These plagues grew more severe with each new one.  And much effort has been made to show that one would have led to another.  Much has been said also, to show that the plagues, at least most of them, were events that were common in Egypt and that they were remarkable only for their severity.  Such attempts to explain away the miraculous element are based upon the wrong view of a miracle.  The very occurrence in response to the word of Moses and at such time as to each time meet a particular condition, or to make a certain desired impression, would put them out of the pale of the pale of the ordinary and into the list of the extraordinary or miraculous.  At all events the sacred writer, the Hebrews in Egypt at the time, and the Egyptians all believed the strong hand of Jehovah was laid bare on behalf of his people.  So it must seem to all who now believe that God rules in his universe.

In connection with and just preceding the tenth plague, there was institutioned the Passover to celebrate their deliverance from Egypt and especially the passing of the Hebrew homes by the angel who went abroad in Egypt to slay the first born.  It was this plaque that finally showed Pharaoh and his people the folly of resisting Jehovah and assured Israel of his power.  The paschal lamb, whose blood sprinkled upon the door posts and lintels of the dwelling saved the Hebrew, is a beautiful type of Christ and his saving blood.  This feast became one of great joy, annually celebrated, during all future Hebrew history.

The Crossing of the Red Sea.  For three days and nights God led them by a pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night.  At the end of the third day they had reached the shore of the Red Sea and were shut in by mountains on each side.  They were greatly frightened to find that Pharaoh with a host of chariot-warriors was in close pursuit of them.  But God caused the cloud that had been leading them to remove to their rear and to throw a shadow upon their enemies while giving power to the east wind (Ex. 14:21) that caused the waters of the sea to divide so they could cross on dry ground.  When Pharaoh and his hosts attempted to follow then.  God caused the waters to return and overwhelm them.  As in former miracles, Moses was God’s instrument in performing this miracle.  When they were safe across and saw the overthrow of their enemies their feelings of joy expressed themselves in a great song of victory in which they ascribe praise to God and recount the incidents of his work of deliverance.

The Journey to Sinai.  It is not possible to locate all the stations at which they stopped on their journey from the Red Sea to the time of their encampment at the foot of Horeb or Sinai.  The list is given in Numbers, Chapter thirty-three.  For our purpose it is sufficient to notice only a few places and incidents of the journey. (1) They encamped at Marah, being the first watering place they had found.  The water, however, was bitter and could not be used until