THE K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
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th e m o rn in g a p p e a re d ; a n d th e E g y p tia n s fled a g a in s t it; a n d th e L o rd o v e rth re w th e E g y p tia n s in th e m id st o f th e sea. (28) A nd th e w a te r s re tu rn e d , a n d co v ered th e c h a ri o ts, a n d th e h o rsem en , a n d a ll th e h o st o f P h a ra o h t h a t'c a m e in to th e se a a f te r th e m ; th e r e re m a in e d n o t so m u ch a s o n e o f th em . (29) B u t th e c h ild re n o f I s r a e l w a lk e d u p o n d ry la n d in th e m id st o f th e se a ; a n d th e w a te rs w e re a w a ll u n to th e m on th e ir r ig h t h an d , a n d on th e ir le ft. (30) T h u s th e L o rd sa v e d I s r a e l th a t d ay o u t o f th e h a n d o f th e E g y p tia n s ; a n d I s r a e l sa w th e E g y p tia n s d ead u p o n th e se a sh o re. (31) A nd INTRODUCTION Between th e la st lesson and th is we have the Israelites urged by King P h araoh and th e Egyptians to leave the land, and th e account of how they went ou t loaded w ith the LESSON treasu res heaped upon EXPOSITION them by th e Egyp- J. H. H u n ter tian s in th e ir anxiety to be rid of them . Though they w ent ou t in haste, they took w ith them th e ir flocks and th e ir herds. Special atten tio n is called to th e fact th a t they were careful to tak e w ith them Joseph’s bones. The pillar of cloud and fire guiding and guarding 1. The Changed Route. If you will look a t th e map of Egypt, you will see th a t th e Israelites sta rted out on th e most direct route, to Palestine. This would have taken them across where th e p resen t Suez Canal is, and up th rough th e gates of th e g rea t wall th a t ra n from th e M editerranean to th e head of th e Gulf of Suez, which was constantly guarded by Egyptian sol diers. This would have m eant th e ir passing th rough th e land of th e w ar like Philistines. God could have easily taken care of th a t situation, b u t His purposes concerning P haraoh would not th en have been accomplished. So Israel is ordered to tu rn back and go by ano th er route, a rou te which was chosen purposely by God to bring them into a place where they would be com pelled to tru st in Him completely, and them , is also w orthy of notice. I. Isra el P u rsu ed by Ph araoh .
Is ra e l sa w th a t g r e a t w o rk w h ich th e L o rd d id u p o n th e E g y p tia n s : a n d th e p eo p le fe a re d th e L o rd , an d b eliev ed th e L o rd , a n d h is s e rv a n t M oses. • (1) T h en s a n g M oses a n d th e c h il d re n o f I s r a e l th is so n g u n to th e L o rd , a n d sp a k e , sa y in g , I w ill sin g u n to th e L ord, fo r he h a th triu m p h e d g lo rio u s ly : th e h o rse a n d h is rid e r h a th h e th ro w n in to th e sea. (2) T he L o rd Is m y s tr e n g th a n d so n g , an d h e is becom e m y s a lv a tio n : h e Is m y God, a n d I w ill p re p a re h im a h a b i ta tio n ; m y f a th e r ’s God, a n d I w ill e x a lt him .
where P haraoh would be thoroughly defeated and humbled. 2. The Ju b ilan t P u rsu it. It is very likely th a t a t least two months had elapsed from th e Passover n igh t un til th e news was b rough t to Ph araoh th a t Israel was entangled in th e land, shu t in by w ilderness, m ountain and sea. The period of m ourning observed by the Egyptians would be past. The king and his arm y though t they saw a splendid opportunity to rep air th e m istake th a t they believed they had made in letting Israel go, and so they w ent joyfully to the anticipated conquest. Is it no t tru e th a t God’s plans are always hidden from His enemies, and sometimes even from H is friends? H. Isra el D riven to Jehovah. 1. The Cry of Despair, vs. 10-14. While we cannot ju stify Israel in giv ing way to despair, yet, how can we blame them w ithou t blam ing ourselves? Would we have done differently in th e ir circum stances? Have we done differently in circum stances not nearly so hard ? To th e Israelites it seemed as though they had been trapped, and th a t is ju s t how it seemed to Isra el’s ene mies. Notice th a t they did two things. They cried to Jehovah, and found fau lt w ith Moses. Have we no t v irtu ally done th e same th ing before now? Well is it w ith us when we are driven into th e place of despair and where escape seems absolutely impossible. 2. The Courage of th e Man of P rayer. T h at Moses was praying is clear from verse 15. Like P au l in the
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