Lesson 241: Crossing The Red Sea

Ex. 12:37-51; 13:17-22; 14

Full Lesson HERE

INTRODUCTION. When the Lord brought the tenth plague, the death of the firstborn,

upon Pharaoh and Egypt, there was a great cry in the land, for there was not a house where there was not one dead. The Egyptians were eager for the Israelites to leave their land-to leave in haste-and Pharaoh told Moses and Aaron to take the children of Israel with their flocks and herds and go serve their Lord. In addition the Egyptians had given the Israelites articles of silver, gold, and clothing, so the children of Israel left Egypt with much wealth (Ex. 12:29-36).

When Jacob and his family moved to Egypt during the famine at the time Joseph was second ruler in Egypt, they settled in the land of Goshen. Goshen was located in the northeastern part of Egypt in the Nile River delta area. The land was extremely fertile and ideal for raising flocks and herds which was the main occupation of Jacob's family. After many years had passed and the "new king" arose who did not know Joseph (Ex. 1 :8), the children of Israel were forced to build cities for Pharaoh in this land of Goshen where they were still dwelling.

Now, after 400 years in Egypt in fulfillment of God's prophecy to Abraham (Gen. 15: 13), the children of Israel were at last leaving the land of their bondage and journeying to their home in Canaan, promised by God to Abraham (Gen. 12:7; 15:18). They started their journey at Rameses, about 600,000 men besides children, and traveled first to Succoth. They ate unleavened bread because "they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual" (Ex. 12:37-41 ).