The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 1 — Section 323

,.er11. 1-12.-Jsmcl stricken with terror by reason of a, delivemnce not yet completed. It is plain that the Israelites, going out of Egypt in such circumstances as they did, must have gone out in a state of great exhilaration, almost beside themselves with joy at such a complete reversal of all their past experiences at the hands of Pharaoh. Moreover we are nssured in eh. xiv. 8 that they went out with a high hand. 'l'ho power of God for the deliverance of Israel was manifested in great fuluess. What he had done in the past, and especially in the recent past, if only well considered and kept in the mind, was sufficient to inspire trust, banish fear, and show the wisdom of most diligent obedience to every direction that he gave. Nevertheless in verse 10 wo find this humiliating statement, "they were sore afraid "-sore afraid, so soon o.ftcr deliverance, and such a deliverance! ,vhence could their danger have come, and what could ha,e made them so quickly to forget their God? 'l'hese are the matters we have now to consider. l. CoKSIDER V."HAT THERE WAS TO EXPLAIN THE LOCAL POSITION WHICH PRODUCED TIIEIR FEAR. '!'hey were in an awkward and dangerous position from an ordinary point of view. '!'hat position cannot be more forciby indicated than in the words of Pharaoh himself. "'!'hey are entangled in the land, the wilderness bath shut them in." They were going into a ~-de-sac. Before them lay the sea; on either hand, as we imagine, rose high ground; 1t only needed that Pharaoh should come in at the rear and close them up altogether, when they would be compelled to surrender. How then had they come into this position? It was not through any ignorance or carelessness on the part of their leader. Any general leading an army into such a trap would have been deservedly put to death for gross incompetency. It was God who had brought them exactly here, and if the word " trap" is to be mentioned, it was a trap with regard to Pharaoh and not with regard to lsraeL The God who had led the Israelites out with a high hand, led them on with the pillar of cloud, and led them into the very position which, if they themselves had been consulted, was the last they would have chosen. It was not the only way God could have taken them, but it was the way in which, most effectually, spe,edily, and impressivdy, he cculd deliver them from Pharaoh. For God, of course, well knew that the deliverance of his people was not accomplished, simply becausA they had got out of Egypt. The exodus had been a miracle in many ways, and not least in this, that it had compelled Pharaoh and his servants to act in contradiction to all the most dominating elements of their character. Just as afterwards in dealing with the waters of the Red Sea, God made the force of the wind to overcome the force of gravity ; so he had already by another east wind, in the shape of the death of the first.born, completely set a.side for a night all the most settled habits of Egypt. These habits had stood up on the right hand and on the left, and made a broad and open way for Israel to go out of the land. But presently, immediately and according to the natural order, these habits resumed their former sway. What else was to be expected? It mattered not in what direction Israel took their flight. Pharaoh and his hosts, smarting with injured pride, panting for vengeance and recovery of lost treasure, would be after them. There was a void in Egypt because of the death of the first.born, but after all the mothers would feel that void the most. There was another void by reason of the loss of all these slaves, these useful labourers, these accumulators of Egyptian wealth, and this void, we may be sure, was more operative in the vexation it produced than the loss of the first-born. It is a humiliating truth, but men, as a rule, can more easily bear the loss of kindred, even one so dear as the first-born, than the loss of fortUDe. A failure in business is more discomposing and fretting than a dozen bereavements, considered simply as bereave- ments ; and thus it is certain that Pharaoh and his generals were very speedily in coUDcil ilS to the best way of securing the fugitives. While so engaged, the news comes t-0 them of the direction in which the Israelites had gone. This news was the very thing to decide Pharaoh and make his preparations large and overwhelming, especially when God came to harden his heart to a greater pitch of stubbornness than it yet had reached. Either recapture or destruction seemed now certain. Therefore, seeing Pharaoh was now bound by the very force of the passions raging in his heart and the hearts of his people to follow Israel, it was well as soon as possible, to remove all danger to Israel consequent on this line of action. No good purpose was to be served either towards Israel or towards Pharaoh himself, by allowing him for any length of time, to harass their rear, OD. XIV, 1-0,) THE BOOK OF EXODUS. 319