God, in the shape of a fiery cloud, leads the Israelites to the shores of the Red Sea. The King of Egypt catches up with them and the Israelites start what is to become a pattern – moaning about how they wish they’d stayed as slaves rather than die in the desert.

Moses tells them these brilliant words: “The Lord will fight for you, there is no need to do anything.”

Then God dramatically saves them by sending the Angel of God as a cloud to block the Israelites from the Egyptians’ view, then clearing a solid ground path through the Red Sea, which the Israelites hurry across. By the time the Egyptians get into the path, the water comes thudding back. Dressed in armour, every single Egyptian drowns.

The Israelites are then in the desert. For a little while they sing amazing songs of praise, before again lapsing into complaints about how they should have stayed in Egypt…. and God, instead of smiting them once or twice as they probably deserved, provides them with manna and quails.

They are to take only enough for one day, except on the day before Sabbath, when they are to take two days’ worth. Of course they don’t heed instructions and keep more than enough on most days, and not enough on Sabbath’s eve….. just like us, they find it hard to trust God – even though unlike us they have directly seen his works!

Dear God, Please help me hear you when you tell me you will fight for me, and that there is no need to do anything. Thank you for everything you give me. Please help me to trust you to give me enough for each day, without having to horde or be greedy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.