When the Israelites arrived at a place called Marah they were thirsty, but the water there was "bitter" so they could not drink it. What did they do? Complained. God heard them and when Moses threw a piece of wood into the water, it became sweet and they could drink it. Isn't that weird? What was that all about? Eventually the people came to Elim where they found twelve springs of fresh water, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. It is quite a story!

The Israelites were able to walk through the sea on dry land as they escaped the clutches of Pharoah and his army. However, the Egyptian chariots had a difficult time crossing over the same terrain. Why? As God's people passed through the sea, both God's "pillar of fire" and His "pillar of cloud" were in action at the same time, which was very unusual. In the end, the fate of the pursuing Egyptians was similar to what happened to the locusts during the plagues in Egypt. All of this is an example of how the wrath of God results in praise!

As the Israelites stood at the edge of the sea with no means of escape, they heard Egyptian chariots storming towards them and they were frightened. They were certain that they were about to be killed. They saw Pharaoh in the distance and thought he had all the power in his hands. But God told them to simply "stand and see" while He fought this battle for them. How sad that He had to remind His people again where they could find the power they needed, whatever their circumstances.

The Israelites had left Egypt behind and were camped at a place "by the sea." Geographically speaking, there were interesting aspects about this location which made it a precarious and curious place for them to be. Could this be why Pharoah thought he could catch and capture the Israelites (besides the fact that he had Egyptian chariots and they did not)? What was so special about the Egyptian chariots? And what about those pillars, one of fire and one a cloud, which went before the Israelites? We also find them mentioned later in Isaiah and in Revelation!

Moses and the Israelites were leaving Egypt and heading for Mt. Sinai, which is the beginning of their wilderness experience. They were introduced to the "pillar of cloud" and the "pillar of fire" for the first time. What was the function of these "pillars" beyond guidance and direction? For that matter, why was the "wilderness experience" necessary at all? We will also see how some of the plagues of Egypt will reappear during the Great Tribulation of Revelation and how that day will be similar to the days of God's people in Egypt.

Passover night is over and the Israelites are ready to leave Egypt as the Egyptians bury their dead. They are told to "hurry" and leave, and the Israelites marched out as a victorious army with gold, and silver, and expensive clothing. This was the fulfillment of a promise which God had made to Abram hundreds of years before. The Israelites also took a "mixed multitude" of people with them. Who were they?

Moses told the Israelites to dip the hyssop branch into the sacrificial lamb's blood which had drained into the "basin" at the foot of their doors. What was this basin? How was this a forerunner of what would happen at the cross of Christ? When the firstborn died in Egypt, was it the males only, or also the females of each household? Pharoah asks Moses the "bless me also." Why did Pharoah ask this?

We have come to Passover night in Egypt, which brings death into every household, both Egyptian and Israelite. Egyptians will suffer the death of their firstborn as God's final plague expresses His wrath for what had been done to His people. The Israelites will suffer the sacrificial death of a chosen lamb which had been in their care, inside their homes, for five days. One group is devastated, and one group is delivered. We find lessons from both groups which inform our lives as Christians in the world today.