120-121 : Crossing The Red Sea
CONTINUING their journey from Succoth, the Israelites camped at Etham,
at the edge of the wilderness.
And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to show them the way,
and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day and night.
He did not take away from the people the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night.
It was told to the king of Egypt that the people had fled,
and the hearts of Pharaoh and his servants were moved against the people,
and they said: "Why have we done this, and let Israel free from serving us?"
Then Pharaoh made ready his chariots and took his people with him.
He took six hundred chariots chosen, of all the chariots of Egypt, and put captains over all of them.
The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and Pharaoh pursued the children of Israel, for the children of Israel had gone out proudly.
The Egyptians came after them,all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh,
his horsemen and his army, and overtook them camping beside the sea,
near Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon.
When Pharaoh came near, the children of Israel looked up,
and, seeing the Egyptians marching after them, they were very frightened.
Then the children of Israel cried out to the Lord,
and they said to Moses:"Were there no graves in Egypt?
Have you brought us away to die in the wilderness?
Why have you treated us in this way, in bringing us out of Egypt?
Did we not tell you in Egypt,'Let us alone, so that we may serve the Egyptians?'
For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness."
"Do not be afraid," said Moses to the people.
"Stand still and watch the power of the Lord to save you, as he will show you today,
for the Egyptians whom you have seen today you shall never see again.
The Lord will fight for you if you will be calm."
( Link to free online Bible to view where this event takes place in the Bible )
