It was a great picnic, and everyone was sorry when it was almost over and time to go home. The sun had been very warm and the children had chased each other and explored whilst their Mummies and Daddies had chatted and caught up on all the news.
'If you want to hear a story before we go home, you had better come now' called Mummy to Adrian and Evie, and their cousins Alex, Elisheba and little Hannah.
The children flew quickly back to their parents, and flopped down on to the grass, hot and panting.
'You do look hot' said Aunty Sarai who was Alex, Elisheba and Hannah's Mummy. 'You had better sit for a while to cool down.'
'Can we have our story now?' asked Evie.
'Yes, why not' answered her Daddy.
'Who will tell the story tonight?' asked Adrian. 'Your Uncle Ephraim, I think' answered Aunty Sarai. ‘Daddy told us his favourite story last night' said Adrian. 'The one where our Heavenly Father came to Mount Sinai and gave Moses the Ten Commandments.'
'That is a wonderful story' agreed Uncle Ephraim, Daddy's brother. 'So why don't I tell the story of what happened to the Children of Israel BEFORE they arrived at your mountain?'
'Good idea' they all agreed.
'And I shall call my story "The Miracle at the Sea-side", Uncle Ephraim decided, and he smiled as he looked at the children who in turn looked back at him with sparkling eyes and big smiles on their faces - they loved stories, and especially stories about their loving Heavenly Father.
‘An upside down story’ giggled Elisheba before her Daddy could begin. ‘I’ve never heard one of those before.’
‘It isn’t “upside down” it’s more ‘back to front’ Alex said in a superior voice as he looked at his sister.
‘It’s still “upside down” Elisheba snapped, and pushed her brother
Alex opened his beak, and was just about to tweak Elisheba when Hannah pulled at him and said ‘We wont hear the story at all if you keep bickering at each other. Be Quiet!’ And she sat back, well pleased with her little self.
Elisheba and Alex couldn’t help laughing at her serious face, and all quarrelling was forgotten.
'It was about three months before Uncle Edward's story' Uncle Ephraim began as he saw the children settling themselves and sitting quietly. 'The Children of Israel had followed Moses out of Egypt and were being led by God in a pillar of cloud during the daytime and a pillar of fire by night.'
'So they could see which way to go' interrupted little Hannah.
'That's right ' agreed her Daddy. 'So they would know which way to go. And I decided to follow too, I was sure it was going to be a great adventure as I had heard of all the miracles God had performed in Egypt.'
'And was it?' - Evie interrupted this time.
Adrian sighed! 'Oh, Evie' he said. 'Was it WHAT?'
Evie looked at her brother and flapped her wing at him. 'Was it an ADVENTURE of course, silly boy!'
'Settle down you two' said Daddy sternly before it could break out into another squabble.
Adrian made a face at Evie, but nothing more was said.
Little Hannah giggled, now it was her cousins’ turn to snap at each other, but she quickly put her wing across her face so that no-one could hear her.
'Yes, Evie, it was an Adventure' Uncle Ephraim answered her patiently when the children were quiet again. 'A GREAT Adventure, because I saw one of God's Miracles at the sea shore. The Children of Israel had walked until they reached the sea, and then, as they looked back, they became very upset and angry with Moses.
'We are going to die here in this awful desert' they said. Others were crying and saying "There is no escape, no escape."
'Why, Uncle Ephraim?' asked Evie wrinkling her face into a puzzled frown.
'Because they saw the Egyptian Army in the distance speeding after them' Uncle answered. 'I could see the people looking around, very frightened, and hear them saying "The Egyptians are behind us, the sea is in front, there are hills all around - why did you bring us here to die?" 'They were so scared!'
'What did Moses say?' asked Adrian. 'Did you hear him?'
'Oh yes, I swooped right down to make sure I heard his answer Uncle said.
'Did you frighten the people when you flew so close to them Daddy?' little Hannah asked.
'No, they were far too scared to bother about me, so I was able to hear every word.'
"Don't be afraid" Moses told them. "Just stand where you are and you will see the wonderful way the Lord will rescue you today."
'I knew then that I was about to see a miracle, and I was so excited.' He paused, and began to move around to make himself more comfortable.
Aunty Sarai laughed. 'Don't be such a tease' she said. 'You know they are longing to find out what happened.'
Uncle chuckled. He really was a dreadful tease at times.
Then he continued - 'I saw the Angel of God move the Cloud behind the Children of Israel so that as the night got darker theEgyptians couldn't find them, and the people of Israel could see perfectly by the light of the pillar of fire!'
The children laughed and flapped their wings. 'How clever of our Heavenly Father' said Adrian.
'It would show the people how much He cares for them' added Elisheba quietly.
'You are quite right' smiled her Daddy. 'Our Heavenly Father performs these miracles to show the people that He is not a "far-away" God, but someone who is interested in everything they do, and loves them very much.'
The children gave a little wriggle of happiness. Wasn't it wonderful of their Heavenly Father to care for PEOPLE as well as for them, they thought.
'But that isn't the end of the story - the best is yet to come' Uncle Ephraim said. 'Moses then stretched his rod out over the Sea, and God opened up a path through the Sea, making huge walls of water at each side - what an amazing sight it was' and he laughed with delight as he remembered.
'And were the people able to walk across to the other side?' asked Evie in astonishment.
'They were indeed' answered her Uncle. 'They all walked safely across - what a miracle. I shall never forget it!'
'Did the people remember to say "Thank-you" to our Heavenly Father' asked little Hannah as she remembered how many times her Mummy had to remind HER to say "Thank-you."
'Yes, I'm glad to say they did remember. They even sang a song' added her Daddy. 'It was like an enormous Choir, it was wonderful. "The Lord is my strength and I will praise Him" I heard them singing.
'What a lovely ending' sighed Elisheba. 'A big Choir singing "Thank-you" to our Heavenly Father.'
Elizabeth Aynsley ©

Exodus Ch.14