The Tupelo journal., 1906-06-29

4 ClIduSlCo Ia III lalAO, lS VtAtS
ness hath shut them in" And l will
harden Pahaoh's heart, that he shall
follow after them; and l will be hon.
ored upon Pharaoh and upon all his
host; chat the Egyptians may know
that l am the Lord"
sThus by earnest speech Moses sue
ceeded at last in overcoming the fears
of the leaders, and after further con-
ference the latter returned to lneir di-
visions, and having quieted the discon-
tent of the people the march was con-
tinued, the people following the lead
of the cloud as it went before them.
Back iE Egypt Pharaoh received the
news brought by his messenger with
amazement.
DO you mean." he exclaimed, chat
Moses has led his people down be-
tween the mountains and the sea?"
Yea, that is the way they have ia
ken, but it was the cloud moving be-
fore them that pointed the course"
"The cloud?" questioned Pharaoh,
What mean your"
The king listened to the story OF the
appearance of the strange thing float
ing in the heavens above the Hebrews
with growing wonder and superstltious
fears.
1T is the presence of their god, they
Think concluded the spy. But if god
it be, he is a god of folly to choose such
a course for his people,"
But are you certain of this thing?"
Pharaoh asked, doubtfully, but with an
eagerness which betrayed the hope
which was springing up within his
heart. Perhaps it was but the sub
terfuge of the sly leader Moses. May
it not have been that he suspected that
some watchful Egyptians were spying
upon him and his people, and wishing
to mislead them, planned this dCtour,
expecting after their departure to turn
back and flee into the w~ilderness?"
NAY, oh, king, l think not. But
even were it so, there is N whom l
left to keep the Hebrew people in view.
He it is who will meet thee and thy
army ard guide thee to the place
where thou wouldst come. Certain it
is that thou wilt find him at Ethan,
where the Hebrews encamped last and
from which point they turned aside
and fed into what will prove a verita-
BILE trap for them. Whether they con-
tinue on Gown the narrow valley or re-
turn and flee into the wilderness, it
matters not, for thy servant who
watches will know and be able to di-
rect the pursuit"
at is WE'LL" assented Pharaoh, Gag
erly, and at once gave the commands
which summoned his chariots and
horsemen to prepare for immediate
pursuit.
Now will be avenged upon the He
brew people for all the ills which have
befalIen me, even the cutting off OF my
first-born SON.. And they shall return
and serve me with bitter bondage
than was ever known before or shall
be known hereafter"
Thus tuning in his fierce hatred he
and his amy sped forward, and had he
needed encouragement the hot temper
of his officers and soldiers would have
spurred him on.
At Ethan the messenger was found
awaiting the army, and he was quickly
ushered into the presence of Pharaoh,
who was eager to learn of the move
ments of the Hebrew people. Had they
continued on down between the O u
tains and the sea, or had they turned
and escaped in the wilderness? was
the cloud still leading? Was there
aught to fear in its presence?
In reply to these questions the mes
senger pointed eagerly towards the
south, saying:
"Thither they have gone, and they
cannot escape thee. Now is 1t that
Pharaoh shall show that the god of the
Hebrews is a god of folly, for what god
is there who could deliver from thy
army in such a placer"
But the cloud? Is it still leadlng?"
Pharaoh asked, somewhat ~anxiousIy.
ct abides over the people, like a
sheltering wing" replied the man, "but
when the eagle would seize the bird
ling from the nest he cares not for the
outspread pinions that hover about it.
So Pharaoh has naught to fear. Let us
hasten"
The mighty host of Pharaoh filled
the narrow valley as it marched and
the rumble of the chariots and the
tread of the horses fairly shook the
mountains which they were skirting.
To human eye what escape was there
for the Gefenceless people just ahead?
The u%nyielding mountains on their
right, the greedy sea upon their left,
and a relentless and bitter Zoe eagerly
tracking them like the devouring lion
of the jungle stalking the helpless doe.
Such was the dreadful place into which
God had led His people, as He so often
leads, that He may teach the lesson of
mans heiplessnesS and His OWL power.
Between Pharaoh and the sea! How
desperate the situation; how trying to
ones faith. Yea, but what of that
when He who had led thither was able
on the one hand to shut up the foe in
the impenetrable darkness of his dis
pleasure, and on the other open up a
way of escape through the mighty wa
tiers! Oh, Israel! marching step by
step into difficulty and danger as God
leads, and then finding that deliyerance
which God alone can give, teach us the
lessons of childlike submission, and
unquestioning obedience, and that SIM
pie faith which sustains cen when the
way is the darkest and dangers threat
en- on every hand!