The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 1 — Section 341

II. FORWARD !-IN OO~"'TRAST WITH VAIN LAMENTATIONS, AND UNBECOMING EXPOBTU• LATIO~'ll. WITH_ ~ROVIDENCE. J'hese ~o no. goo~ but m~ch harm. 'l'hey betray an un_believm!!i spmt. If _God 1;mngs us mto s1tuat1ons of tnal, the fact that it is he who brings us mto them 1s of itself a pledge that with the trial, he will make also a wa;r of escape (1 Cor. x. 13). When the foe bears hard upon us, we should, instead of losmg heart, rather feel that the time has come for getting everything in readiness for aavance-the "great door and effectual" must be on the very point of opening. III. FORWARD !-BY THE WAY WHICH Goo MAKES FOR us. At the same moment that he is ~ay_ing-" Speak unto the children of Israel that they go forward," he is doubtless comn11ss1onmg some Moses to stretch out his rod over the sea, to open up the way for us. God never says " Forward," without at the same time opening the way. IV. FORWARD !-WITH GOOD HEART, STRONG ROPE, AND FIRM ASSURANCE OF DEING PROTECTED OK THE JOURNEY. Going forward at God's word, the Israelites were assured of God's protection. ?hey were certain ~f reaching the further shore in safety. No fear of the waves rushing back, and burymg them. Pharaoh pursued, but he was not permitted to capture them, and was himself overthrown. We may confront any perils if duty calls, and God goes with us. Cf. Luther at Worms.-J. 0. ' vers. 15-18.-0bedience necessary to salvation. I. THE DUTY OF THOSE WHO AllE LEADERS AMONG THEm BRETHREN IN TIMES OF TRIAL. 1. There is a time for action as well as prayer: "Wherefore criest thou unto me?" (1) The time of the leader must not be spent in prayer only-there are-errangements to make and needs to meet. In times of difficulty God asks for obedience. A path of love, of forgiveness of injuries, of some service, lies right before us as our duty in that hour. True faith will walk in it. This too is an appeal to our Father as well as prayer. (2) Unbelief may hide itself behind a form of devotion. 2. To speak to them that they go forward. 3. To do what God bids them in opening up their brethren's way. "Lift thou up thy rod." The lifting up of the rod seemed a vain thing, but it clove a path for Israel through the heart of the sea. Our service for our brethren in the day of their trouble may cleave a way for them. A people's progress may be hindered by a leader's indolence and selfishness. II. Goo's UNCEASING WORKIKG ON ms PEOPLE'S BEHALF (vers. 17, 18). 1. His mercy was veiled, but he was working still. The very pursuit of the foe was from him. 2. Egypt had still to receive one crowning lesson regarding J ehovah's might and unfailing guardianship of his people. When foes pursue, when sins rise up to recover their former sway, it is that God may destroy the one and judge the other.-U. Yers. 13-31.-God completes the deliverance of the Israelites from Pharaoh and removes their terror. I. NOTE THE WA 1: IN WilICH MOSES MEETS THE COMPLAINTS OF THE ISRAELITES. They had addressed to him sarcastic, flippant, and in every way unworthy speeches. They were not so filled with fear, not so occupied with the troubles of their own hearts, but that they could find a malignant delight in striving to make him -:idiculous. This mingling of feelings on their part, fear mingled_ with hate, 1:11ak~s the single-heartedness of his reply all the more manifest and beautifu~. The time 18 not one for him to stand on his own dignity, or bandy sharp language with mean men, even were his character such as to incline him that wav. There is but a step from the sub- lime to the ridiculous; in one sense he makes that step, and by his noble, !mpressive exhortation, he at once sweeps the ridiculous out of th~ p~th of the su~liID:e· The subject of the grave surely is never a. seemly one for Jestm~; and th~ Jestmg was unseemiiest of all at this present hour. One almost sees these httle, pert Joker~ retre3:t- ing into the background before the great believer. They would no~ trouble him agaID for a while. It was not Israel that had come out of Egypt seeking for graves, but Pharaoh and his host. These murmurers did indeed find graves in the wilderness by and by; but it was for a subsequent transgression. !t is part of _the peculiar pathos of human life that DO one can tell where he must die and be buned. So much t~en with respect to the meek and comely attitude-true attitude of a prophet of God-which Moses here assumed. He rises clear above the little men of the crowd, for God h~s taken him out in particular with a high hand,, and now what shall the matter of his answer be? He does not turn towards God doubtfully. (Contrast his conduct hero en. xrv. Hi-1B.] THE BOOK OF EXODUS. 337