God rescues the Israelites from slavery and confronts Pharaoh’s evil. Abraham’s family has fulfilled God’s original command to be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth (Exodus 1:7). But instead of ruling alongside God in his good world, the Israelites find themselves enslaved to a cruel Pharaoh in the land of Egypt. In response to their cries, God raises up Moses as his representatives to deliver the Israelites. Moses confronts Pharaoh and the gods of Egypt through ten plagues, culminating in the Passover. God strikes down the firstborn sons in the land but provides a way of escape through the blood of lambs. When the Egyptians pursue the fleeing Israelites, God parts the waters of the sea for the Israelites to cross and swallows the armies of Pharaoh behind them. The first song of praise exalts God as king and redeemer. Yet shortly after, the Israelites begin grumbling, showing their own hardness of heart.