The place Egypt, the time around two thousand years ago at the birth of Christianity. Moses was in Egypt, pleading with Pharoah for the release of Moses' people. The Pharoah remained adamant and would not release the Jews. Moses warned there woud be repercussions if the people were not released. The punishments were now beginning.

On the coast, in a small village lived a young boy and his aged family. They were Jewish but because of the infirmities in the family the Pharoah had decided against taking the family into slavery as they would be of no use. They had been free to live their own lives, peacefully quietly by the sea, with the younger members fending for themselves by fishing for their food and making up the rest of the meals with corn or what ever they could find growing around them. Farouk, the young boy loved to go fishing and the fact that he was helping to bring food to the family's table made him feel cheerful and proud.

He rose one morning, just the same as he always did. He took the flask of water and wrapped bread his mother laid out for him and made his way down to the fishing boats along the shore. He gave thanks that the day looked to be a good one for fishing and dreamed of all the fish he would be able to take home to his family again for their daily meals. He thought he would be bored with fish but his mother always changed the way she cooked what he brought to her, so there was always something different everyday. He was shocked then, when he reached the shore. He saw a lot of dead fish strewn on the sand, presumably stranded as a result of something in the water. They threw themselves on the mercy of the land but all too late.

Farouk glanced to sea then and almost collapsed to see the water, no longer its deep royal blue, but an awful red vermilion colour. Curiosity got the better of him and he approached what had been the water's edge. The liquid flowed thick over his feet, not at all like normal sea water, so he bent down to put his fingers in the stuff and raised them to his nose. He could not be sure but it seemed to be blood of sorts. He rose and turned to go and fetch someone just as a group of the fishermen came down the road.

"Hola!" he called out to them. They returned his greeting. When they reached him, he simply burst out with the news of his find. They could not understand what he was saying at first and Farouk led them to the water's edge to show them what he had found. They looked on in amazement when they saw the red sea.

"It is the work of Allah!" said one.

"No, Jahweh would never allow this to happen," another said, and looked at the dead fish along the shoreline which had been killed by what had happened. They all knew though there would be no fishing today. They headed back the way they came, explaining to those who asked, they could not go fishing that day because the sea had turned to blood.

"Blood! What ludicrous folly is this, you spout boy!" his mother was quick to temper when roused and he had aroused her well this time he knew.

"It is true! Go see for yourself or better yet ask Yussef and Karim, two of the fishermen I go with. They saw it too with their own eyes!"

Elizabeth huffed and hawed and made to strike the boy but seeing the earnest expression on his face, she went out to look. On the way she bumped into Ruth, one of the fishermens' wives and saw she was dreadfully perturbed.

"Whatever is wrong Ruth? What's happened?" she asked the wailing woman.

"Didn't Farouk tell you? He found it first. Didn't he tell you what Jahweh has seen fit to do to us now! It is not enough that we can not find enough food to feed our families in these times, He now has to send a plague upon us!"

"A plague! All Farouk said was that the sea has turned to blood! Is there a plague as well?" Elizabeth cried, frantic now.

"The sea turning to blood is not a plague to you? The fish all dead because of it? Is that not a plague to you Elizabeth?" Ruth burst out.

"The fish dead? I hadn't thought of that. Yes, yes indeed that is a plague. Oh why would Yahweh do this to us? We who have been loyal and prayed everyday."

A stranger walked up the road toward them and heard the last remark.

"Tsch! Tch! It is not against you this plague has been sent," the man said. "This has been done to the Egyptians! To punish them for not releasing the Jewish slaves. I understand you are all Jews in this village is that not so?"

"We are," Ruth said proudly.

"Then I suggest if you want to save yourselves and your families you pack up all your belongings and start to travel to the Red Sea. I have it on good authority that soon the slaves of Egypt will be released and they will be heading that way. If you start out as soon as you can you will eventually meet up with them there and together you will all enter the Promised Land. Mark my words now! Start packing your things if you value life as much as I think you do."

"We do, but we will have nothing to eat and more importantly what will we drink?"

"Do you doubt the Messenger of Jahweh? Trust in Him and he will provide." He continued on down the road and the women stared at one another in amazement at his words. They turned to ask him for more information but when they did, he was nowhere to be seen. Have we just imagined it all? Elizabeth asked of herself and she could tell from Ruth's face the other woman was having the same thought.

