The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 1 — Section 27

glorious experience in the future. It was a name not to be forfeited even in the greatest u.postnsies, and perhaps its chief splendour lay in this, that it pointed forward to a. still more glorious fatherhood enjoyed by those who through the gracious work of him who taught Nicodemus concerning recrenera.tion, are permitted to say, "Now are we tbe children and heirs of God." 3. The apprehensive attitude of Pharaoh. He is a witness to the greatness of Israel's prosperity, and to the Divine and miraculous origin of it, all the more valuable because he gives his evidence unconsciously. The more we consider his unaffected alarm and his continuous and energetic efforts to crush Israel, the more we feel what n. real and Divine thing Israel's prosperity was, how it was nourished by the secret and unassailable strength of God. It should be a matter of great rejoicing to God's people when the world, in its hatred, suspicion, and instinctive sense of danger, takes to the instruments of persecution, for then there is unmistakable indication of prosperity within. II. WHEREIN TIIE PROSPERITY CONSISTED. It did not consist in the accumulation of external possessions. The Israelites might have remained comparatively few or have increased in a way such as to excite no attention. Their increase might have been in external wealth, and this would have been reckoned, by many, true prosperity. But it would not have been prosperity after a godly sort. It was the purpose of God to show in Israel how our true resources come, not from things outside of us, but from the quality of the life which he puts within. Hence tli.e prosperity of Israel was not the result of industry, personal ability, and fortunate circumstances. It was shown by the manifestation of a miraculous fulness of life. The husbandman does not reckon it anything wonderful that there should be among the trees of his vineyard a certain increase of fruitfulness, corresponding to the carefulness of his cultivation. But if all at once certain trees begin to put forth a fulness of fruit altogether beyond expectation, the husbandman would not claim that such a result came from him. There is the greatest possible difference between the prosperity lying in mere external possessions and that which comes from the energy of a Divine life working in us. It needs no i;pecial help from God to make a man a millionaire. There are but few who can be such; but place them in favourable circumstances, and the immense results of their industry and attention are quite intelligible. But to produce such a result as appears in the peculiar prosperity of Israel in Egypt required a special influx of Divine energy. We have not only unmistakable indications of the prosperity of Israel; it is an equally important thing to notice that this prosperity in its peculiar character is an indication of the presence of God. He was doing what none but himself could do. Learn then that our spiritual prosperity must be something produced by God manifesting his power in our hearts. '!'here is no chance of attributing it to our unaided industry, attention, and prudence. It is a growth more than anything else, and must show itsel1 in the abundant and beautiful fruits of a. Divine life within us. III. A PAINFUL ACCOMPANillENT OF THE PROSPERITY. Such prosperity as is indi- cated in ver. 7 could not but produce apprehension and opposition on the part of Pharaoh-inevitably assuming, as it did, the appearance of a menace to his kingdom. But it was better for Israel to go on increasing with the increase of God, even in the midst of persecutions, than to be without the persecutions on condition of being without the increase. Spiritual prosperity not only may be, but must be, accompanied with afflictions of the natural life. That is a very doubtful spirituality which manages to keep clear of all temporal troubles. They that will live godly must suffer persecution. Let us pray for spiritual prosperity, and hail its coming, and secure its stay, whatever pains be suffered and whatever lesser comforts be lost. The more the life of God is in us, the more we must expect the powers of evil to be stirred against us.-Y. Vers. 1-7. Tarry thou tlze Lord's leisure. Introduction to the Book of Exodus. How much summed up in so few words. When men live history, every month seems important; when God records history a few sentences suffice for generations. .Jlian's standpoint in the midst of the tumult is so different from God's: he "sitteth above the waterflood" and seeth "the end from the beginning" (Ps. :nix. 10; Isa. xlvi. 10). From God's standpoint we have here as of main consequence-- I. A LIST OF NAMES, vers. 1-5. Names of certfiln emigrants. More in them than BCems at first sight. If I say, "William, Arthur etc., came to England at such and  THE BOOK OF EXODUS, [OH, I, 7-14.