The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1919-01-25

LEN len mus the Lord saved
The lsraelites that day out Of the hands
OF the Egyptians. Exodus H.So
ADDITIONAL NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
omy 1910. Psalms 7Sl-II IC6:7-l2; He.
brews 1923.
The tenth stroke from the strong
hand OF the Almighty made Pharaoh
willing To let Israel 90. The tenth urn
OF the screw of Omniputence brought
hlm To time. The ISraeltcS 20 out on
Their way Ia the promised land with n
high hand. Through the land of the
PhIIiStineS the Journey would have
been comparatively short hut God com.
manded them To turn from that way
lest going through the land of the
thlliStineS they see war and desire 70
turn back To Egypt. The Lord had re-
Spect for their needs. lie knOweth
our frame. he rcmemhreth that we are
DUST QsalmS 100 10. He suits our
'ials 10 our ability 10 meet them. The
way OF the wilderness was a longer
route. but it had many valuable les
sons for them. by this way they es-
capped the experience of war. bur
learned the crokedncsS and perversey
ness of their own hearts deuteronomy
S:2).
The Lord wen; before them In a
pillar of cloud by day and pillar OF
fire by night. He not only thus indi-
Gated unto them the right path. but
walked with them in 1t. God does not
deliver and then leave us alone, but
becomes our companion. At the Lords
direction they turned from their frs,
course and We're made To face Il SEEM
ing difficulty. The Red sea was before
them, and mountains on either side.
The stricken Egyptians had recovered
/ from their sorrow and now saw the
lsraeliteS in u situation from which
they could not extricate themselves.
They interpreted this to mean that
Moses was unable TO lead them out Of
their difficulty; therefore, they went
in pursuit, hoping yet to prevent them
from going out of the country.
!. The Miraculous Escape of the
israelites Q4:13-22).
They were in a straitened condition
but had no reason to fear, for the
Lord had led them there. 1t is safe
to be where the Lord leads, though
every avenue is closed against US.
There seems to be two-fold object in
leading them in this peculiar place !:
10 strengthen the faith of the people
and to lay snare for the overthrow
of the Egyptians. The people, as usual,
displayed their unbelief and even cen
sured Moses for leading them out Of
Egypt. Moses replied to their muir
murs by saying. Fear We not, stand
still and see the salvation Of the
Lord" Standing still in such trial
is faith taking hold on Gods prom
Uses. This is hard for the natural
man to do. Before the salvation OF
the Lord can ever be seen or expert.
enced we must come thus to him.
While reposing our confidence in the
Lord, there comes u time when we
must make our faith active. God said,
Wherefore criest thou unto met
Speak unto the children of Israel thJ
they go forward" Having had hi5
definite promise, to have prayed long
or would have been unbelief. The thing
to be done then was to step out
upon his eternal promise. The lifting
up of the rod simply served as some
thing tGngible upon which their rain
could act. They were To go forward
step at time, without raising any
question as to the outcome; for from
the same source from which came the
command. came the power to obey.
The presence of the Lord was adapted
to their needs as they went fOrWaru'
The form of his presence and help Is
determined by his peoples needs. Ine
cloud then passed TO the rear ana heia
the enemy at bay. The presence Oh
God had a double effect; darkness ana
confusion to the enemy ana light anu
guidance to his people. The ARK In inc
Pbilistines' country brought death anu
destruction, while in the house VI
Obed-edOm it brought peace ana pros
peritv. The gospel of Christ Is saver
of life unto life and death unto dea'h'
As they went forward the very thing
which seemed their destruction De
came a wall of protection on cline
side.
n. The Overthrow of the Egyptian'
(23 90. :
Having seen the Israelltes go across
drv-shod, Pharaoh and his hosts inau,
Nv pursued them. They insanel'
Thought that they in their unDelie'
could follow in the wake of Co.'s cmr
dren. The very things which are
wall and defense to the faithfui Dc
como n snare and a means OF destrue'
ton 70 the enemies of Gods people.
rho Lord looked forth from the clOuo
and wrought confusion among lhe
Egvptians. There is day coinns
whom a look from the Almighty WIZ
couse a much greater consterhauos
among the wicked Usevelation NV
II. 2O:1l-13). He not only iooAe.
rron them but took off their charl"
wheels, which caused them to reallS
that God was fighting against them
He then directed Moses TO stle,e.
forth his rod and bring destrucuO.
mon the Egyptians. So complete wa
a. ovarthrow that II Is sald that n0'