They made their way back to their respective habitations, telling others on the way what they had heard. They were not believed but when they insisted that everyone should make ready to leave, people began to think they had the right idea. So the next few days the villagers dispersed their unwanted goods and packed the essentials they were to take with them.

******************************************************************************************************

A week later they had arrived at the Red Sea, the narrowest part where it would be easy to cross from one bank to the other. They prayed they had not been led on a wild hair brained journey which would end them up in even more trouble than they already were in. Of all, Farouk had the strongest faith, truly believing that they would meet up with the slaves from the Egyptian capital here. During their own journey, news reports had seeped through to them that the slaves had been released and would arrive where they now were shortly. They were being led by a man called Moses, who along with his brother Aaron, was supposed to receive messages direct from God Himself.

The next day Farouk and the people of his village were brought before Moses. The wise man of the village took it upon himself to be the spokesperson for them all.

"Sire, we are none but poor fishermen who have been driven from our trade by Jahweh's wrath. We are all of your religion and wish permission to travel with you to the Promised Land."

Moses looked out over the multitude God had charged him with. Slowly he looked round at Mustafa.

"First do not call me Sire, I am no King. I also have no right to give you permission to come with us. If it is in God's plan that you should join us, then it will be so. If you come however, are you prepared to share in the chores with the others? Everyone works to help everyone else, there is no working for oneself and one's own benefit here man."

"Yes, yes! We will do whatever is required of us. So we can come?"

"As far as Aaron and myself are concerned, yes you can. You are most welcome and it is not God's wrath against you that turned the waters to blood. God saw fit to punish the Egyptians by that method but unfortunately the innocent suffered as well. Now you can return to your people and tell them to join onto the end of this multitude. We must make time before the Egyptians catch up to us. They are sure to be on our heels."

Mustafa rejoined the others and told them that they were welcomed to join on the end of the long trek. He also told them that Moses said the Egytians would be following soon and remarked that he would rather stay behind that be in trouble with them. Farouk was amazed at his attitude. He knew he was not suppose to sass his elders but he felt he had to say something.

"And would you prefer to be an Egyptian slave than a free man in a country Jahweh has told us is ours by right? I know what I prefer and I am only a boy. What about the rest of you? Would you too prefer to remain slaves for the rest of your life?"

Elizabeth was proud of her son then and spoke up in turn.

"My son is right. I know my opinion doesn't count for much but I would as soon as go with the Holy man than stay here and be a slave for the rest of my life, not that there is much of it left. I would prefer to spend the rest of my life in freedom." Mustafa saw the others were looking at him, waiting to hear what he had to say to all this. He realized what he had heard made a lot of sense and that everyone else was prepared to join the trek to the Promised Land.

"Well I have no intention of staying behind alone which is what I would have to do, seeing as you are all prepared to go on. Let's go!" Cheers rose all round and they made their way to join on near the end of the throng of people that was following this one Holy Man and his family.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The nearer to the Red Sea they got, the more anxious they became though. They knew, from what others had told them, the Promised Land lay on the other side. How would they get there? It would take forever to ferry the amount of people over that were there. They began to question the wisdom of tagging along after all and thought about remaining behind as Mustafa had done before.

On the shore of the Sea, the Holy Man got up on a rocky incline and stretched out the long staff he always carried with him. Clouds gathered and the sky grew dark. A loud rumbling from the earth was heard and then gradually the waters of the sea parted to reveal a wide dry path which would accomodate them all. The people approached the shoreline in amazement and those nearest the front passed the word back that the sea had parted for them so they could cross. The whispers grew in amazement as they went further back and by the time they reached Farouk's little group, all were in awe of the event.

"This man must truly be very Holy," Farouk said to his mother. "He can part the waters."

Elizabeth laughed.

"Don't be silly child. He is only God's instrument. The power comes from God, He is the powerful one and don't you ever forget it. Look at what he did to the sea where we lived, turning it to blood. Jahweh is the only one who can do that."

There was no time to be lost so the trumpeters present called the people to make ready to march once more so they could be on the other side before the Egyptians got there. Far in the distance behind them though, was a large cloud of dust, showing where the advancing enemy was fast approaching on their horses and chariots.

They started running, catching up to those ahead. This almost created a crush, under which some might have been killed if the loud booming voice of Moses had not resounded from the other shore.

