So here's where we are in the story. (happy music)
The Israelites had been slaves for years and years, and they wanted out!
So they cried out to God, "Rescue us!" (chains rattle)
But Pharaoh wouldn't let them go.
-Pharaoh: "No."
So God sent some trouble to Pharaoh.
First, God turned the Egyptians' river to blood, but that didn't work on Pharaoh.
-Pharaoh: "No!"
Then He made frogs invade Egypt. (ribbit, ribbit)
There were frogs everywhere!
-Pharaoh: "No."
Then God sent zillions of gnats and flies, (buzzing)
but still Pharaoh wouldn't let the Israelites go.
(flies buzzing)
-Pharaoh: "No."
So God decided to punish Pharaoh more.
He sent sickness and horrible boils to appear on people's skin.
-Pharaoh: "Nooooo!"
But still Pharaoh didn't obey, so God sent hailstones, (storm rain tapping)
that's pieces of ice, falling from the sky!
Next, He sent a swarm of locust. (Insects chirping) Now those were like the flies and gnats only
these guys ate all the food in Egypt, and still Pharaoh said... (munching insects)
-Pharaoh: "Nah."
Next was complete darkness. (crescendo of cymbols then music stops)
No... light... (upbeat music, bug sounds and ribbits return)
And finally God told Pharaoh that if he didn't obey and let the Israelites go,
all of the firstborn in Egypt would die! (clapping, hail, bug and frog sounds)
Unless lamb's blood had been painted on the family's doorpost.
That did it. (sad music)
When Pharaoh's son died because Pharaoh didn't obey, the leader finally said to the Israelites,
(music stops) -Pharaoh: "Go."
(happy music) So that very night, the Israelites left.
They didn't know which way to go or where they were headed,
but God had promised them something.
He said, "I will show you a new way, a new land, and a new home."
So, to help them out, God sent a huge cloud for the Israelites to follow.
A cloud and a pillar of smoke stretched up to the sky.
During the day the cloud shaded them from the heat in desert,
and at night it, glowed with warmth to keep them safe and warm while they slept.
When it was time to move, the cloud moved in front of them,
and when it was time to rest, the cloud stopped.
The Israelites walked and walked and walked (footsteps padding)
until God led his people through the desert to the edge of a great sea. (waves and violins get louder)
They were wondering, "How will we cross the water?"
when suddenly they heard the sound of thundering and pounding. (clip-clopping)
It sounded like horse hooves. (galloping horses)
Pharaoh had changed his mind again! (music stops)
He wanted the Israelites back and now Pharaoh's army was chasing after the Israelites.
The Israelites didn't know what to do. (dramatic violin music, galloping and waves)
They were stuck with a giant sea in front of them and an army behind them,
and it was coming fast. They panicked!
The water was too deep to walk through and too far and long to swim through;
they didn't have boats or horses,
and the soldiers were getting closer, and closer, and closer.
But Moses told them, "God will make a way for us to escape!" (echoing voice)
and then something strange happened, something they had never seen before.
The cloud moved behind the people and hid them from the Egyptians.
(hands clapping, wind blows then silence)
God told Moses to raise his hands and his staff, (violins return)
and God sent a strong wind to blow on the water. (wind whooshing, waves crashing)
The wind blew all night long.
It blew some of the water to the left and some to the right until
there were two towering walls of water, and right in the middle was dry land. (violins stop)
The Israelites took a step, and another step, and another step (footsteps and upbeat music)
until all of the Israelites had walked right through,
right where all those enormous waves had been.
God had rescued the Israelites again, and it wouldn't be the last time he did that.
God would save them again once and for all, but that comes later.
And I can't wait for you to hear that story.