The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-01-22
LESSON FOR JANUARY rs
ISRAEL CROSSING THE RED SEA

LESSON TEXT-Exodus H:ls-l5:2i.
GOLDEN TExT-Thus the Lord saved
the Israeltes that day out OF the hands
of the Egyptians. Exodus 1880.
ADDITIONAL NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
omy 1920; Psalms 7S:1-l4; l0G:7-n; He
brews 11:29.
The tenth stroke from the strong
hand Of the Almighty made Pharaoh
willing to let Israel go. The tenth turn
of the screw Of omnipotence brought
him to time. The Israelites go out on
their way to the promised land with
high hand. Through the land of the
Philistines the journey would have
been comparatively short; but God COM
manded them to turn from that way
lest going through the land of the
Philistines they see war and desire to
turn back to Egypt. The Lord had re-
spect for their needs Gle knowcth
our frame, he remembreth that we are
dust" (Psalms 103 :14). He suits our
trials TO our ability to meet them.
The Lord went 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 it. God does not
deliver and then leave us alone, but
becomes our companion. At the Lords
direction they turned from their first
course and were made to face 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
Israelites In situation from which
they could not extricate themselves.
They interpreted this to mean that
their difficulty; therefore, they went
in pursuit, hoping yet to prevent them
from going out of the country.
I. The Miraculous Escape Of the
IsraeIites ia 1922.
They were in 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 into this peculiar place:
TO strengthen the faith of the people
and to lay a 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
ises. 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 q time when we
must make our faith active. God said,
Wherefore criest thou unto met
Speak unto the children of Israel that
they go forward" Having had his
definite promise, to have prayed long.
er 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 tangible upon which their faith
could act. They were to go forward a
step at a 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 forward.
AS they went forward the very thing
which seemed their destruction be-
came a wall of protection on either
side.
u. The Overthrow Of the Egyptians
(23 :27).
Having seen the Israelites go across
ly pursued them. They insanely
thought that they In their unbelief
could follow in the wake of Gods chill
dren. The very things which are a
wall and defense to the faithful be
come q snare and q means of destruc
ton to the enemies of Gods people.
The Lord looked forth from the cloud
and wrought confusion among the
Egyptians. There Is a day coming
when a look from the Almighty will
cause a much greater CONSERVATION
among the wicked (Revelation GIG,
II; 20:11-13). He not only looked
upon them but took Off their chariot
wheels, which caused them to realize
that God was fighting against them.
He then directed Moses to stretch
forth his rod and bring destruction
upon the Egyptians. So complete was
the overthrow that II is said that not
one escaped.
III. The Song Of Triumph (15 :1-21).
Standing on the other shore of the
Red sea, they could fittingly sing the
song of triumph, because Of the mlrac-
ulous deliverance and the overwhelm-
Ing defeat.