"God led the people," says the Word, as they came up out of Egypt. He
gave them the two leaders by whom He had broken the power of Pharaoh,
and set His people free, and He also set a great cloud in the air, just
above and before them, to lead them in the right way. It was to them
the presence of the Lord. By day it rose white and beautiful against
the blue sky, and moved slowly before them. At night it stood still
while they rested, and shed light over all the camp, for there seemed
to be a fire within the cloud at night. How safe and happy they must
have felt away from the cruel taskmasters of Egypt, and the Lord's
presence, spreading a wing of cloud over them. They were not led by a
straight way to Canaan, for a warlike people lived in the land which
they must pass through, but they were led at first through a country
without cities or armies, where they would not trouble many people or
be troubled by them. They bore with them the embalmed body of Joseph,
for they had promised to bury him with his fathers in the cave of
Machpelah; and they also had much wealth in herds, and flocks, and
gold, and silver. Pharaoh thought of this after they had gone, and his
wicked heart grew harder than before, so he ordered his chariots and
horsemen to follow them, and they found the Israelites camped by the
Red Sea.

Then there was great fear and mourning in the camp when they saw the
army of Pharaoh coming, but Moses cried:

"Fear ye not, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. The Lord
shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace."

Then the Lord told Moses to speak to the people that they go forward.
He also told him to lift up his rod and stretch his hand over the sea
and divide it, and the children of Israel should go on dry ground
through the midst of the sea. Night was falling, and the waters lay
dark before them, but the angel of God, the pillar of cloud and fire,
moved from its place before them and went behind them, while Moses and
Aaron led them on. Then the presence of the Lord was a cloud and
darkness to the Egyptians, but it gave a light by night to the
Israelites. A strong east wind drove the waters apart all night, so
that there was a way through the sea, and the waters were a wall upon
their right hand and on their left. Pharaoh's army saw the broad path
through the sea, and followed fast after the Israelites, but as morning
dawned the Lord looked from the cloud and troubled the Egyptian