HOMILETICS. Vers. 29--31.-Tlie blming on obedience. Moses and Aaron, on their return to Egypt in company, carried out exactly the Divine directions, doing neither less nor more. They summoned the ciders as commanded (eh. iii 16); they delivered God's message to them (ib.); they wrought the signs which they had been told to work (eh. iv. 17); they severally kept to their appointed offices ; and the result was complc td l 2 116 THE BOOK OF EXODUS. [CB. v. 1-8,
success so far. The elders and people hearkened unt,o them, believed, gave In their unqualified assent and consent to all that \Y&B put before them. And this wa.s according to the promise of God, "they shall hearken t,o thy voice" ( eh. iii. 18), Moses had disbelieved the promise, and exclaimed, "Behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice" (eh. iv. 1); but Moses was now proved mistaken, "The foolishness of God is wiser than men" (1 Cor. i. 25). God knew better than Moses; be was faithful ; he kept hie word. As Moses and Aaron had been true to him, and followed exactly hie commands, eo he proved himself true to them, and amply rewarded their obedience. Moses and Aaron were from this time the accepted leaders of the nation. Ver. SL-Worship t~ proper outc.o1M of thankfulnt,Ss. Israel, down-trodden, oppressed, crushed beneath an intolerable tyranny, no sooner hears the promise of deliverance, than it displays its gratitude by "bowing the head and worshipping." Many Christians talk of being thankful for God's blessings vouchsafed to them, but never think of showing forth their thankfulness by any extra act of worship, or even any increased intensity in that portion of their ordinary worship which consists in tbanhgiving. A sad sign this of modem lukewarmness, an indication that the "last times" are drawing near, when "the love of many shall wax cold." Time was when each national success was at once celebrated by a " Te Deum," and when each blessing granted to an individual drew forth a special offering. The thankfulness that does not show itself in some such overt act must be a very.poor thankfulness, a very weak antl washed-out feeling. HOMILIBS BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 2i, 28.-..4. meeting of lYrothers. 1. By Divine appointment (cf. ver.14). 2. In a sacred place. S. As co-operators in a good work. 4. With affection. 5. To exchange expericnces.-J. 0. Vers. 29-31.-Preaching and faith. I. THE WORD SPOKEN. 1. Shoultl be the Word of· God. The preacher is not set to deliver his own speculations, but to convey a mes:;age. 2. Should be exhibited with its appropriate evidence. 3. Should be declared to all. II. TRE WORD BELIEVED. 'The people-I. Appreciated the value of the word. 2. Believed the word. 3. W orshlpped; a token of gratitude, submission, and obedi• euce.-J. 0.
SECTION fil-CHAPTER V. FmBT APPEAL OF MOSES TO PBABAOEl1 AND INCREASE OF TJIE OPPBESBION.
EXPOSITION. beginning of bis reign, which had been met CHAPTER V and completely repulsed, not by his own slLU Ven:. 1-5.-llaving secured the adhesion of or valour, but by the skill and valour of bis the Israelitisb people, Moses and Aaron sought generals. Menephtbah himself bad pointedly an interview with the Egyptian monarch who avoided incurring any danger. He claimed to was now in p<llllillllSion of the throne. According be in direct communication with the Egyptian to the bulk of modem authorities, and accord• gods, who revealed themselves to him in vi- ing to oar own views of Egyptian history, this sions, and pleaded a distinct command of was Menephthah, the sou and sw:cessorof Bame- Phtbah as preventing him from putting him- llef! II. Menepbtbah was a weak prince, whom sel! at the head of bis army. Still, be counted events bad favoured, and who bad been thl18 as bis own all the successes gained by bis led to have an exalted opinion of himself. A generals, and was as vainglorious and arro- great invlllion of Egypt bad occurred at the gant as if he had himseli performed prodigieir on. v. 1-6.J THE BOOK OF EXODUS. 117