left.

That day the Lord saved Israel from the Egyptians, and the Israelites saw the amazing power of the Lord. The Israelites were learning that they could trust the Lord to help them.

Exodus 14