Many years, hope flagged, guttering in the darkness of slavery and hardship. Prayers had disappeared forgotten over countless years, and yet they still prayed. Faith had not ever died—not truly. Sturdier than the strongest fortress, the Hebrews still believed, waited for a miracle, a deliverer to set them free. Though at such terrible cost of the Egyptians' first-born, a prevailing sense of relief and thankfulness settled over the former Hebrew slaves. God had heard their prayers, showed His miracles and infinite power, ultimately setting His people free to walk to the holy Promised Land flowing with milk and honey.