1 Rev. xiv. 4. The redeemed are to " follow the Lamb whither- soever he goeth."
k Exod. xii. 26. and xiii. 8. and Josh. iv. G, 7.
god's condescension to his people's weakness.
Exod. xiii. 17, 18. And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the zvag of the
land of the Philistines, although that was near ; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt : but God led the people about, through the ivay of the wilderness of the Red Sea.
IN whatever light we view God, whether as a God of power or of love, we are constrained to say, " Who is like unto thee, O Lord ! " Behold the issue of his contest with the haughty Pharaoh : the very instant that the full time is arrived, the time predicted four hundred and thirty years before, the proud monarch not only consents to the departure of Israel, but urges them to go with all possible expedition ; and the whole land of Egypt is become so anxious for their departure, that every person is glad to give his most valuable raiment, together with his jewels or vessels, of silver or of gold, to any Israelitish woman that asks them of hima. Yet, though thrust out by the inhabitants, the Israelites do not go out as by flight, but, in an orderly manner, " harnessed," that is, arranged as an army, in five different divisions b; yea in a triumphant manner also, laden with the spoils of their vanquished enemies : " nor was there one feeble person among their tribes ; " not one was left behind; nor was one single person unfit to un- dertake the journey. Thus was the power of Jehovah magnified in the completest victory that can possibly be imagined ; a victory, not over their arms merely, but over their proud, obstinate, rebellious hearts.
But we are no less called to admire the kindness of God to his people, than his power over his enemies. He knew, that his people were dispirited through their long and cruel bondage ; and that, if he led them the
a Exod. iii. 21, 22. and xi. 2, 3. and xii. 35, 36. The Israelites did not borrow them with any promise of returning them ; hut asked for them, and required them : and the people, partly through fear, and partly through a temporary willingness to compensate for the injuries they had sustained, hastily gave them whatever they desired.
b The marginal reading in the Bible says, five in a rank : but this, allowing three feet between each rank, and two thousand ranks in a mile, would make the van and rear to be sixty miles apart : for there were no less than six hundred thousand men, besides women and children.
80.1 god's condescension to his people. 391
near way to Canaan through the land of the Philis- tines, (which was at most only a journey of eight or ten days0,) they would he intimidated by the hostile appearance of the Philistines, and be ready to return to Egypt, rather than enter on a warfare for which they were unprepared. He therefore condescended to their weakness, and led them another way. This may appear an unimportant circumstance in this astonishing history ; but we think it will afford us some useful hints, while we call your attention to the following observations :
I. As long as we are in this world, successive trials
must be expected —
[The trials of the Israelites did not cease when they came out of Egypt : whichever way they had proceeded, they would have met with difficulties. Thus it is with those who are re- deemed from spiritual bondage : they come not into a state of rest, but of conflict. The fluctuating state of the loorld cannot
but place many difficulties in their way And Satan, even