Plague after plague descended on Egypt
Yet she persisted, energized by stubborn will
And death-seeking defiance, dance of the crypt
Soon there was blood on the Nile
A sudden hail of flies, frogs and locusts
A rain of destruction on livestock
Three days of darkness in the land of the cursed
With light in Hebrew Goshen-still defiance bossed
Till the last plague-death of all first born at dawn
The nation of Israel went on their merry way
With gold and silver jewels their severance pay
The Egyptians were eager to retire them early
Only at end of their toils were they treated fairly
The marching band, Canaan-bound soon halted
The path God chose led through the foaming sea
Behind lurked a wistful king leading a racing army
To reclaim the departing whom they had set free
What would Moses do in this siege of pain?
Midst murmuring and tears, God asked him to speak
The waters fled for dread and Israel walked on sea bed
Pursuers followed, hoping to prey on the weak
Moses closed the sea path and predators floated
Bloated bodies that Israel in victory ballads noted
They camped around the bitter waters of Marah
No one could drink in this wasting wilderness
Moses sweetened it, it was God’s tenderness
They fed on manna, heaven-baked angels’ food
When they lusted for meat, He rained birds
In this Exodus, God provided all things good
Moses was unlike any other prophet
Not for him the fading dream or clear vision
God spoke to him from lip to ear, direct and clear
He was a Divine Law-giver ordained to his nation
When Israel sinned and God threatened destruction
Moses offered himself to die instead of his nation
He felt it was better he perished than all he cherished
God spared Israel and accepted his intercession
Centuries later, Christ the Law-giver of Mount Olives
Died to save His elect nation from Divine wrath
Sparing us in this Exodus, swapping His life for lives
Yet this Moses did not attain object of the Exodus
He only saw the land of promise from afar
Goaded by Israel he struck the water-giving Rock twice
Strike the Rock once, after that, speak for water
Was the instruction he failed to perform to the letter
Christ the Rock was smitten once at Calvary
He was smitten for salvation, sustenance and healing
To drink life-giving water, speak to Him without wavering
Crucify Him not again by despising His sacrifice
Lest in this Exodus you perish for unbelief’s vice
Yet this Moses was vindicated in the end
For in Egypt, he bore the reproach of Christ’s message
Centuries later, he stood with glorious visage
With Him for whom he stood, on Mount Transfiguration
Speaking with the Rock as disciples watched in admiration
