Views of Nature: We have a view of nature ruled by natural laws where we read cause and effect. The Israelites saw it otherwise. They saw the realm creation as sustained by God and his will expressed in natural events whether these events were repetitive (the seasons) or beyond the repetitive (sign and wonders). They had no distinction between the natural and supernatural. All events were visible evidence of the presence and purpose of God. 78

Crossing of Sea of Reeds (Satellite image Courtesy of NASA with water color modified)

"Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD swept the sea with a strong east wind throughout the night and so turned it into dry land." (Ex 14:21)

The exact location where the Israelites crossed the Sea of Reeds is unknown but is approximately marked on this map.

At first glance this drying up of the Sea of Reeds by the wind looks like a natural event but when we look at it within context, we see that both the action of Moses and and the drying of the Sea of Reeds was orchestrated by God who knows the nature and timing of all things. "To Israel it was not a freak of nature, but a sign of Yahweh active presence in their midst, who summoned the power of the ordinary world (the wind) to serve his purpose." 79 This action of God saved his people from the Egyptians and they sang:

Song of Moses and Miriam
(Please click to hear Ex 15:1-6)
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society.
All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Water in the Desert

Water is scarce in the Sinai Peninsula. Its average yearly rainfall is less than 10 inches. So after three days of marching in the desert without finding water, the Israelites arrived at Marah where they found water too bitter to drink. Moses appealed to the Lord who pointed out to him certain wood which he threw into the water and it became fresh.

As the Israelite community traveled further into the desert they arrived at the Rephidim. There was no water and people grumbled against Moses. Once again Moses appealed to the Lord who said to Moses to use his staff and "Strike the rock, and water will flow for the people to drink." (Ex 17:6) However, God was not pleased with the people because they had doubted His presence in their midst when they said, "'Is the Lord in our midst of not?'" (Ex 17:7)

Crossing the Jordan River

After wandering in the desert for forty years, the Israelites under Joshua were ready to cross into the promised land. The obstacle that stood in their path was the Jordan River which is swift flowing because it begins at the foot of Mt. Hermon (9,000 ft. above sea level) and empties into the Dead Sea (1,400 ft. below sea level) having traveled about 200 miles. Furthermore, the river at the time of crossing was overflowing all its banks which it did each year at harvest time.

Joshua directed the people to follow the ark carried by the priest to the edge of the Jordan. As soon as the feet of the priests touched the waters of the Jordan, it stopped flowing from upstream and the rest flowed south till it disappeared. The priest stood motionless at the banks of the Jordan till all the peoples had crossed. The damming up of the water could have been caused by a landslide as it has happened on other occasions (note on NAB) but again God's action is seen the inspiration of Joshua and the timing of the landslide. Once all the people had crossed, Joshua instructed 12 men, one from each tribe, to take a stone from where the priests were standing and to deposit them on the other side of the Jordan as a memorial.

Waters of Salvation