The Sea Opens Up

What do you do when you're stuck, and there's no way out? Let me tell you about the day God made a path right through the sea.

For many years, God's people, the Israelites, had been slaves in Egypt. They had to work hard all day, every day, and they were very sad. But God heard their cries. He sent Moses to lead them out of Egypt, and at last, they were free! God led the way himself. By day, a tall cloud went ahead of them. By night, a tall fire glowed in the dark, so they could always see the way. God led them to camp beside the sea. Water, as far as they could see.

But back in Egypt, Pharaoh, the king, changed his mind. He wanted his workers back! So he jumped into his chariot and raced after them with his whole army. Six hundred of his best chariots, and many more. Horses galloping, wheels rumbling! The Israelites looked behind them, and there was the army, coming closer and closer. They looked in front of them, and there was the sea. They were trapped!

The people were very afraid. They cried out to God, and they grumbled at Moses. Why did you bring us out here? But Moses said, "Don't be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord." He told them, "The Lord will fight for you, and you shall be still."

Salvation means rescue. God was about to rescue them in a way nobody had ever seen before. That night, God's tall cloud moved from in front of them to behind them, right between his people and the army. On the army's side, it was dark. On Israel's side, it gave light all night long. And the army could not come near. Then God told Moses to stretch out his hand over the sea.

Moses stretched out his hand. Whoosh! God sent a strong wind that blew and blew, all night long. And the sea split in two!

The water stood up on both sides, and in the middle was a path of dry ground. Not muddy, not squishy, but dry! So God's people walked right through the middle of the sea. The Bible says, "the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left." Moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas, boys and girls, even the sheep and the goats. Can you imagine walking between walls of water, maybe with fish swimming inside? All night they walked, until God's people were safe on the other side.

But the army raced into the sea after them. Early in the morning, God looked down from the cloud and the fire, and he made the army all mixed up. The wheels came off their chariots! They wobbled and bumped and got stuck. Even the soldiers said, "Let's flee from the face of Israel, for the Lord fights for them."

Then God told Moses to stretch out his hand over the sea again. As the sun came up, the water rolled back into place. The sea covered the chariots, and the army that had chased God's people was gone.

God's people stood on the shore and looked at the quiet sea. They were safe! God had made a way where there was no way. When they saw what God had done, they trusted God, and they trusted Moses, his servant. Then they sang a song of praise to God. And Miriam, the sister of Moses, picked up her tambourine, and the women danced and sang with her.

This story teaches us that when we feel stuck or scared, we can trust God. He is with us, and he can make a way, even through the sea.