Study Desk

So just before daylight, Moses raised his hand over the sea. And the water rushed back to its proper level. The Egyptians were running as fast as they could from the water, but the Lord swept them away with the sea.

The water returned to its normal level and covered the chariots and horse soldiers. Pharaoh's army had been chasing the Israelites, but that army was destroyed. None of them survived!

But the Israelites crossed the sea on dry land. The water was like a wall on their right and on their left.

But you blew on them and covered them with the sea. They sank like lead into the deep sea.

But with your kindness you led the people you saved. And with your strength you led them to your holy land.

Yes, it really happened! Pharaoh's horses and riders, and chariots went into the sea. And the Lord brought all the water of the sea down on top of them. But the Israelites walked through that sea on dry land.

Then they came to Marah. There was water at Marah, but it was too bitter to drink. (That is why the place was named Marah.)

They said, "It would have been better if the Lord had just killed us in the land of Egypt. At least there we had plenty to eat. We had all the food we needed. But now you have brought us out here into this desert to make us all die from hunger."

Every day the people will gather only enough food for one day. But on Friday, when the people prepare their food, they will see that they have enough food for two days."

But when they measured what they had gathered, there was no shortage and there was none left over. Everyone gathered just what they needed.

But some of the people did not obey Moses. They saved their food for the next day. But worms got into the food and it began to stink. Moses was angry with the people who did this.

Every morning the people gathered as much food as they could eat, but by noon the food melted and was gone.

Moses told them, "This is what the Lord said would happen. It happened because tomorrow is the Sabbath, the special day of rest to honor the Lord . You can cook all the food you need to cook for today, but save the rest of this food for tomorrow morning."

You should gather the food for six days. But the seventh day of the week is a day of rest—so there will not be any of the special food on the ground."

On Saturday, some of the people went out to gather some of the food, but they could not find any.

The Israelites left the western Sinai desert. They traveled all together from place to place as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink.

But the people were very thirsty, so they continued complaining to Moses. They said, "Why did you bring us out of Egypt? Did you bring us out here so that we, our children, and our cattle will all die without water?"

Any time Moses held his hands in the air, the men of Israel would start winning the fight. But when Moses put his hands down, the men of Israel began to lose the fight.

Now I know the Lord is greater than all the gods. They thought they were in control, but look what God did!"

But Moses' father-in-law said to him, "This isn't the right way to do this.