1. =The Oppression of the Israelites.= (B. C. 1635.) (Exod. 1. 8-13.) This was an important link in the chain of events. If the Israelites had been prosperous and happy in Egypt they would have remained there, and the destiny of the chosen people would have been forgotten. Therefore, when Egypt had given to Israel all that it could, the wrath of man was made to praise God; and by suffering the Israelites were made willing to leave the land of their sojourn and seek the land of promise. The nest was stirred up, and the young eaglet was compelled to fly (Deut. 32. 11, 12). 2. =The Training of Moses.= (Born B. C. 1571.) There was another element of preparation. No common man could have wrought the great work of liberation, of legislation, and of training which Israel needed. Notice, 1.) Moses was an _Israelite in birth_, of the consecrated tribe of Levi (Exod. 2. 1, 2). 2.) But he was _educated in the palace_, and in the highest culture, as a prince in Egypt (Exod. 2. 10). If he had been doomed to a slave's life he could never have accomplished his mission. 3.) At full age Moses made _choice of his people_, because they were the people of God (Heb. 11. 24-26). 4.) Then came the _training of forty years_ in the desert, giving him knowledge of the land, experience of hardships, and maturity of thought. 5.) Lastly, there was the _call of God_ (Exod. 3. 2), with its revelation of God's name and power, imparting strength for his work. 3. =The Ten Plagues.= There was a special significance in these plagues, for each was a blow at some form of idol-worship among the Egyptians. They were: 1.) The river turned to blood (Exod. 7. 20, 21). 2.) Frogs (Exod. 8. 6). 3.) Lice (Exod. 8. 17). 4.) Flies, probably including beetles and other winged pests (Exod. 8. 24). 5.) Murrain, or pestilence among domestic animals (Exod. 9. 3, 4). 6.) Boils (Exod. 9. 10). 7.) Hail (Exod. 9. 23). 8.) Locusts (Exod. 10. 14, 15). 9.) Darkness (Exod. 10. 22, 23). 10.) Death of the first-born (Exod. 12. 29). 4. =The Passover.= (Exod. 12. 21-28.) This service represented three ideas. 1.) It was the spring-tide festival. 2.) It commemorated the sudden departure from Egypt, when there was not even time to "raise the bread" before leaving (Exod. 12. 34-39). 3.) It was an impressive prophecy of Christ, the slain Lamb of God (Exod. 12. 21, 22). [Illustration: JOURNEYS OF THE ISRAELITES] 5. =The Exodus.= (B. C. 1491.) (Exod. 12. 40, 41.) The word means "going out." This was the birthday of a nation, the hour when the Israelites rose from being merely a mass of men to become a people. II. =THE WILDERNESS OF THE WANDERING.= Let the student note carefully upon a good map the following locations, and then draw a map containing them: 1. Draw the coast-lines and note =three Seas=. 1.) The "great sea," or _Mediterranean_ (Josh. 1. 4). 2.) The _Red Sea_ (Exod. 13. 18), (Gulfs of Suez and Akaba). 3.) The _Dead Sea_.