By Way of the Wilderness Read Free Page A

slaves to make bricks and build Pharaoh’s cities. Old and young, strong and feeble, these prisoners of war appeared dazed, confused, and exhausted. Bruised and wounded from their battles, they dragged by in weary resignation of their fate: They would die in this land and never again see the homes from which they had been callously stolen.
    When the procession of Egypt’s triumphant spoils of war was over, Amram turned to go home, and the family followed him back in silence. When they reached their hut, Miriam prepared a simple meal for them.
    Aaron was thinking about Moses as he ate. “I can’t get over the way he recognized you, Miriam. I wish he had looked at me.”
    â€œHe will someday,” Miriam said.
    â€œThat’s not likely,” Amram muttered, his mouth stuffed with soft bread. “He will never be a true Hebrew.”
    â€œHe is a true Hebrew, Father,” Miriam said firmly.
    Jochebed studied her daughter. “You’ve believed for years that the Redemption will come through your brother.”
    The Redemption was the way the Hebrews described their future hope and dreams of freedom. The more devout among them, at least, believed that a day would come when they would no longer be slaves but free men and women in their own land. Miriam was one of those devout. There was no doubt in her mind of a glorious future for her people, though many had given up any hope and succumbed to a life of despair. Her own father had little faith in the promised Redemption.
    â€œYes,” Miriam declared boldly. “I do believe that Moses will be used as an instrument of God to bring about our Redemption.”
    â€œI think you’re right, sister,” Aaron agreed, excitement dancing in his eyes at such a wonderful idea. “He’s close to the pharaoh. He can have great influence.”
    â€œHe doesn’t even know we’re alive,” Amram grumbled.
    Miriam kept quiet, feeling it useless to argue with her father and wanting to be alone with her thoughts. She was not of Aaron’s mind that Israel would be set free through political maneuvering. God would do something else, something startling. She had heard the old stories of her forefathers—of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—and it seemed God never did what people expected. His actions were always beyond human reasoning or imagination. She kept all this in her heart and said no more, but she thought constantly about the Redemption and how God would bring it about.
    ****
    â€œMoses, you’re here!”
    Kali jumped from her couch and came running as Moses entered her apartment. He reached his arms wide and enclosed the small, fragile woman in his embrace, holding her almost like a child. “Yes, Mother, the conquering hero has come.”
    She pulled him over to the couch and said, “Come sit down. You must tell me everything. Don’t leave out any detail.”
    Moses laughed as he sat down beside her and studied her face. “You’re looking well,” he said.
    â€œYour mother is growing old, Moses.”
    â€œNo, you’ll never be old.”
    The constant care of her maids had kept Kali looking almost like a young woman, but Moses could see a weariness in her face that troubled him. “You must take care of yourself,” he said, holding her small hand in both of his large ones. “What would I do without my mother to take care of me?”
    Moses and his mother had always been very close—closer even than many natural-born sons and their mothers. As Kali felt the strength in his hands and looked into his gentle eyes, she reveled in his youthful vigor, the breadth of his shoulders, the strength of his corded neck. He was a virile, handsome man, and she once again wondered, as she often did, why he so insistently refused marriage. There had been plenty of prospects, with many beautiful young women of royal birth vying for his attention.
    She reined in her thoughts and