DAY 32 Read Exodus 14 through 16.
Today's reading: The host of Israelites (and large numbers of followers in the camp of Israel--the "mixed multitude") flee from Egyptian bondage, cross the Red Sea, and enter the wilderness.
Memory gem: "Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord" (Exodus 14:13).
Thought for today: We had traveled two long days from Cairo, Egypt, across the Suez Canal and along the shore of the Red Sea. We camped there by the sea, not far from where Israel camped, at a place called Abu Zenima. The next morning we plunged into the real wilderness. The Bible speaks of it as a "waste howling wilderness" (Deuteronomy 32:10), and no description could be more accurate. Several times we started up dead-end canyons before we finally got into the main canyon of the Wadi Feiran. We were crossing the very wilderness in which the Israelites had wandered. No wonder they needed a pillar of cloud to guide them and to shelter them from the burning heat of the day, and the pillar of fire by night. No wonder they needed water from the rock, miraculously provided by God. No wonder they needed manna every morning. There certainly would be no food or water for that great convoy of men, women, and children, except as provided by God.
We finally passed the beautiful oasis of Feiran. There are the ruins of an ancient Christian city, now inhabited by a few Arabs who gather dates from the palm trees near the springs. We pushed on up through the sand and stone, often damaging the car. In fact, we had to stop for repairs almost every mile of our way through the desert.
Nightfall came, and it was about ten o'clock and very dark when we finally pulled up to the foot of Mount Sinai, beside the gigantic stone walls of St. Catherine's Monastery. This ancient edifice was built by the Roman emperor Justinian I about 1,450 years ago. It was a mighty fortress, and for over 1,200 years had no gateway or door. All the people who wished to enter, and all food supplies, had to be lifted up by a windlass to the top of the wall. This was to protect the men inside from attack by the desert tribes.
Today's reading: The host of Israelites (and large numbers of followers in the camp of Israel--the "mixed multitude") flee from Egyptian bondage, cross the Red Sea, and enter the wilderness.
Memory gem: "Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord" (Exodus 14:13).
Thought for today: We had traveled two long days from Cairo, Egypt, across the Suez Canal and along the shore of the Red Sea. We camped there by the sea, not far from where Israel camped, at a place called Abu Zenima. The next morning we plunged into the real wilderness. The Bible speaks of it as a "waste howling wilderness" (Deuteronomy 32:10), and no description could be more accurate. Several times we started up dead-end canyons before we finally got into the main canyon of the Wadi Feiran. We were crossing the very wilderness in which the Israelites had wandered. No wonder they needed a pillar of cloud to guide them and to shelter them from the burning heat of the day, and the pillar of fire by night. No wonder they needed water from the rock, miraculously provided by God. No wonder they needed manna every morning. There certainly would be no food or water for that great convoy of men, women, and children, except as provided by God.
We finally passed the beautiful oasis of Feiran. There are the ruins of an ancient Christian city, now inhabited by a few Arabs who gather dates from the palm trees near the springs. We pushed on up through the sand and stone, often damaging the car. In fact, we had to stop for repairs almost every mile of our way through the desert.
Nightfall came, and it was about ten o'clock and very dark when we finally pulled up to the foot of Mount Sinai, beside the gigantic stone walls of St. Catherine's Monastery. This ancient edifice was built by the Roman emperor Justinian I about 1,450 years ago. It was a mighty fortress, and for over 1,200 years had no gateway or door. All the people who wished to enter, and all food supplies, had to be lifted up by a windlass to the top of the wall. This was to protect the men inside from attack by the desert tribes.
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