"Hurry yes! But be considerate of those in front of you and if there are old and disabled among you who can not hurry, go and help them. Guide them to this shore and all will be saved." Farouk heard the man's words. He was near to a group of strangers who were looking out for themselves and not tending to the elder in the midst. He went over to the old man and said,

"Please sir, let me give you a hand. We need to get to the shore as quickly as possible. You can lean your weight on me and we can go quicker that way." The man looked suspiciously at the boy, thinking that he might be out to rob him. Something in the lad's countenance though told him different and he agreed to let the boy help him. It made him ashame for his sons though as they were thinking of their own safety and never gave their father a second thought. His sons and their wives were well ahead now and did not even bother looking back.

"Thank you son," he said. "What do they call you?"

"Farouk sir."

"Farouk, that's an Egyptian name isn't it?" the old man enquired.

"My father was Egyptian, he married my mother who was a Jewish slave at the time but of course their marriage freed her."

"An Egyptian marrying a Jewish slave! It's never been heard of lad!"

"Well my parents married each other alright. Mother has the paperwork to prove it. Anyway that is why the two of us want to travel to the Promised Land. We no longer have a way of earning our keep and no doubt the Egyptians will not be so lenient toward the Jews in future."

"What has your father said about this? He not with you?"

"Sir, my father is dead," Farouk explained, a sob rising in his throat at the thought. He swallowed hard and went on. "He left us with nothing except the means to fish. So really he left us nothing, that is also why we have to go."

"You miss your father don't you? Now don't deny it, I sense it in you. I can tell you if you were my son I would be very proud of you for what you are doing now. I am sure he must be too, looking down at you." Farouk hoped that what the old man had said was true, but he knew what his father really thought of him and why he went off to fight for the Pharoah and got killed. It saddened him a little but he had to concentrate on the here and now, he and his mother had to survive to see the New Land that was promised to his people.

Hours of more trudging and finally the bulk of the throng was safe on the other shore, only stragglers remained reach the safe haven. The Egyptians were fast approaching the shore and the people grew frightened. Moses told them not to fear. Once more he stretched out the staff and again there was a deep rumbling coming from the earth below them. The waters, once parted, now closed in on themselves again. The Egyptians had already started to cross and were half way when the waters came down on their heads and drowned each and everyone of them. The Pharoah stood in his chariot on a rocky promontory, watched as his men died in front of his eyes. He was distraught at losing so many of his best horsemen but he was more irate at the Jews for causing this to happen. He cursed and blasphemed non-stop, realizing it would be useless to send any more of his men to their deaths. The slaves were now totally out of his reach. He called them back and returned the way he had come with a lot smaller army.

The throng, having watched horrified at the loss of so many lives, now gave out cheers and whoops of joy as they saw the enemy retreat. They knew they were well on the way to their destination. Some knew though that it would take them a long time and they would never get to see the Land of their Fathers. Moses was one of them, because God had told him he would never see the land that was promised but would die just short of it.

"Aaron, you are to go on and lead the people. Joshua will help you. I must stay here, God has told me I must and I can not disobey him. Go! Go! Do not weep for me because I will soon be home!" He made his wife go with his brother and the others and then went off by himself into the mountains.

Farouk noticed and asked his mother,

"Where is he going? Surely he's going the wrong way?"

"It is not for us to question God's will Farouk. No doubt the man has a very good reason for doing what he is doing. Come on we don't want to hold the others up." His mother's words were of no help, he just could not help wondering what the man was up to.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A few more days went by and finally Aaron and Joshua announced,

"Look! Look at the land ahead of you, the valleys, the mountains, this is your first glimpse of the Land that was promised us." The throng pressed forward in anticipation, expecting to see a land filled with lush green forests and moutain tops. Instead what met their eyes was a land of desert and scrubland.

Farouk was very disappointed.

"This is the Promised Land that people talk so much of? Why it's not much better from what we left behind," he said to no-one in particular but his mother said,

"No but at least it is our land and here we are free, free! You are too young to understand how us older ones feel. All you have ever known is life under the Pharoah's rule. You don't know yet the true meaning of freedom but you will learn son. I thank God he has let me see the Land where my son will grow up to be a man but I too will not be able to set foot on it. Farouk I am very ill. I did not mention it before because I did not want to burden you. This is as far as I can go, I feel so weak now."

