When the Israelites beheld the Egyptian host in pursuit, some upon horses and some in chariots, and equipped for war, their hearts failed them. The Red Sea was before, the Egyptian host behind. They could see no way of escape. A shout of triumph burst from the Egyptians to find Israel completely in their power. The Israelites were greatly terrified. But the Lord commanded Moses to bid them go forward, and to lift up the rod and stretch out his hand over the sea and divide it. He did so, and lo, the sea parted, and the children of Israel passed over dry shod. Pharaoh had so long withstood God, and hardened his heart against His mighty, wondrous works, that he in blindness rushed into the path which God had miraculously prepared for His people. Again Moses was commanded to stretch forth his hand over the sea, “and the sea returned to his strength,” and the waters covered the Egyptian host, and they were drowned. {1T 265.1}

Da Israelitterne så den ægyptiske hær på jagt, nogle på heste og nogle i stridsvogne og udrustet til krig, blev deres hjerter bløde. Det Røde Hav var foran og den ægyptiske hær bagved. De kunne ikke se nogen udvej. Et sejrsråb brød frem fra ægypterne, over at finde israelitterne fuldstændig i deres magt. Israelitterne var stærkt forfærdet. Men Herren befalede Moses at påbyde dem at frem og løfte staven og strække sin hånd ud over havet og dele det. Han gjorde således og se! havet delte sig og Israels børn gik tørskoet over. Farao havde modarbejdet Gud så længe og forhærdet sit hjerte mod hans mægtige forunderlige gerninger, at han i sin blindhed fór ind på den sti som Herren mirakuløst havde beredt for sit folk. Igen blev Moses befalet til at række sin hånd ud over havet, (266) »Og havet vendte tilbage til sit sædvanlige leje« og vandene begravede ægypternes hære og de druknedes.