b 1 Kings xx. 11. c Rom. viii. 35—39. d Isai. 1. 7—9.
Israel's deliverance at the red sea.
Exod. xiv. 31. And Israel saw that yreat work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians : and the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses.
THE state of man on earth is diversified with trials and deliverances, more or less, to the latest hour of his life. Even when we have the clearest evidence that we are in the Lord's way, we shall yet meet with many things which will involve us in trouble and perplexity. The disciples were ordered by their Lord to cross the sea of Tiberias : but in passing it, they were overtaken with a storm, which threatened them with destruction. It was not possible for the Israelites to doubt, but that they were precisely in the place where God would have them ; yet were they menaced with instant death by the proud vindictive monarch, from whose tyranny they had just escaped.
d d2
But this grievous affliction was only introductory to a signal deliverance. God now interposed on their behalf, and wrought for them a " great work."
That we may make a profitable use of this part of scripture history, let us consider,
I. The work referred to —
This is justly called "great:" for it was no less than the destruction of all the Egyptian army in the Red Sea. But that we may view it distinctly in all its parts, we observe, that it was,
1. A discriminating work —
[The pillar which had hitherto gone before the Israelites, to lead them in the way, removed, and stood behind them, as soon as their enemies had come within sight of their camp. But to the Egyptians it presented only a dark side, increasing thereby the natural darkness of the night, and preventing them from continuing their inarch ; while to the Israelites it was a light of fire, enabling them to do whatever their situation and safety required.
Again, the sea which was divided by the east wind, opened a secure retreat for all the hosts of Israel : but as soon as the Egyptians attempted to follow them, it resumed its wonted state, and overwhelmed them utterly ; thus affording a passage to Israel, but only a grave to Egypt.
Now this manifest distinction which God made between the Israelites and the Egyptians, might well exalt the work in the eyes of those who were so greatly benefited by it.]
2. A judicial work —
[Pharaoh and his courtiers had hardened their hearts against him, so that all the successive plagues could not bring them to submit to his will. Now therefore God gave them an opportunity to harden their hearts yet more against him. In- stead of leading the Israelites at once into the wilderness, he led them aside to a situation, from whence apparently there was no escape. Rocks and morasses were on either side, and the Red Sea before them. This seemed a favourable op- portunity for Pharaoh to overtake them, and to wreak his vengeance upon them : and Pharaoh, instigated by his resent- ment, determined not to lose the opportunity: he instantly collected all the chariots and horsemen in his army, and pursued them : and he rushed into the very snare, which God had predicted he would fall into.
Again, Pharaoh had destroyed the male children of the Israelites in the river Nile: and now God visited this iniquity on him, and on all his army, in the Red Sea.
83.] Israel's deliverance at the red sea. 405
Who does not see in these things a judicial infatuation, and a judicial sentence; both of which, when contemplated by the Israelites, must raise this work yet higher in their estimation ?]
3. A glorious work —
[God had said, that he would get himself glory on Pharaoh and on all his subjects; and that the Egyptians should at last be constrained to acknowledge Him as the one supreme God of all the earth. And truly this work did bring glory to Goda; for it displayed and magnified every one of his perfections : his wisdom in so accomplishing his own will, while no restraint whatever was imposed on the will of Pharaoh ; his power, in dividing the sea, and making the waters to stand as a wall, while the Israelites passed through "dry-shod;" his justice, in suffering the Egyptians to proceed so far, as that, when enclosed in his net, they might all be destroyed ; his truth and faithfulness, in accomplishing to the posterity of Abraham the deliverance which he had promised four hundred years before. This work did indeed manifest to Egypt and to Israel, that Jehovah " is the Most High over all the earth," " a God, glo- rious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders."]