A catastrophe of tho Red Sea magnitude harl to come, and the sooner it now came, the better. Israol ho.cl dangers onough in front and within; from Amalekites, Amoritcs, Canaanitos, and all the rest of their opponents; from their own character, their :>wn depravity, blindness of heart, sensuality, and idolatrous disposition. God does not allow all possible dangers to come upon us at once. Do not let us be so occupied, with tho dangers that are present and pressing as to forget those which he has utt,erly swept out of the way, overwhelmed in a Red Sea, whence they will emerge against us no more for ever. 11. CONSIDER WHAT THERE WAS TO EXCUSE AND EXPLAIN TIIE FEAR WHICH ISRAEL EXPRESSED. In itself this fear was indefensible. There was no ground for it in the nature of things. God had done nothing to produce fear; everything indeed, if only it could be rightly seen, to produce the contrary; everything to call forth the utmost reverence and obedience from every right-minded Israelite. He was now, even while the Israelites were entangled in the land, Jehovah as much as ever, the great I Arn, leading Israel by a way which, though they knew it not, was the best way. But we must also look at things from Israel's point of view; we must really remember what God really remembers, that men are dust, and that even when they have the greatest reasons for confidence, those reasons get hidden up, or even presented in such forbidding aspects as to make them powerful in producing unbelief. Our great adversary, who can make evil appear good also makes good appear evil. Look then at what there was in the state of things, to excuse the Israelites in being sore afraid. 1. Themagnitude of Pharaoh's preparations. In spite of all the crippling effects of the pl~"1.!e, he was able to muster a great array. Doubtless he had a big standing army, for chariots are not got ready at a moment's notice. We may infer that he was a man who always had on hand some scheme of ambition and aggrandisement, and because the Israelites had long dwelt in his land, they knew all about the skill, valour and crushing force of the charioteers. Whatever strength there might be in the natural resources of Egypt they knew it well. When the unknown Caanan had to be faced, they gave Moses no rest, till spies were despatched to report on the land; but they needed no report of Egypt. The military strength of Pharaoh was only too deeply impressed on every mind. 2. There was the exasperation of a great loss. The people not only knew the strength with which Pharaoh came, but the spirit in which he came. He had lost 600,000 men, with their flocks and herds, and all the choice spoils of Egypt, in the way of gold, silver and raiment. Then there was a further loss of population in the m.i.x.ed multitude. 'There was everything to exas- perate the despot, and not one thing to soothe bis pride or lessen his calamities. If only he had failed in trying to get hold of a new possession, it would not have been so hard. But he had failed in keeping the old ; he had gone through ten pla,,,"1.!es, and yet lost his treasures after all. We may fear that only too many among ~e Israelites, had just that spirit of greed and grasping in their own hearts which would enable them to appreciate the spirit of Pharaoh's pursuit. 3. There was the degrading effect of the long oppression in which the Israelites had been kept. The spirit of the slave comes out in the way they talk. These are not imaginary words put in their lips ; the very " toucl~ of nature" is in them. These are the language and conduct that reveal a real experience. The present generation, and one knows not how many generations before, bad been born in servitude. '.L'hey had not only been in servitude, but they had felt and acknowledged the bitter misery of it. And now the servitude was ended in due course. Freedom was a necessity, a blessing, and a glory to Israel; but they could not be made fit for it all at once. Jehovah could show signs and wonders in many ways; he could by one blow slay the first-born of Egypt and let the oppressed go free; but it required an altogether different power and method to infuse into the liberated the spirit and courage of freemen.-Y. Vers. 1-9.-Trial and Judgment. I. Goo LE.ADS INTO TRIAL, BUT ASSURES OP VICTORY. 1. The co=and to tum and shut themselves in between the wilderness and the sea. God leads us where troubles will assail us. Jesus wa~ driven of the spirit into the wildemoss to be tempted of the devil. (1) It proves us, and reveals needs which otherwise we might not have suspected. Our weaknesses are manifested. (2) It reveals God. 'l'hrough experieuces of help his glory brightens for us. 2. The circum- etanoes of God's people are taken advantage of by their foes. Pharaoh ima.,<Tined his 320 THE BOOK OF EXonna [ea, XIV. o-9.
time had now come. E1trt,hly foes may strike at such a time ; ~atan surely will 3. The result will be God's triumph over the foe, not the foe's over us. • II. THE WlC1KED CA'!-."NOT BE BAVED BY JUDGMENTS. 1. 'l'errors are soon forgotten !lepression of eYil is not conversion. So soon as the repressive force ceases, evil reassert; its sway. 2. Justice done through fear only is regretted, not rejoiced in, by the door "Why have we done this," etc.? "As the dog returneth to his vomit." 3. Past lesson~ nre forgotten. Pharaoh might have asked what armies could do against tho God of [srael; yet he assembles his forces, never dreaming that they arc only marshalled for destruction. Those who have known only the discipline of terror have not found 11alva~ion. They ~ave only heard a cry to flee and seek salvation. 'L'o linger upou tho way 1s to allow enl to overtake them and lead them again into captivity.-U.