Farouk ran to his mother's side and helped her to sit in what little shade there was. He then went to the water carriers and asked for permission to give some water to his mother. They were going to tell him no but Aaron was nearby and overheard.

"You take some water to your mother son. She made it this far, she is one very brave woman. Unfortunately there will be others too who have seen the land today but will not live to get to it, so many are weak yet they perservered. God in His infinite Mercy will give them all a good rest from here on. You take the water and give her as much as she needs."

Farouk marvelled at the man's generosity to a complete stranger.

"Oh thank you sir! Thank you!" He took the water and rushed back to his mother, who by this time was nearly unconcious. He gave her the water which seemed to bring her round a little. She was lucid enough for her to say,

"Son, I don't want you to let me down now. You must go on with the others and live a good life. Always remember God's teaching and I am sure people like Joshua and Aaron will help you if you need it, they are good people. Promise me that you will grow to be a strong fine young man and that you will try to make a good marriage with one of our own. Don't be like me, marry outside of our caste. You promise now?"

"I do mother oh I do. But you aren't going to die here, not if I can help it. I'll carry you if I have to."

"Hush child! You are still a child in so many ways. My time is here Farouk, we can not fight God's will." She closed her eyes and her head drooped.

"No!" Farouk shouted, attracting the attention of those nearby. Mustafa took charge, telling Ruth to take the boy to one side while they prepared his mother for burial. The people had come to a stop for the night and so Aaron walked between the people, giving them hope by telling them the end was in sight and they would soon be able to settle and live normal lives once again. He reached the group preparing to bury Farouk's mother and stopped to have words with them.

"Who is it you are burying here?" he asked with concern in his voice.

One of the woman pointed to Farouk and said,

"The boy's mother. She became so ill she no longer had the strength to go on." Aaron turned and looked at Farouk who was sitting off to one side, weeping. Aaron approached the boy, pondering.

"You're the boy who came and asked for water for his mother aren't you? I did not realize how bad your mother was or I would have come with you and spoken to her to comfort her. Maybe I can comfort you though? Would you like me to say something over her body before they...they...Well before she's completely buried?" Farouk stopped sobbing and looked through tear drenched eyes into those of the stranger. The lad saw sincere sorrow and deep feeling there and he nodded at the other's question. Farouk knew he could trust this man, who only had the welfare of the people at heart and did not think about himself one bit. The boy prayed that he would grow into such a decent and caring person as this man was and with God's help he knew he would.

They buried Farouk's mother that night and Aaron called for God's mercy and blessing on her soul. The latter's words were somehow comforting to the boy and he asked,

"Sir, I have no family left now, may I become your helper? I would do anything you ask of me without question. I just want to learn to be more like you."

Aaron smiled,

"Lad, you don't have to learn. You have it in you to help your people. You are either born that way or not and I can tell you were born to help those less fortunate than yourself. The fact that you helped an old man and now you took good care of your mother proves that you do not have anything to learn. I must admit though, an extra pair of hands would come in useful would they not Joshua?" he asked of the young man who had come looking for him.

"Indeed! What a task Jahweh has set us! More than we can cope with at times."

"Oh come now Joshua! You really don't mean that. I've heard you talking to God and how you tell Him you feel privileged and grateful to be chosen for the work you are doing. Admit it, you wouldn't do anythingelse."

"Ah Aaron, how well you know me! Yes, it's true, I wouldn't want to be doing anythingelse right now. We can always use extra help all the same. Is this the lad that helped that old man we heard about?" Joshua suddenly asked, aware that Farouk was listening to their chat.

"It is, and what do you think? He wants to be our helper. Should we let him?"

"Mmm! I don't know. Of course he can help, he looks strong enough. What's your name boy?"

"Farouk sir!" the lad said, a little uncomfortable at being in the presence of the two great leaders of these people. He had at first been amazed that Aaron had learned of his helping the old man farther back along the way. Now though he understood; because of who they were they were bound to know everything that went on, or so the young lad believed.

"Farouk. That will never do. We shall have to re-baptize you and give you a name more suited to whom you will be from now on. Yes, you'll do boy! You'll do!" Aaron said and walked off with Joshua.

Farouk knew he was in good hands and after saying a final farewell to his mother's grave, he joined his friends with a light heart knowing that life would be good in the Promised Land.