Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-06-30
ISRAEL IN EGYPT.

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the good purpose Of God concerning
his people.
After six delightful months with the
life of Christ, as recorded by Luke. we
turn once more to the Old Testament.
The change may seem to be great
And il is. Nevertheless, we shall find
ourselves in but another and most in.
structive part OF the same Bible. The
New Testament is rooted in the Old
and the best understanding of the form
er is possible only to those who are at
home in the latter. All Scripture is
profitable.
The last half of last year was devoted
to the Book of Genesis. We then
traced the story of the Creation, Fall
and Promise; of the covenant with
Noah, and the call and life of Abraham;
and OF Gods dealings with Isaac, Jacob
aud Joseph. We saw the family of
Jacob settled in Goshen, the most fer.
tile part of the land OF Egypt. Joseph
had already risen to the highest office
in the gift of the king, and his brethren
were soon made keepers of the royal
herds. The lessons OF last year closed
with the death OF Jacob and of Joseph.
1t is at that point that we take up again
the thread OF old Testament history.
The Book of Exodus tsignifyng 'go.
ing out"), which is now for some time
to occupy our attention, is so called
from the leading event recorded in it
namely, the departure of Israel from
the land OF their expressions to be re-
planted in the good land promised TO
their fathers.
The present lesson deals with two
principal facts,-(l) the wonderful in.
crease Of Israel in Egypt, and lJ) the
means used by the new king to check
their growth. To bring the first of
these into bolder relief, the writer goes
back to the descent OF Israel in Egypt.
Israel was then little flock. The male
descendantsof Jacob numbered seventy,
though, counting women and servants
who were admitted to the covenant and
reckoned lsraelites, the whole number
was probably several hundreds. But
now they had wonderfully increased.
Observe the climax: they were fruitful,
they increased aJlHdanhy, they HuGpled.
they warcd ercesftRgiy mighty, the tghois
land ioas PILED with them. In part this
was due to natural causes. But it was
also in tultillment of prophecy and
promise. To Jacob it had been said
"Fear not to 60 down into Egypt, for
will there make of thee great nation
(Gen. 46 81. God was now making
good his promise.
The second principal point OF the
lesson relates TO the attempt of the
new king TO thwart the divine purpose.
1t would be a mistake to suppose that
the whole, or greater part, Of the so.
journ in Egypt was spent in bondage.
By some, the time of that sojourn j.
supposed to have been two hundred
and fifteen years by others four huHI
dred and thirty years. Whichever vie q
is correct, Israel there enjoyed many
free and prosperous years. 1t was after
this that the new king arose. Doubtless
he was of new dynasty perhaps a
foreign power coming in to supplant
the one which had gone before it. This
would explain his ignorance of Joseph,
or his indifference TO the services he
had rendered 1t would also help to
explain his dread of an alien people,
like the children of Israel, within its
borders.
1t does not appear that this new
king desired to destroy the objects Of
his dread. As slaves they would be of
great value to him. Accordingly he
set himself TO cripple them. He laid
upon them great burdens. lie did not
take away their fields and flocks, but
made their lives bitter with hard bond.
age. He set them to making brick,
digging canals, and building treasure
cities. Greek historians tell us that
the Egyptians boasted that their great
works were the products OF the labor OF
captlves and slaves, and not of their
own people.
But here it Is to be noticed that the
more they were afflicted, the more this
people grew. The Lord does not forget
his promises.
Nothing is here said Of the reasons
for the divine permission Of these Cruel.
ties of the king and suherings of his
own people. In part, be may have de-
signed TO teach the nations some great
lessons. The end certainly did show
that, however, long wickedness may be
tolerated, he il still and ever on the
side of the oppressed, and sure to pun.
ish the oppressor. In part, his purpose
may have been TO correct his people for
their sin, particularly that Of idoIatry
to bind them the more closely together,
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leave a land unsuited to the moral de.
velopment of the great nation he
meant them to be. Their Affections
were needful for their purifying, and to
make them willing to go in the Lords
way.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
|. God never ceases from his watch.
ful care Of his own people. To what
ever land they go he follows them, to
bless them when faithful, to correct
them when they fall into evil ways, and
to prepare them for the better things
he may have in store.
2. II is always safe to take God at his
word of promise, not despising the day
Of small things. His resources are not
few, nor are they weak. He can cause
that "a little one shall become thou.
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