Jacob and his children (the “Israelites”) went down into the land of Egypt as a family of 70 persons (Gen. 46:27). They went to Egypt because they were in need of food, due to the severe famine in the land. Exactly 430 years later, the children of Israel “went out from the land of Egypt” (Ex. 12:40-41), as a mighty nation with 603,550 men of war (not counting the Levites, women or children). Conservative estimates place the number of Israelites coming out of Egypt to be at least two million persons. They went into Egypt in need of food. But, guess what? When a nation of more than two million souls goes marching through the desert, the plains and the wilderness, they are in need of food, too!
Have you ever thought about how much food 2-3 million people would need? When the Israelites complained because they did not have water to drink, have you ever thought about how much water would be needed for 2-3 million people? It is reported that the Quartermaster General in the Army came up with the following requirements.
They would need 1,500 tons of food every day. That amount of food today would require two freight trains, each a mile long (every day). In order to cook their meals, it would take 4,000 tons of firewood (every day).
They would need a lot of water—for drinking, bathing, cooking and cleaning. The Quartermaster General estimated that Israel would need 11,000,000 gallons of water (every day). That amount of water today would require a freight train of tank cars that is over four miles long (with each tank car carrying 30,000 gallons of water).
Consider how much space 2-3 million people require. Just to cross the Red Sea in one night, the Sea had to be opened very wide. If they only crossed on a narrow path, double file, the line would have been 800 miles long and it would have taken 35 days and nights to cross. For 2-3 million to pass in one night would require the Sea to be opened three miles wide and for the people to walk across 5,000 abreast (at the least). And, when they stopped to camp each night, the campground space would have been at least 750 square miles (25×30 miles), about two-thirds the size of the state of Rhode Island. That’s a lot of real estate every night!
Do you think Moses had all that figured out before he left Egypt? No way! But God did! And Moses trusted that whatever “came up” in his service to the Lord, that the Lord already knew about it and already knew how to take care of it! Do you think there is anything that is going to “come up” in your life that God cannot handle? God knows! God is able! And God will take care of you! Believe it! Trust it! Live it!