In these chapters of Exodus, we have the parting of the Red Sea, and how the breath of God or the Wind of God parted the waters. Once the Israelites made it to dry ground, Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the waters came back together. All the Egyptians died. Then Moses and the people sang a song of victory. It praised the Lord for what He had done, for who He is, and because of what He had done, they believe He will be able to protect them from other adversaries, and ultimately take them to the promised land. Then Miriam and the woman also sang a song of praise. It did not take long for the people to complain. They complained because they had no water. They complained because they had no food, and their last complaint was again because they had no water. Each time they complained to Moses, Moses cried out to God, and the Lord provided. Chapter 17 ended with the Amalekites attacked the Israelites. Joshua was the lead warrior, and when Moses had his hands raised, the Israelites won, but when his arms were tired and down, they lost. Aaron and Hur got a rock for Moses to sit upon, and then they each took one of Moses' arms and they held them up to victory. This section ends with Moses' father-in-law came to Moses because he had heard the great things that God had done for them. Moses' wife and two sons came with him. They had a nice visit, but the next day, Jethro, saw that Moses was busy all day tending to people's needs, so he suggested that Moses raise up judges to help lighten the load. They could divide the people into groups, take care of the easier issues, and then any difficult ones they could bring to Moses. Moses agreed, and shortly afterwards, Jethro went home. It seems Moses' wife and sons stayed with Moses.
