It was a terrible moment. The Egyptian army was pressing on behind them with chariots and horsemen, and they had no means of defence. The sea lay before them, and they had no ability to cross it. They already talked of their graves, wishing that they had been prepared somewhere else than in the wilderness. The very prophet paused and was at a loss. While he rebuked his refractory people, he knew no longer how to guide them. He assured them that they should be delivered, but he could not see how that deliverance should be brought to pass. Towards them he kept a bold front, and told them that if they would " stand still, the Lord would fight for them." But his own heart was at a stand. He did not murmur like the tribes whom he led. He did not despair like them. But he remained motion- less, and gave himself to supplication. Then came the Divine
word to him : " Wherefore criest thou unto me ? speak unto the
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children of Israel, that they go forward." It was an inspiriting word. It was so to him, and it may be made so to us.
^ There is a story in the books of the old Jewish Kabbis, which tells us that the Israelites when they reached the Eed Sea after their escape from Egypt were very excited. Now Israelites always were and always are rather excitable. But they were especi- ally excitable on that occasion. They were all right when every- thing went well and smoothly ; but when things were not going well and smoothly, and the Egyptians were hurrying up behind them and the sea was in front of them, they grew so excited that Moses had his hands full. And they all wanted to do different things ; they had not yet learned to trust God and Moses in time of danger ; and so they cried out all at once, giving one another different advice and wanting to do different things. Four classes especially were among them. Some said, Let us throw ourselves into the sea ; others said, The best thing we can do is to go back to Egypt ; others said, Let us go to meet the Egyptians and fight them ; and others, Let us shout against them and see what will happen. To those who said, Let us drown ourselves in the sea, i Moses said, " Fear not, but stand firm and see the salvation of the ? Lord." To those who wanted to get out of their trouble by going back to live in Egypt once more as slaves, Moses said, No, no, as you have seen the Egyptians to-day you shall never see them again. To those who wanted to give battle to the Egyptians he said, Kestrain yourselves, "the Lord will fight for you." And those who thought that shouting would be useful were told — You be quiet. Then when he had got them all in order, Moses did what they had not thought of. He appealed to God Himself, and from Him came the command. Speak to the children of Israel, that they journey forward.^
^ In a great thaw on one of the American rivers there was a man on one of the cakes of ice which was not actually separated from the unbroken ice. In his terror he did not see this, but knelt down and began to pray aloud for God to deliver him. The spectators on the shore cried, "Stop praying, and run for the shore." *
L
Progress.
"Go forward." These words contain within themselves all that is to be said about human progress. They express the fact
1 S. Singer. ' 0. H. Spurgeon.
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that progress is to be the law of men's affairs, that God has im- pressed it upon them. They explain the Divine purpose which marks itself in the story of men's affairs. We can profitably look back upon the past only if we go there to seek lessons for the future. We can profitably seek lessons for the future only if they are to bring to our hearts hope, eternal hope, greater power in the future than there has been in the past, greater zeal, greater devotion to God's service, loftier aspirations, higher aims, and the constant increase of the standard of man's endeavour.
^ Into whatever province of Divine government we look we find that " Forward " is one of God's great watchwords — onward to that state which is higher, more perfect. " Forward " was the watchword of creation when God looked upon this earth, formless and void, and when darkness was upon the face of its deep — " Forward " until " thy face shall be covered with light and beauty, and thou shalt be the happy dwelling-place of intelligent and happy beings." "Forward" is the watchword of redemption. The stone cut out without hands should become a great mountain, and fill the whole earth. The grain of mustard seed should be- come a great tree, amid the branches of which the fowls of the air should find shelter. The day of small things should be followed by a millennium of peace and triumph, and an eternity of glory.
^ " That they go forward." This little word " go " is a familiar word to every follower of Christ. A true follower of His always is stirred by a spirit of " go," A going Christian is a growing Christian. A going Church has always been a growing Church. Those ages when the Church lost the vision of her Master's face on Olivet, and let other sounds crowd out of her ears the sound of His voice, were stagnant ages. They are commonly spoken of in history as the dark ages. " Go " is the ringing keynote of the Christian life, whether in man or in the Church.*