Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1913-08-14

LESSON TEXT-Ex. A:19-31.
GOLDEN TEXT-"Before they call.
will answer."-Isa 66:2l.
No sooner were the ~1sraelites sen
ON their journey than the Egyptians
repented and pursued (vv.~5-9). Then
It was that Moses encountered the
first Of that complaining ~. 1O)
against which he struggled until God
took him from this earth. They
cried" ". 10Y but they did not rest.
It did look like Z dangerous situation
and there were but three possible
methods OF procedure. (a) To return
to slavery, (b) to die in the wilder
ness, or (3) to go forward in faithful
obedience, trusting God for deliver
ance Their salvation ". 49, was
from God, see Acts 4:i2; Heb. 5:8, 9.
Gods leading, 1881, %, had brought
them to this place; now He will mani
fest His glory, will get unto Himself
honor ". TO.
Testing the lsraeIites.
/. Protection, w. 1922. AS the an
gel of God Christi? came between
Israel and the Egyptians we r re
minded of Ps. 34:7, the angel of the
Lord encampeth round about them
that fear Him and delis ereth them"
The same cloud that brought darkness
to the Egyptians brought light to the
Israelites. Even SO W have the
Light" Luke 1882; John 8:12, 9:5.
and are admonished to walk in the
light, Eph. 5:8. While God brought
confusion to the Egyptians and was
testing the Israelites by causing them
to fear not, stand still and see" ".
49,, He was at the same time Civ
ing Moses an opportunity to work out
His plan of d~eliverance ". 16). As
the strong east wind blew it heaped
up the waters, dried out the muddy
bottom and opened a passage Tor the
d~e1iverance of all the chosen mes
Then it was time for prayer to cease
the seemingly impossible is now quite
possible, 1926. Notice., how
ever, that ID had used a man
(Mcses) in His work of d~eliverance
It was a yer simple shepherds staff
that God directed Moses to use
Surely the power was not in the stat
nor in the arm back of the staff. The
same waters that had seemed to bt
such a barrier are now used as a wal
OF protection ". 22) on the right hant
and On the left leaving no opportunity
for a flank attack. Their only wa,
Of escape was forward and each steI
they took was one of faith.
II. Pursuit, w. 1925. Pharaoh hat
judged that the Israelites were en-
tangled, 'perplexed" (v. 81 in the vii
derness and that Moses had inadvert
antly led them into a natural tral
which was to the advantage of tn
Egyptians. Further, we judge tina
them, the Egyptians were not full
aware OF the fact that they were TO.
lowing Israel into the midst Of tn
waters. Blind fury will lead a ma.
into strange surroundings and to pei
form insane acts. This new way wa
not prepared for Pharaoh nor is tn
straight and narrow path which lead
to glory for the unrepentant sinner
Jehovah was near at hand that "mor1
Ing watch" ". 24), even as today H
blesses those who keep that houl
One look" from Jehovah brougt
confusion and discomfort upon tn
pursuers.
The Safe Path.
I'll. Punishment, w. 1851. The pat
that is safe for faith is no place Il
the disobedient. God looking throug
that cloud paralyzed the proud force
OF Pharaoh in the place of all place
most dangerous. God not alone locke
but took of their chariot wheels an
fear oyercame them. Then they rea
lied that Jehovah was fighting ar
sought to fee. Again God uses
man In the working out of His pls
and Moses is instructed to stretc
forth his hand over the sea, v. 2
AS the morning breaks the waters T
! turn to their level. and again &C
} uses natural forces In a supernatur
manner. Like as one would shall
OH some useless, offensive, appendix
80 God was rid of the army Of Phi
raoh ". q marg.). A careful rea
, ing Of this story, especially verse
I r. v. clearly indicates the probabili
: that Pharaoh himself did not peris
. Thus it was that Israel saw the han
work of the Lord upon the Egyptia,