The Bible Story IV:

EXODUS

   During the 430 years that the Israelites were in Egypt, they became slaves to the Egyptians. Moses was born to Israelite slaves but he was raised as a son of Pharaoh. When Moses was forty years old, he tried to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Instead, he had to run for his life into the desert. When Moses was eighty years old, God spoke to him from a burning bush and instructed him to go back to Egypt and lead the Israelites out. At first, Moses thought that he was going to fail again but he followed God's leading. When Pharaoh refused to let the Israelites leave, God sent ten plagues. The last plague killed every firstborn child and animal in all of Egypt. But none of the Israelites were killed. The angel of death passed over their houses because they had put the blood of a lamb on their doorposts. The Israelites celebrated this Passover every year.

   God led the Israelites into the desert with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. But He led them back into Egypt to the edge of the Red Sea. When they were trapped by Pharaoh's army, the Israelites were afraid and cried out against Moses. But Moses had learned to trust God. God opened a way for them through the Red Sea.

   God led the Israelites through the desert to Mt. Sinai. He provided manna from Heaven to eat and a stream of water from a rock. At Mt. Sinai, He gave them the Ten Commandments and many other commands. God had them build the Tabernacle as a place to worship Him.

LEVITICUS

   God gave the Israelites instructions on worship and on offerings and sacrifices for sins. The greatest commands that God gave were, "Love God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength," and, "Love your neighbor as yourself." All of the other commands are based on these two.