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The Story of Redemption
them to leave Egypt. It was a very great loss for them to be deprived
of their services, and they regretted that they had consented to let
them go. Notwithstanding all they had suffered from the judgments
of God, they were so hardened by their continual rebellion that they
decided to pursue the children of Israel and bring them back by
force unto Egypt. The king took a very large army and six hundred
chariots, and pursued after them, and overtook them while encamped
by the sea.
“And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up
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their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they
were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord.
And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt,
hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast
thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this
the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we
may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the
Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness. And Moses
said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of
the Lord, which He will shew to you today: for the Egyptians whom
ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The
Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.”
How soon the Israelites distrusted God! They had witnessed all
His judgments upon Egypt to compel the king to let Israel go, but
when their confidence in God was tested, they murmured, notwith-
standing they had seen such evidences of His power in their won-
derful deliverance. Instead of trusting in God in their necessity,
they murmured at faithful Moses, reminding him of their words of
unbelief which they uttered in Egypt. They accused him of being
the cause of all their distress. He encouraged them to trust in God
and withhold their expressions of unbelief, and they should see what
the Lord would do for them. Moses earnestly cried to the Lord to
deliver His chosen people.
Deliverance at the Red Sea
“And the Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto Me?
Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: but lift thou
up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and