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 to their  aid. God can  help  us,  when  all  other  help  is  useless. The greater the  need,  the  nearer  is  God!

Apparent conversion.  Pharao  was  not  really  converted. The death of the  first-born  so  frightened  and  staggered  him  that  he  let  the  Israelites go. But when  the  first  terror  was  over  he  returned  to  his  former  obduracy, and  again  defied  God. He wished  to  overcome  God’s  will,  and bring back  His  people  by  force  of  arms. But at  last  the  measure  of his  sins  was  full. He had  despised  the  warnings  of  God’s  mercy,  so now  God’s  justice  overtook  him,  and  he  died  a miserable  death. He was like  those  sinners  who  in  times  of  tribulation,  such  as  sickness  or misfortune,  promise  to  amend  their  ways,  but  who,  when  the  trial  is removed,  do  not  keep  their  promise,  and  fall  back  into  their  old  habits and forgetfulness  of  God. — Such sinners  will  die  an  impenitent  death, as Pharao  did,  and  be  lost  eternally. '‘Hell is  paved  with  good intentions.”

The object  of  miracles.  The  people  feared  God,  because  they  saw His power  and  justice  with  their  own  eyes;  and  they  believed  that Moses was  sent  by  God,  because  it  was  through  him  that  His  great miracles were  wrought.

The Passage  of  the  Red  Sea,  a type  of  Baptism.  The  passage  of the  Red  Sea  was  (according  to  1 Cor.  10,  1)  a type  of  holy  Baptism. As the  Israelites  had  to  pass  through  the  Red  Sea  in  order  to  escape from the  slavery  of  Pharao,  and  reach  the  Promised  Land,  so  must  we pass  through  the  waters  of  Baptism  in  order  to  be  freed  from  the  slavery of sin  and  Satan,  and  finally  attain  to  heaven.

Faith, our guide.  We  also  want  a guide  on  our  way  through  life. Who will be  our  guide ? God leads  us  through  the  wilderness  of  this  life  to  the promised land  of  heaven,  by  His  holy  faith,  which  Jesus  Christ,  the  Light of the  world,  taught  and  deposited  in  His  Church. If we  follow  the  light of faith,  that  is,  if  we  live  up  to  our  faith,  we  are  sure  to  arrive  at  our heavenly home. “I am  the  Light  of  the  world:  he  that  followeth  Me, walketh not  in  darkness,  but  shall  have  the  light  of  life”  (John  8,  12).

Moses and  the  children  of  Israel  sang  a canticle of  praise  in  thanksgiving  for  their  wonderful  deliverance. It began by  the  words:  “Let  us  sing  to  the  Lord,  for  He  is gloriously  magnified: the  horse  and  the  rider  He  hath  thrown into the  sea.”

You too  should  thank  the  Lord  God  frequently  for  your creation, preservation  and  redemption. Thank Him  daily  for  your Baptism, and  for  the  holy  Catholic  faith.