HE BLEW WITH HIS NOSTRILS...I SAW IT HAPPEN

We all knew the situation was dire. Those of us toward the front of the traveling multitude did not know it at first. We were on our way. We were making progress. We were free from bondage. We were actually singing. But then, first a whisper shuddered through the crowd; then outbursts and cries.

My vantage point was perfect. I could see the gray sea ahead and we all knew about the mountains on either side of us. Yet, I was honestly surprised when I heard that the Egyptians were pursuing. Hadn't they had enough? The sound of the midnight wailing would never be forgotten, not for me! I grabbed Benjamin's hand and told him walk close to me. He resisted a bit. I scanned the sea of faces for my husband. I saw him, finally, standing close to Moses. They were on a rock and knowing my husband well, I could see that as he looked this way and that, the news was not good.

My thoughts went to the ten horrid happenings in Egypt. Oh, surely there must be something awesome about to happen! The plagues...that is what everyone was calling them...each one had done something to my heart. I wasn't the kind to say much, but I did a lot of thinking. With each judgment upon the Egyptians, my knowledge of our God grew stronger. These were not things that anyone can just cook up at will...the lice, the darkness, the frogs! Who is a god like to our God?

But there, knowing we were cornered and understanding the facial expressions of my husband, and here I must be honest, the situation was entirely hopeless. Yes, it was hopeless, but I could not shake off the truth of the miracles we had recently witnessed. God was stretching me! That was it. By the time the death angel had struck in his power in the land of Egypt, I was pretty well convinced that God could do anything...and even beyond that, I knew that He cared about us in some unusual way.

I did not like the loud voices and the angry words being hurled at Moses. People were saying that they wished they were back in their old hometowns! This was dreadfully frightening, but I can honestly say that going back did not sound inviting to me! Ben drew closer to me. He knew the truth. He was twelve. The severity was not hard to grasp.

No prayer escaped my lips, but there was a silent prayer...no, supplication...directed at the great God. Moses and my dear husband, and I think two more men, stood tall and brave on the rock. The people were shouting and crying. Everyone pushed closer together hoping to be safer. The animals rocked backed and forth, braying and clucking, neighing and baa-ing.

I turned to look behind me, knowing what I would see...a multitude of scared faces, turning left and turning right as they talked through the impending danger. The sound of Moses crying with a loud voice turned me around. "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today. The Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent."

He held his staff out over the water. The cloud gave us a cloak of darkness. The fire gave us light. I still didn't know how He would do it, but I just started watching and listening.

You know the rest of the story. What you don't know is that as I made my way over the dry ground, water standing up like a wall on either side, my heart was changed for good. Did I doubt Him again? Yes, but not without a heart resolved to get over it! God blew with His nostrils and I was there to see it.