Food for the Exodus

One of the greatest logistic miracles in the world was when Moses and the Children of Israel were in the desert. Had he given any thought at all what was needed to accomplish God's command to lead them from Egypt to the land of promise? They had to be fed and cared for, but what was he going to do about meeting the needs for three or three and one-half million people?

According to some figures released by a man who was a Quartermaster General in the Army, it is reported that Moses would have had to have 1,500 tons of food each day just to keep these Israelites from starving to death. And to feed them the way you and I eat, would take at least 4,000 tons of food a day. You would have to have two freight trains, each one a mile long, just to bring the Israelites their food each day. At today's prices, it would cost 7 to 8 million dollars daily to provide their food needs. For cooking it would take 4,000 tons of firewood and a few more freight trains, each a mile long. to haul the wood each day. And just think, they were out there forty years!

Oh, yes, they would have to have water. If they had only enough water to drink and to wash a few dishes, it would take 11,000,000 every single day and a freight train with tank cars, 1,800 miles long, just to bring it to them. How were they going to get water?

Now, they had to go through the Red Sea in one night. It's width varied from 130 to only a few miles in the northern half of the sea. The depth of the Red Sea varies from 1,600 to 7,200 feet. Now, if they were going to go through the Red Sea in a narrow path, double file, that double file would have to be 800 miles long, and it would take them 35 days and nights to get all the Children of Israel through the Sea. So, they had to have a space in the Sea that was at least 3 miles wide, so they could walk at least 5,000 abreast, so they could get through in one night.

Another major problem was setting up their nightly encampment. Every time they camped at the end of the day, a campground two-thirds the size of the state of Rhode Island was required or a total of 750 square miles. Think of it! This space just for nightly camping. This would be 25 miles one way and 130 miles long to camp Israel each night!

Do you think Moses figured out all these things before he left? I seriously doubt that he gave much thought to these "details." But Moses did believe in God and God was going to take care of these things for him. Let us take courage, we have the same God. We think our problems are so big. Remember what God can do! Just team up with Him and your problems will be in His care. Let Him run your life, and as the hymn writer well said, "God will take care of you".

--Author Unknown