Crossing the Red Sea

Exodus 14:1-15:21

     When Pharaoh knew that the Hebrew people of Israel had finally left Egypt, he suddenly changed his mind. So did many other people in that country.

     "What have we done?" they cried. "we can't get along without our Hebrew slaves and workers!"

     So the king took his army and chariots and begun to chase after the people of Israel. The fastest horses and chariots caught up with them where they were camped on the beach by the Red Sea.

     The people of Israel looked up and saw Pharaoh and his army coming after them. God had sent a pillar of cloud to lead them, and now they cried out to God. They shouted Moses, "Wasn't there room to bury us in Egypt? Did you have to bring us out here in the wilderness to die? We told you a long time ago to leave us alone at our jobs in Egypt. We would have been better off staying there!"

     Moses told them, "Don't be afraid! Stay where you are, and the Lord will save us."

     God said to Moses, "What is all this crying? Tell the people to get up and march. Stretch out your hand over the sea."

     Early in the morning, Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. A great wind came up and changed the sea bed into dry land.

     All the people of Israel walked on a dry path with water on both sides. When the Egyptian soldiers saw what was happening, they went after them. But the wheels of the Egyptian chariots stuck in the sand.

     God told Moses, "now stretch your hand out over the sea again." Moses did that, and the waters came back and drowned all the Egyptian soldiers who were chasing the people of Israel. But none of the people of Israel were harmed. After this, the people believed in the Lord God and in God's servant, Moses.

     Aaron spoke what Moses heard God say. Their sister Miriam became a prophet. (This is a name for someone who hears what God says and tells others.)

     After Moses stretched out his hand and God sent a wind to get the people safely across the Red Sea, everyone celebrated, Miriam jumped up on the beach and grabbed a tambourine. All the women followed her with bells and tambourines as she sang and danced. The song she sang had there words; "I will sing to the Lord, for God is the winner in a wonderful way! God has thrown horses and their riders into the sea!"