12. The Exodus

What the Story Says

1. Who also left Egypt along with the Israelites?

   Some people from other nations who believed in God also left Egypt along with the Israelites (#12-01).

2. How did God lead the Israelites?

   God sent a tall pillar of cloud during the day. It became a pillar of fire at night. It went ahead of the Israelites to show them where to go. God was in this pillar (#12-02).

3. Why did Pharaoh change his mind about letting the Israelites go?

   God caused Pharaoh to change his mind so that he could show everyone that is more powerful than Pharaoh and all the gods of Egypt (#12-03).

4. Why were the Israelites afraid when they saw the Egyptian army coming?

   They were trapped between the Egyptians and the Red Sea. They thought the Egyptians would kill them (#12-04).

5. What did God do to protect the Israelites from the Egyptians?

   God moved the pillar of cloud between the Israelites and the Egyptians so the Egyptians could not see the Israelites (#12-06).

6. What happened when Moses raised his hand over the sea?

   God caused the wind to push the water to the left and to the right so that there was a path through the sea for the Israelites. The Israelites crossed the sea on dry ground (#12-07), (#12-08).

7. What happened to the Egyptians when they followed the Israelites into the sea?

   God caused the Egyptians to panic and their chariots to get stuck. Then he closed the water over the Egyptians so that they all drowned (#12-10), (#12-11).

8. What did the Israelites believe about Moses?

   They believed that he was a prophet of God (#12-12).

9. How do the Israelites remember every year that God defeated the Egyptians?

   Every year, the Israelites celebrate the festival of the Passover by killing and eating a lamb with unleavened bread (#12-14).

What the Story Means to Us

1. Why do you think some people from other nations went with the Israelites from Egypt?

   They would have seen all the plagues that God did to the Egyptians. Perhaps that is why they believed that Yahweh was God. They decided to follow him instead of the gods of Egypt.

2. God had already forced Pharaoh to let the Israelites leave Egypt. Why did he make Pharaoh chase after them again?

   Perhaps other nations would not know that God forced Pharaoh to let the Israelites go. God caused Pharaoh to chase after the Israelites so that he could completely destroy the Egyptians. In this way, people in every nation would hear about it and know that God was more powerful than Pharaoh and the gods of Egypt.

3. Why did God lead the Israelites to the Red Sea where they would be trapped, instead of leading them around it?

   God wanted to use the Red Sea to destroy the Egyptians, and to show the Israelites how powerful he was. For this reason, God led them to the edge of the sea instead of around it.

4. Why were the Egyptians not able to immediately catch the Israelites before they finished crossing the sea?

   There were so many Israelites that it would have taken a long time for them to all cross the sea. However, God placed the cloud behind them so the Egyptians could not see that they were crossing the sea. When the Israelites had crossed the sea, God moved the pillar so the Egyptians could see them and chase after them.

5. What did the Israelites do when they realized the Egyptians were dead?

   The Israelites rejoiced and worshiped God. They realized that he had save them from dying and from being slaves. They were very happy and decided to obey God. They continued to celebrate the festival of the Passover every year as God commanded them to do.

Summary

The Israelites left Egypt to go to the Promised Land, along with people from other nations who saw what God did to the Egyptians and believed in him. But God was not finished with the Egyptians. He caused Pharaoh to change his mind and chase after the Israelites so he could destroy Pharaoh completely. He made a way for Israel to escape through the Red Sea. But he killed all the Egyptians when they tried to follow them. In this way he showed the Israelites and all the other nations that he was more powerful than Pharaoh and the gods of Egypt. He also showed the Israelites that he would lead and protect them as they traveled to the Promised Land.