to wonder, "Why has Moses brought us here?" but they knew that God had directed them, therefore they encamped as they were told. But let us look back at Egypt. The news concerning the children of Israel would soon reach Pharaoh. Some of the Egyptians who had gone with them would no doubt return to Egypt, and tell him. He had been very angry at the end of the three days, when they did not return. Several more days had probably passed; and he had become more angry still. His horror at the death of the first-born of Egypt had become less, and his courage had revived. But, when he heard of the place in which they had encamped he thought, "Now I can easily catch them! they are entangled in the land,' 'the wilderness hath shut them in,' 'I will follow after them and make them come back to their work.'" He therefore took six hundred chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them, and set out at a rapid pace to overtake the Israelites. The people of Israel, who were still encamped in the wilderness, were not without their fears. They half expected that Pharaoh would follow them. Every one would listen now and then, and would wish that Moses would let them move on. They would say to one another, "If Pharaoh were to overtake us in this place, we could not possibly escape!" and perhaps while they were talking, some one would cry, "Hark! listen! I hear a sound of feet. There is a very distant sound; it seems to come from Egypt." Then, perhaps one would go up in the mountain to see. How eagerly he would look! but he would see nothing at first--the sound was too far off. He would call to the others, "There is a sound of horses trampling," "There is a sound of chariot-wheels!" All would listen, and the man would soon tell them that he saw a distant crowd. And soon the whole truth was plain; the crowd came nearer-the Israelites looked — they "lifted up their eyes," and they saw six hundred chariots. "There are full six hundred," they would cry, and; "Look again! there are horsemen, and soldiers on foot." Then all would feel sore afraid. Ah! dreadful terror would shake them all; and, not knowing what to do, they cried aloud to the Lord. Here what the Bible says: "And the children of Israel cried unto the Lord. And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians; for it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness. And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will show to you to-day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to-day, ye shall see them again no more for ever: the LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace." Ah! they did not yet know enough of the power of the Lord; they had another lesson to learn, and now they were going to learn it! Forty-ninth Sunday. THE PASSAGE OF THE RED SEA. L. You told us last week, papa, how the Israelites cried to Moseshow frightened they must have felt! P. That was because they thought of Pharaoh instead of God. The Egyptians were sure that the Israelites could not escape. So, when they reached the mountains, they did not immediately begin an attack. As they were very tired, they said, "We will rest all night, and in the morning we will compel these people to return." And thus the children of Israel began that night with fear. As the darkness came on, their fears grew. They looked at the tall shadowy mountains, and the high cliffs which hemmed them in; they looked at the dark mass of people in the distance, the horses and chariots, and thousands of men; and they looked on the other side at the rolling sea -their thoughts were "what shall we do?" "whither shall we fly?” And when the night was quite black, and they could see nothing whatever, then they could only think and dread the return of the morning. It was not so with all; others knew that they were in God's hands, and they felt that they were safe. They would think "We shall escape in some way, but we cannot tell how;" but none imagined the strange scene which was going to happen. Moses knew. He had been told by God what to do. The time for the people to escape arrived, and they saw a strange sight. The pillar of cloud which had been in front, went from before their face and stood behind them. This was strange; but it must have encouraged them, for they saw that God had begun to help them. I dare say you have noticed that if you take a candle into a dark room, it is very easy to see anything that may be between you and the light, but it is not so easy to see beyond the light; all beyond the light seems to be darkness. The Israelites must have seen what God meant by placing the pillar of light behind them, for they were thus hidden from the sight of the Egyptians. But they had not much time to think; they began to wonder at Moses. As God had directed him, he went and stood by the sea, and stretched out his hand. Then they heard a noise; it was a noise of the east-wind blowing. The noise continued all that night, and just when the morning began to break they saw what the Lord had done. He had caused the wind to blow back the sea, so that the waters stood up like a wall, and left the land dry. It was indeed a strange sight! A safe passage seemed to have been cut through the water, for there was a perfect wall both on the right hand and the left. Soon they were all in motion. At the bidding of Moses the mighty crowd of Israelites pushed forward. Without fear they journeyed between the watery walls, until they safely reached the opposite side. How thankful must they have felt when they found themselves in the broad wilderness of Arabia! What unbounded wonder they would feel! What praises they would sing! They had yet another wonder to see. Pharaoh had been unable to see the Israelites during the night, but in the morning he perceived that they were all gone. He did not stop long to ask questions, but quickly ordered his men to pursue-though perhaps he did not know where. So, on they came, the six hundred chariots, and the horsemen, and soldiers, until they reached the sea and beheld the strange sight— perhaps the last few of the Israelites were still between the waves. Pharaoh, however, would not stop; he was a man with a "hardened heart;" he feared not God, nor remembered how God could punish as well as save. "On!" he cried; and soon "the six hundred chariots, the horsemen, and the soldiers on foot," with Pharaoh at their headall the great army-were fearlessly crossing between the waves. But the Almighty was against them. We read that "it came to pass in the morning watch the Lord looked through the pillar of the fire, and of cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians." We read that He took off their chariot wheels, and drave them heavily. Perhaps they were hindered also by the soft mud through which they passed. The Israelites thus saw that the Lord was fighting for them. The Egyptians began to see this too, and to feel troubled. And now came the last and most awful scene. Again Moses stood up, and stretched forth his hand, and the waters began to move. The tottering walls on each side of the Egyptians began to shake and wave. Fear and trembling must have moved them all; they saw what was going to happen; and while they looked the waters closed up once more! Hear what the Scriptures say— "And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them: there remained not so much as one of them." How exceedingly awful must that sight have been! Can you not imagine the rushing waters, the shrieks and cries of the foolish army? Ah! you might have heard Pharaoh's cry! That proud and foolish king cried in vain-he had tried the Lord too often, and now came the stroke of death. Afterwards came the silence. The waters were still. The dead men were beneath, and nothing was to be seen, except, now and then, a chariot-wheel, or other floating substance. In that silent time, the Israelites had solemn and grateful thoughts. They would say to one another, "Oh, how joyful to have God for our friend! for he can do anything to help us." Will you learn, too, dear children, to make God your friend? There is none so powerful as He. L. Did they not sing praises to God, papa? P. Yes, indeed; they sang a beautiful song, which is written in the next chapter of Exodus. You may sit down and read it. I have also given you to learn a psalm which has been written in praise of God. In this psalm His great power in overthrowing the Egyptians has been mentioned. It has been written in verse by a celebrated poet named Milton. We have now, during one year, been reading from the sacred scriptures the early history of this world. May I hope, dear children, that you will try to remember the events you have heard of? Will you think of them often, and remember all they teach you of the power, the wisdom, and the love of God? I hope that next year we may be spared to learn much more of God's love. We shall then open another part of His Book. We shall begin a course of NEW TESTAMENT lessons, and shall study the life and death of His Son, in whom His love shines forth with even greater glory. There it is written, "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life!" Everlasting life! Would you not like to enjoy this? begin next year to learn from our Saviour Jesus. Then let us PSALM CXXXVI. LET us with a gladsome mind Oh, let us his praises tell, Who doth the wrathful tyrants quell. Who with his miracles doth make Who by his wisdom did create Who did the solid earth ordain But full soon they did devour His chosen people he did bless In bloody battle he brought down He foil'd bold Seon and his host, And large-limb'd Og he did subdue, And to his servant Israel He gave their land therein to dwell. He hath with a piteous eye And freed us from the slavery All living creatures he doth feed, Let us therefore warble forth That his mansion hath on high PETTER, DUFF, AND CO. PRINTERS, CRANE COURT, FLEET STREET. |