The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-06-12
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM
MENTs FORTUNE 16, BY THE
REV. I. w. HENDERSON.
Subject: Israel's Escape From Egypt
Ex. 14:13.27-Golden Text: Ex.
14:3O-Memory Verses, 13, IL
-Commenfarv. gs
-COmmentary

EX. l4:lS.SI-Gcluen Iext: lA1~
14:3O-Memory Verses, 10, ~
Commentary.
God not only delivered Israel from
of the Egyptians but He also delfr-
cred them altogether out OF the
hands Of Pharaoh and his heavy
handed taskmasters.
The circumstances of this escape
of the children Of Israel from Egypt
are memorable. They are worthy of
study. For they reveal to us many
strictly human characteristics and
other characteristics that are divine.
All went well with the children OF
Israel as they journeyed through the
desert to the borders of the Red Sea
until Pharaoh doomed up behind with
his chariots and his warriors. Then
terror took possession off Gods peo-
pie: They lost sight Of the fact that
God was still with them although
Pharaoh with a mighty army was
at their heels. They lost sight IIiof7(
the pillar that by night and by day
had gone ahead of them. They for
got that they were led Of God andd
that His arm was mightier than the
arms Of the Egyptian hosts. They
forgot that God had promised to see
them through with this expedition to-
the end. And it is not strange TOs|
get a square view of the enemySthey.
had to turn their backs on God. And
whenever any mar turns his back ON
God and then tries his courage
against the hosts that 80 sorely be-
set him he becomes afraid. The on
~ way In which we can fight, SIN sue
cessfully Is to keep our, eye. fixed on
God. Israel was blissfully unconsci-sI
Gus of the nearness and the powersj
Of the enemy until she turned her
face from the front and looked back
ward. And so we If we are to march
out Of sin into the Holy Land Of
Gods Kingdom must contemplated
God nor and sin less. The Chris
tian life is as much renunciati0nI
as it is a warfare. tits as much, the
steadfast following Of q light as ST.
is running away from or fighting
against darkness and sin.
1.-THE Lord shall fight for you.
That would have made a better
Golden Text. This is the Inspiration
Of every Christian. The Lord shalt
fight for US. What weaklings wei
should be were It not for God. How
little We should accomplish we're IT.
not for the empowering of God. HOY
futile all our efforts would be were
we deserted Of God and left to our
selves. The knowledge that Cod
fights for US and that we are inEs1
spired and led OF. Him is. the main
stay Of the Christian heart. We
should be helpless were 1t mot for
this. :
True as it is that We are guarded
and shepherded of God 1t Is no less.
rue that we have to do much for
ourselves. In all the dealings eofA
God with Israel we find that He inT9
sists that they shall do something as
well as He. Moses had told them that
God would fight for them. It vas e.
great truth. But when God com
handed Moses to order Israel TO go
ahead and keep their eyes ITO the
front and leave the rear guard 10
Him he declared a truth equally as
important. For Gods victory would
have been harder won II they had
remained in the desert. It was neces-
sary that they should go through the
Red Sea. It was necessary that they
should move on. That is to say that
1t was not 80 much a time for dec
larations and for prayer as for acr
ton. And so, with all of us, D.
time comes when we must place t.
emphasis not so much on talk n
,on prayer as on work. Pharaon
might easily have overtaken q pray
ing Israel that stood still; ,butshe
found it an impossible task to catch
up with a God-fearing Israel that
kept on the move. That Moses
should pray and that the people
should stop to consider and to de-
bate was perfectly human. But Gods
plan was different. The time Was
one for motion rather than for pray
er. And this is a lesson thae we al
ought to learn, the lesson OF relnIorc-
ing our prayers with constructive ac-
tfvity. We should go further ana
accomplish more and be less yuinera-
BILE to the onslaughts OF SIN II we
were always certain to reinforce Y
prayers with good wholesome prog.
ressive activity in the interests OF
God and of His kingdom.
The ~tenacity and st~eadfastness OF
Jehovah are worthy OF comment
God gave His promise to Israel that
He would see them safely out OF the
hands of the Egyptians. When the
host of the Pharaoh drew a COO
did not desert them. Although the
~Israelites grew frightened GOO was
not terrified. He did not desert
them. He kept His word with them
The pillar that by day and by night
had gone ahead of them as q guioe
was transferred to, their reargaaro
as a defense against the, enemy. Q
not only guided them but He pro
tected them. He was tenacious.
When they grew weak and lost cour-
age God was strong. When they
vacillated God was steadfast. Al
though they doubted Him He d1d
not leave them. He stood by them
to the end. Having decided and
promised to see Israel in safety out
of Egypt God carried His work to
completion. This Is ever the charac-
t~eristic of the divine working. How
ever languid We may become how
ever our courage may wane, however
much we may be terrified by the hosts
of sin He eve deserts us. He never
fails US. He always has opened Hnd
He always will open a way of escape
unto us if we will but trust Him and
do His will.