Page 32 - Advanced Bible Geography ebook

Pharaoh would not listen to Moses or God, so God sent 10 terrible plagues upon the land of Egypt. God
used the hardened heart of Pharaoh to demonstrate His incredible power to not only the Egyptians, but
to the children of Israel. The last plague brought the death of the first-born of every family and of every
animal. As a result of this plague, Pharaoh told Moses to leave Egypt.

It wasn’t long, however, before Pharaoh changed his mind. Furious at the people of God for what God
had done to his own family and to all of Egypt, Pharaoh sent his armed forces after the escaping
Hebrews. God would use this
incident to demonstrate once and
for all that He was far greater than
the most powerful man on earth.

Israel was trapped. With the
Egyptian forces closing in on one
side and the Sea behind them, it
looked like an impossible
situation. But the sea was
miraculously parted, allowing
Israel to cross on dry land. When
the Egyptian forces pursued the
people of God, the sea closed, and
the Egyptians were destroyed.
Never again would Egypt dominate
the Jewish people. And neither the
Egyptians nor the Hebrews would
ever forget the miracle. Each year
when Jewish families celebrate
their Passover meal, they re-tell
this story!

After they were safely across the sea, Moses led 600,000 men, together with their families, (perhaps as
many as 2-3 million) out of Egypt and directed them toward the Red Sea as they journeyed to the
Promised Land. God led the people with a pillar of clouds during the day and by a pillar of fire by night.

Early in the journey, Moses received the Ten Commandments and the rest of the Law on Mt. Sinai.
Unfortunately, the people rebelled before Moses could even come down the mountain with the stone
tablets. When Moses found them, they were worshiping a golden calf.

The rebellion continued. The people came to the edge of the land they’d been promised and sent 12
spies into what was known as “Canaan.” Ten of the spies said the land would be too difficult to take.
Only Joshua and Caleb begged the people to trust the Lord. The people did not trust the Lord and as a
result, they wandered in the wilderness for 40 more years.

Only after the entire generation of those who’d faltered had died did the people prepare to enter the
land. Under the leadership of Joshua (Caleb also survived), the Hebrew people finally crossed the
Jordan River near Jericho, finally ending their period of wandering. As the people camped on the
western side of the Jordan, they were within sight of Mt. Nebo, where Moses had taken his view of the
land before dying.

30