HOMILETICS. 't"ers. 10-14.-Divine trial a touchstone to distinguish faith from unfaithfulness. The Israelites had almost as much ground as Moses to believe in God, and trust his pro,·ideu tial care of tbem. They had seen the whole series of miracles which Moses had wrought. They had found themselves exempt from visitations which fell with the utmost severity on their near neighbours. They had heard from Moses God's positive promise to bnng them into Canaan (eh. xiii. 5, 11). Yet at the first appearance of danger they lost all heart, all hope. They turned upon Moses with reproaches, taxed him with having brought them out of Egypt against their will, and expressed a readi- ness to return, and resume their old service. Moses, on the other hand, remained ·firm -did not blench-though, like the people, he felt the need of crying to God for aid (ver. 15), yet he did so in a different spirit from them-he with faith, they, in panic terror, without it; he, sure that God would somehow grant salvation, they expecting nothiog less than almost i=edia.te death. Thus the same trial which shows forth one mau s faith and trust and confidence in God, reveals other men's want of faith. While things went smoothly, there was no apparent difference--an unprejudiced observer might have thought the people just as trustful as their leader-but it was not so; and God willed that the difference should be made apparent. God will have faith distinguished from unfaithfulness, and each recognised as what it really is. I. FoR THE HONOU1i. OF HIS TRUE .um FAITHFUL SERVANTS, which he wills to have set forth in. the eyes of men, out of the tender love he bears towards his people. Though they be at the best "unprofitable servants," he deigns to recognise merit in their service, and wishes them to be honoured and held in respect by others, assigning them this as a part of their reward. II. FoB THE WAJU."ING OF THE n"FAITHFUL om:s, who, unless a severe trial came, might remain self-deceived, imagining themselves to have true faith, though wholly lacking it. ill. FoB THE MERE RIGHT's SAKE. Because he is a God of justice and of truth, abhorrent of pretence, semblance, make-believe; and always on the side of sinceritY: and openness. "There is nothing secret," he tells us, "that shall not be made manifest, nor hid that shall not be known " (Luke viii. 17). And this revelation of the true character of men and actions, which his truthfulness makes an ultimate necessity, his providence works for here. His trials are touchstones, potent to detect shams, and to ~ove the faithfulness of the faithful
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 10-23.-The d.tdiverance. Consider on this section:- L THE CRITICAL SITUATION OF THE lBBAELITES. 1. Their position. :• Encamp- ing by the sea, beside Pi-hahiroth, before Baal Zephon" (ver. 9). The fu:st VIew of the aea would probably be attractive to _them. Its breeze, afte~ the ~~us travel of the desert, would be deliciously refreshing. They would look WJth a child s wonder and d.eli~ht on the novel spectacle it presented. They would crowd to the beach to watch CJ!. XIV. 10-28.] THE BOOK OF EXODUS. 329