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In the last plague all of the firstborn sons of Egypt die—save the ones from homes with the Passover blood—including Pharaoh’s own child.

Pharaoh summons Moses and Aaron, tells them to get out of town and take their people with them. 

But in Exodus 14:5-9, Pharaoh has a change of heart. He readies his chariots and pursues the Israelites. With the Egyptians behind them and a sea in front of them, death seems certain. 

On God’s command, Moses raises his staff over the Red Sea, and the Lord sends an east wind that blows all night turning the sea into dry land. The Israelites walk safely across. When the Egyptian army follows, the raging sea swallows them. 

While Moses and Aaron are wandering with the Israelites, God gives them some commands. God lays out ten ground rules on a pair of stone tablets and gives them to Moses.

A lot of people get confused about them. They think that to be a good Christian, you have to keep all of these commandments–always. 

You respond, “That’s impossible!” And you’re right.

So, did God set us up to fail? No. The purpose of the commandments wasn’t (and isn’t) that if we keep them all, we’ll be good.

The point of the Law is to show us how much we need Him. While God gave us a standard for serving Him obediently, our salvation does not hang in the balance.

So, back to the wilderness.  In Genesis 15:13-16, God promises Abraham that for 400 years, his offspring will travel through affliction in a land that is not theirs. 

When the Israelites come to the entrance of Canaan, the land God promised them, Moses sends 12 spies to check out the land. After forty days, 10 of the spies return. They say the people are huge and they can’t defeat them. Two of the spies, Caleb and Joshua, say differently. 

In Numbers 14:34 God tells Moses the Israelites (except for Caleb and Joshua) will wander in the desert forty more years. 

God allows us to suffer consequences as a result of our disobedience, but He also gives us life where we deserve death. When the Lord has promised us something, we hold fast to it regardless of circumstance and perceived ability.