Moses was very pleased. God had told him that the very next day he would be able to lead all the people of Israel out of Egypt. For months he had been trying to persuade Pharaoh to let the peole go. God had sent many terrible plagues to punish the Egyptians, but still Pharaoh had refused to let them go.
Now God had promised that they would really leave at last. He had told Moses that all the children of Israel must have a very special meal that night. They must eat a roast lamb. They had to eat the meal with all their belongings packed and with their clothes on, ready for a journey. Before they ate the meal they had to paint some of the lamb's blood round the doors of their houses.
That night an angel of God went all through Egypt and killed the eldest son in every house. But when the angel saw the blood on the doorposts of the Israelites' houses, he did not kill anyone in their houses.
When they woke up in the morning, the Egyptians all found that their eldest sons were dead. Every family in Egypt had someone dead. They were terrified because they knew it was a punishment from God. So they told the Israelites that they could leave.
The children of Israel left their houses immediately, for they were all packed and ready to go. They went out of the land of Egypt rejoicing. They travelled all day, and that night they camped on the edge of the wilderness. God made a pillar of cloud to go before them in the day to show them the way. He gave them a pillar of fire during the night to protect them.
A few days later, as the children of Israel reached the shores of the Red Sea, they saw clouds of dust in the distance. Soon they could see the chariots of the Egyptians chasing them. They had no way of escape. The Sea was in front of them and the Egyptians were fast catching them up behind. They were really terrified.
But God was with them, and He helped them to escape. God told Moses to stretch his rod out over the Sea. The waves went back to form two high walls of water, with a dry path right through the middle of the Sea. The Israelites hurried through the Sea, with the sound of the Egyptian chariots growing louder and louder behind them.
At last they reached the other side. The Egyptian chariots were stuck in the mud in the middle of the Sea. At God's command Moses again held his rod out over the Sea. This time the waves roared back together and the sea became as it had been before.
But what of the Egyptians? Their chariots had stuck in the mud and they were all drowned in the Sea, when the waters rushed back together again.
The people of Israel were free! Miriam got out her timbrel and all the women began to dance and sing. And all the people praised God for bringing them safely out of Egypt.
The children of Israel were no longer afraid. They went on travelling through the wilderness towards the land God had promised them. God showed them the way to go by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.
Things to Remember
Discussion
God wants us to show faith in Him. The people of Israel as well as the Egyptians had been witness to a number of amazing events that were obviously controlled by the God of Israel. God wanted His people to know that if they stayed faithful to Him and didn't try to fight against Him or doubt His power, He would remain faithful to them.
What did the Israelites paint around their doors?
How did God show them where He wanted them to go?
Activity Suggestions
Draw a picture of the Red Sea parting. Perhaps you could cut some fish out of tinfoil to paste on, and some sandpaper for the dry pathway.
Make a musical instrument. HARP: Take a small box, like a shoebox, and cut a round hole in the lid. Then stretch elastics around the box lengthwise over the hole. Pluck them to make a noise. SHAKER: Take a small plastic bottle with a lid and fill it with rice or dried beans. BELLS: Fit a piece of elastic (1/2" wide) around your wrist and sew the ends together. Sew jingle bells around it.