MOSES, leading the Israelites out of bondage after Pharaoh had so reluctantly allowed them to leave Egypt, had journeyed, so we read in Exodus, from Succoth, "and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness." Thus far the advance, though perhaps long and trying, had encountered no interference; the Lord had gone before them, a pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night, guiding them each step of the way. All was well until, realizing that Pharaoh was pursuing them, they became fearful and entangled themselves in a wilderness of doubts, fears, and regrets at having ever begun the flight for freedom. Better, the Israelites felt, to have remained in Egypt, slaves of Pharaoh, than to have become lost in the wilderness, where it seemed they must surely die. But Moses, their faithful leader, turned to God for guidance and comforted them with the assurance that God would defend them.
Having come at last to the shores of the Red Sea, the Israelites had reached a spot from which going back was impossible unless the great and powerful forces of the Egyptians could be conquered. Going forward looked equally impossible. They were at a standstill. So long as the pillar of cloud and fire which lighted their camp, while darkening that of the enemy, cut them off from danger of Pharaoh's attack, they felt safe from the Egyptians; but they could scarcely remain indefinitely shut up in a camp by the sea.
Then God commanded Moses to speak to his followers, "that they go forward." "Go forward"! Into the sea? To stand still seemed all they could possibly accomplish just then. They had no ships; to swim the sea was impossible. Instructed by God, Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, that God might fulfill His promise that they should walk over on dry land.
