Then Moses lifted his rod and stretched it out over the waters, and God sent a strong east wind which forced them back and left a passage for the wandering people to cross to the other shore. So on they marched in the fury of the storm, while Pharaoh and his host were overwhelmed by the waters, which rushed back again after the children of Israel had reached the further side. [Illustration: "Pharaoh and his host were overwhelmed."] "PHARAOH AND HIS HOST WERE OVERWHELMED." Then the Israelites broke out into songs of praise and thanksgiving to God, who had so marvelously preserved them from Pharaoh's anger, led by Miriam, the sister of Moses, the one who had watched him as a baby in his little papyrus boat among the rushes on the bank of the Nile. During the next three days of their journey no water was found. Then they came to a well, but the water was not fit to drink. Again they found fault with Moses, but he threw a tree which God showed him into the well and the water at once became sweet and good. Before long they were traveling in a desert country and their stock of food gave out. As before, the Israelites accused Moses of having led them from Egypt to die in the wilderness. But God sent them great flocks of quails, upon which they fed, and covered the ground every morning with a curious substance, round and white, which was good to eat. In wonder the Israelites exclaimed "Man-hu?" which meant "What is it?" and so this mysterious food began to be called manna. [Illustration: "Covered the ground with a curious substance."] "COVERED THE GROUND WITH A CURIOUS SUBSTANCE." Then they got out of the desert and camped at a place called Rephidim. But here there was no water, and the people became so angry with Moses that they were ready to kill him. Then God told Moses to strike one of the rocks with his rod and water poured out in abundance. [Illustration: "Water poured out in abundance."] "WATER POURED OUT IN ABUNDANCE." Then a new trouble came upon the wandering nation. A people called the Amalekites attacked them, and for the first time since leaving Egypt they were obliged to defend themselves by fighting. Moses chose a young man named Joshua to be the leader of a selected band and sent him to do battle for the children of Israel, while he held up his hands in prayer to God to help His people. So long as Moses' hands were uplifted Joshua was victorious, but when from weariness he let them fall then the Amalekites prevailed. So Aaron on one side and Hur on the other supported his weary arms and at sunset Joshua had won the battle. Shortly after this Moses was visited by Jethro, his father-in-law, who brought with him Moses' wife and two sons, who had remained with him in Midian for safety. Moses welcomed them and told Jethro all the wonderful things God had done for His people. Then Jethro said, "Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods."