Let us now proceed to notice,
II. The effect it produced —
Stupid and insensible as that nation had shewn themselves in the midst of all the mercies vouchsafed to them in Egypt, they could not but be affected with this. Accordingly we find that, on seeing the hand of God thus stretched out for them, they began to feel,
1. A regard for his authority —
[Fear is of two kinds, filial and servile; and it is probable that in some of the people the former predominated, and in others the latter. On an occasion somewhat similar, where God, in testimony of his displeasure against his people for desiring a king, sent a tremendous storm of thunder and lightning, we are told that " the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel b." This was certainly a servile fear: and it should seem that the greatest part of the Israelites at the Red Sea were affected with no higher principle ; because they even "within a few days forgat this work c," and all the others that God had wrought for them. Indeed temporal deliverances, however great, will produce only transient impressions, if not accompanied with the grace of God. But a view of that re- demption which we have in Christ Jesus — what will not that effect? That will implant a fear in the heart, a fear that shall
a Isai. lxiii. 12—14. * 1 Sam. xii. 18. c Ps. cvi. 12, 13.
be mighty and uniform in its operation d, a fear that shall expel all other fear, and " bring the whole soul into a willing captivity to the obedience of Christ" ]
2. Confidence in his protection — [As fear, so faith also, is of different kinds. We read of many who, when they saw the miracles of Jesus, believed in him ; and yet he would not commit himself to them, because he knew that their hearts were yet unrenewed6. And Simon Magus is said to have believedf, whilst yet he remained " in the gall of bitterness and the bond of iniquity." Such in too great a measure, we fear, was the faith which the Israelites now reposed in God, and in his servant Moses. They were struck with an irresistible conviction, that God was all-sufficient for them, and that Moses was infallibly directed by him to manage every thing for their good. In the very next trial, however, they lost the remembrance of their present convictions, and began to doubt and murmur as before. Not so the persons whose faith is truly spiritual ; who, being united to Christ, are partakers of his redemption : they " know in whom they have believed ; " and, whatever difficulties occur, they " hold fast their confidence," saying with the Apostle, " He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" ]
Improvement —
1. Let us take care that our religious affections be
sincere and permanent —
[Many good feelings may be excited in the heart by some particular occurrence, or some moving discourse. But " our goodness is apt to be like the morning dew, or the early cloud that passeth away." Such affections however will afford us no support in a trying hour; much less will they benefit us at the bar of judgment. Let us see to it therefore that we obtain, not merely some transient feelings of good, but a new nature : that so our fear of God be such as to make us obedient to his will, and our faith such as shall enable us to commit ourselves entirely to his disposal.]
2. Let us, for the purpose of generating those affections in our hearts, contemplate deeply the great work of Redemption —
[We never improve aright a typical deliverance, unless we turn our thoughts to the deliverance which it prefigured. AVhat was intended by that before us, we can be at no loss to