Chapter 15 — GOD SHOWS HIS POWER

The Israelites had been slaves in Egypt for many years. When they went to Egypt they were only a few families; but now they had become a large group of people. The Israelites were surrounded with idol worship, so many of them had lost their knowledge of the true God. They also had forgotten God's law. The Israelites united with the Egyptians in worshiping the sun, moon, and stars. They also worshiped animals and idols.SRme 1.434

Everything around the Israelites influenced them to forget the living God. But some people among them had not forgotten the true God who made the heavens and the earth. Those faithful Israelites felt bad because every day their children watched and did some of the sinful things the idol-worshipers did. They bowed down to Egyptian gods made of wood and stone, and offered sacrifices to those foolish images.SRme 1.435

In their trouble and sorrow, the faithful Israelites prayed God would deliver them from slavery. They asked the Lord to take them out of Egypt to a place where they would be free from idolatry and the sinful influences that surrounded them.SRme 1.436

Many of the Israelites felt they would rather remain slaves in Egypt than go through the difficulties of traveling to a new country. For that reason, God did not deliver them the first time He showed signs and wonders to Pharaoh. God allowed time for Pharaoh to show how cruel he really was and for the Egyptians to see the great power of the Lord. God also wanted the Israelites to see His great power so they would really want to leave Egypt and would choose to serve Him.SRme 1.437

Many Israelites had become corrupted by idol worship, but some Israelites were faithful to God. The faithful Israelites did not hide their faith. They told the Egyptians about the only true God. They reviewed God's actions from the time of creation to their time that proved the true God to be a living God with great power.SRme 1.438

The Egyptians were given a chance to learn about the faith of the Israelites and to know their God. But instead of believing, they tried to destroy the Israelites' faith and turn them from worshiping the true God. Now the Egyptians were annoyed because their threats, promises of rewards, and cruel treatment had not made the Israelites stop worshiping God.SRme 1.439

The last two kings of Egypt had been terribly cruel to the Israelites. The leaders of Israel had tried to strengthen the weakening faith of the Israelites by reviewing with them God's promises to Abraham. The leaders also recalled the prophecy Joseph made just before he died, that God would deliver the Israelites from Egypt. Some of the slaves listened and believed. Other people thought about their own sad condition and thought the situation was hopeless.SRme 1.440