The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 1 — Section 314

would have provml too much for them. They must be allowed time to aather exporionco, to throw off the habits of their servitude, to be brought under discipli~e for war, to acquire steadiness and courage in facing an enemy. Led up against the Philis- tines in their presont undisciplined condition, they would have fled at the first onset, nnd would have clamoured, even more vehemently than they did in the desert (eh. xiv. 12), to be conducted back to Egypt. And does not this in large measure oxi:lain the mysterious turnings and windings in our own lives? God, who knows our framo, understands perfectly what degree of severity in temptation we are able to endure, and he mercifully orders our course, so that we may not be tempted above that we are able (1 Cor. x. 13), We pray, "Lead us not into temptation" (Matt. vi. 13), and this is one way in which the prayer is answered. Another way is by preventing or restraining the temptation. But where, as in the present case, it is a temptation which, so to speak, belongs essentially to the situation-which we must encounter, if that path is to be travelled at all, then is there no way of avoiding it but by being led in a different road. Especially in the beginning of a Christian course may we expect these sudden turnings of our path. We are not then in a condition to encounter very powerful enemies, to endure very fierce temptations, and by taking us a little way about God shields us from them. (3) There was a discipline to be gained in the circuitous route by which they were led. God's design, in sparing his people the battle with the Philistines, was not, as we have seen, to indulge and spoil them. The place whither he conducted them was the wilderness, and there he purposed to subject them to a severe moral training. The end of this training was simply to bring them up to the standard which as yet they had not reached, to develop in them the qualities in which they were as yet deficient, to impart to them, in short, that hardihood and strength of character and will which would enable them to cope with Philistines, or any other foes. 'l'he end God has in view in our own trials is precisely the same. IV, OUR WISDOM, UNDER ALL THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF OUR LIVES, IS TO RESIGN OUR- SELVES TO Goo's LEADING, BELIEVING IT TO BE ALWAYS THE BEST FOR us. We cannot err in resigning ourselves to the guidance of one omniscient, wise, loving, and supremely good.--J. 0. Ver. 19.-Joseph's bones. A promise, and most of all a promise to the dead, is to be regarded as sacred. Amidst the haste of their departure the Israelites did not forget to take with them the bones of Joseph. They probably carried away also the bones of the other patriarchs (Acts vii. 16), In this touching incident, see- I. FAITH'S ANTICIPATIONS VERIFIED. Joseph had said, "God will surely visit you" (Gen. 1. 25). He had died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off (Heb. :ri. 13-22). At the time of Joseph's death the tokens were scant that Israel would grow to be so great a people, and would be led forth, many thousands strong, to go to Canaan. Joseph's faith rested on God's naked word. God had said that this time would come, and it did. We are never wrong in depending on the Divine promise. Those who trust it, however the world may ridicule them as devout enthusiasts, will prove to be right in the long run. Events will verify their confidence. Apply, e.g., to the ultimate triumph of Christianity. II. F AITH's CHOICE GIVEN EFFECT TO. He had strictly sworn the children of Israel, saying, "Ye shall surely carry up my bones away hence with you." Notwithstanding the splendour of his position in Egypt, Joseph's heart was still with his own people. To his clear moral vision, the godless character of the Egyptian civilisation was suffi- ciently apparent. The Hebrews were as yet but a handful of shepherds; but he discerned in them a spiritual greatness which was wanting to Egypt, and he had faith in the magnificent future which God's Word pledged to them. So he was not ashamed to call the humble settlers in Goshen his brethren, and to declare that he preferred a grave with them to the proudest mausoleum that Egypt could erect for him. He left a charge that when they departed, they were to take his bones with them, and lay them in Canaan, as subsequently they did (Josh. xxiv. 22). He thus anticipated :Moses in choosing the better part, and in preferring union with God's people to all the treasures and renown of the land of his adoption, We act in the same spirit when we set the things which are "unseen and eternal" before those which are "seen and temporal," and co\lllt it our highest honour to be enrolled among " God's children." 310 'l'HE BOOK OF EXODUS. [on. xnr. 21, 22,