The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-06-22

children care free and happy and ex-
pectant, trotted on by the side Of their
parents, and their CHEEKY voices min
gled with the glad songs of the birds
which fitted through the air.
How little the people realized the full
portent Of that movement. Yes, they
knew they were going to a land prom
ised the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac
and Jacob, whose children they were.
They understood that the God of Abra-
ham was different than the gods of
Egypt and the nations about. They in
a vague, uncertain way grasped the
thought of Gods presence with them.
and in reverent awe they had slain the
lamb and plaEed its blood above and
on either side Of the door, knowing
that this sacrifice in sone way made a
difference between them and the
Egyptians and ave them protection
from the angel of death as he passed
through the land. They knew that
from now on they were to begin a new
life, and were 10 become a nation. But
as for entering into the larger thought
and plan of God for them and for the
world, they could not, even as the lit
tie child is unable to understand or
realize the hopes and plans and pur-
poses which the parents in loving wis
dom and forethought cherish Tor him.
But that people gathered there was
a type, a figure, of that larger deliver
ance which God was to accomplish
through the Christ. The lamb slain
gave shelter under its blood to the
children Of Israel, and the Lamb OF
God slain from the foundation OF the
world was to give shelter to a world
in bondage to sin. And Israel led out
OF bondage, after redemption under the
blood, was but an example of what God
is doing for needy souls to-day as He
gives them salvation through the blood
of Jesus Christ and leads them out and
away from the old land of sin to the
promised land of His privilege and
blessing.
Again the blast Of the horn is heard,
and slowly that vast assemblage Of
people begins to move forward under
the direction of the leaders. The prep
arationS and the excitement have so
engaged the attention of the people
that they have not observed in the dis
lance the approach of a large stray
CLING group of people. They came for
ward in a great, irregular line, aupar-
emily unguided by any leader, but each
moved by the impulse to go in a COM
mon direction. Thus they proceeded
and had reached a point not tar dis
tant from the stretching line of the
Hebrews when the eyes of Moses and
the other leaders fell upon them, caus-
ing them to stop suddenly. The COM
mands which were being given died
away on their lips. They trembled with
apprehension. The people, noting the
actions and looks of their leaders,
their eyes in the same direc-
ton, and at the sight of the advancing
multitudes, singly and in pairs ana in
they turned as though to flee, I
at the same time:
The Egyptians are Upon US" ,
But as they saw their little ones
about them, and the 1ocks and
herds in their midst, and numbered as
they were with their baggage, they
huddled together like a great hock of
frightened helpless sheep.
Moses stepped forward quickly to- I
wards the advancing lines of Bgyp- |
ians and demanded: +
What brings you thither? The
Lord has commanded that we go into G
he wilderness to serve Him, and r
Pharaoh has given his consent. Why +
hen this demonstration against us?" =,
1--WE be not come to hinder O and
our people," was the cry, But Father
re we come that we may urge your
for If thou remain longer in the T
and, Egypt will contain none but the ~
lead, for this night a terrible thing \
Ias happened in Egypt and there is no -
where the dead are not. Haste, q
hen, and get you out from this land, l.
or we fear thy God, that His wrath -
e stayed against u.s." "
Moses breathed easier at the hearing -
f these words, and the fear left the =
eople as quickly as it had come. VI
What are these things which thou u
TT bearing in thy hands?" Noses
gain demanded, as he noted that each
was carrying some article or
Their, and that they were not weapons. .
$ the first frightened glances had il
lade it appear. p
For answer the people with one ac- b.
ord rushed forward and cast their FL
urdens at the feet of the IsraaIites, al
no looked on in speeches. amaze pl
Ient. There was the glitter and glis-
n OF gold and silver, and as II was
list upon the ground the precious
etals gave out their CHEEKY ring. ce
was choice raiment without ne
NIT, which was in striking contrast di
the homely, coarse garments which
.e Hebrews wore. And there were
her articles which would bring
eater comfort and ease on the Jour fig
". va
In speeches. amaZement the Israel nj
and their leaders looked upon the St
les Of precious jewels and raiment,
G., grow higher and higher, but no
Ie made any move or attempted to
UGH aught which the Egyptians had tri
ought. Again the Egyptians spoke ha
}, eagerly, insistently:
Take these! Take all! Thou hast
rived Pharoah long in this land, and ,
1T thy God should exact more of us, gu
en- Il very lives, as He did last Gre
ght with the first-born of every to
household, we have brought
ae thy wages, even that which Phar- l.
h has withheld from the. Go,
Isten! larry not.' tiff
And as the Egyptians thus spoke. to