Before them stretched the deep Red Sea;
Behind them pressed the angry foe;
And Israel's children cried with fear.
Then spake forth Moses calm and slow
"Stand still; and let God's glory show."
He turned then to his Lord for help.
"Go forward!" came the answer clear,
Stretch forth thy rod, the waters part,
On dry land walk, nor ever fear
The enemy; though he seem near.
Alike to us the message comes,
"Go forward!" though so dark it seems
We cannot see a step before;
Though error all about us teems
And hides too well the sun's bright beams.
When we reject all but the real,
To nothingness the false will fade.
We know and serve one God alone;
All things that are, were by Him made,
And they are good the Father said.
