Themes From The Old Testament a) Give an account of the story of the crossing of the Red Sea by the Israelites under the leadership of Moses. (b) Mention th...

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a) The story of the crossing of the Red Sea by the Israelites under the leadership of Moses is found in the book of Exodus. After being enslaved in Egypt for over 400 years, God called Moses to lead the Israelites out of bondage and into the Promised Land. Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt, refused to let the Israelites go, so God sent ten plagues to persuade him. The final plague was the death of all the firstborn in Egypt. The Israelites were instructed to sacrifice a lamb and mark their doorposts with its blood so that the Angel of Death would "pass over" their houses. Pharaoh finally allowed the Israelites to leave, but soon changed his mind and pursued them with his army. The Israelites found themselves trapped between the Red Sea and the Egyptian army. God then performed a miracle by parting the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to cross on dry land. When the Egyptians pursued them, God closed the sea, drowning Pharaoh and his army. b) Three lessons that can be learnt about the nature of God from the above incident are: 1. God is powerful and can perform miracles. The parting of the Red Sea was a clear demonstration of God's power over nature and his ability to intervene in human affairs. 2. God is faithful and keeps his promises. He had promised to deliver the Israelites from bondage in Egypt and bring them to the Promised Land. Despite the challenges they faced, God remained true to his word and led them to safety. 3. God is a protector of his people. In the face of an impending attack from the Egyptians, God provided a way of escape for the Israelites. He also protected them from harm and ensured that they reached their destination safely.