Stand Still and See

The Story

Israel had just walked out of Egypt after four hundred years of slavery. But God didn’t lead them along the short road toward home. He led them the long way, into the wilderness, and told Moses to set up camp right beside the Red Sea.

Back in Egypt, Pharaoh changed his mind. He gathered six hundred of his best chariots and raced after the people he had just let go. When the Israelites looked up and saw the army coming, they were trapped. The sea was in front of them, and Egypt’s army was behind them.

They panicked. “Were there no graves in Egypt,” they cried to Moses, “that you brought us out here to die?”

Moses answered, “Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD.” Then God told Moses, “Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward.”

The pillar of cloud moved behind them, bringing darkness to the Egyptians and light to Israel. Moses stretched his hand over the sea, and all that night a strong east wind pushed the water back. In the morning, the people walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on each side. When the Egyptians followed, the waters came back. Israel stood safe on the far shore.

Reflection