The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1919-01-16
LESSON FOR JANUARY 26
ISRAEL CROSSING THE RED SEA

LESSON TExT-Es6dus n:is-iG.2i
GOLDEN TExT-Thus the Lord saved
the Israelites that day out OF the hands
OF the Egyptians Exodus H:9
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL euteron-
omy ..a2-.o. Psalms Bile. is7-n. He
brews HIS
The tenth stroke from the strong
hand Of the Almighty made Pharaoh
willing 10 let Israel 40. The tenth turn
Of the screw Of omnipotence brought
him To time The Israelltes 40 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
handed them To turn from that way
lest going through the land Of the
ph!listines they see war and desire To
turn back 10 Egypt. The Lord had re-
spect for their needs "Iie knoweth
our frame. he remembreth that we are
dust" dsalms i03 I'D. lie suits our
trials to our ability to meet them.
The Lord went before them la u
pillar Of cloud by day aud pillar Of
fire by night. lie not only thus indi-
Gated unto them the right path. but
walked with them In II. God does not
deliver and then leave us alone. but
becomes our companion. Al the Lords
direction they tuned 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
Isrnelltes In 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
tsraelites (i4:l3-22).
They were In n straitened condition
but had No reason TO fear. for the
Lord had led them there. II is safe
10 be where the Lord leads. though
every avenue In closed against us.
There seems TO be n two-fold object In
leading them into this peculiar place:
60 strengthen the faith of the people
and Ia lay a snare for the overthrow
OF the Egyptians. The people, as usual.
displayed their unbelief and even cen.
sured Moses Tor leading them out Of
Egypt. Moses replied to their muir
murs by saying. Fear ye not. stand
still aud see the salvation OF the
Lord" Standing still In such a trial
Is faith taking hold on Gods prom
ises This IL 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 reposlng our confidence In the
Lord. there comes 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. Ia have prayed long
or would have been unbelief. The thing
20 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 ~ forward
step at time. without raising any
question as TO the outcome; for from
the same source from which cume the
command. came the power TO obey.
The presence Of the Lord was adapted
10 their needs as they went forward.
As they went forward the very thing
which seemed their destruction be-
came wall OF protection ON either
side.
~. The Overthrow Of the Egyptians
(23 :27).
Having seen the lsraelites go across
dry-shod, Pharaoh and his hosts mad
~ pursued them. They insanely
thought that they In their unbellef
could follow In the wake Of Gods chill
dren. The very things which are n
wall and defense 10 the faithful be
come a snare aud a means of destruc
ton 10 the enemies of Gods people.
The Lord looked forth from the cloud
and wrought confusion among the
Egyptians. There Ii day coming
Mitn ibNh iiNhh wv sssh'6H'S 49,
cause much greater CONSERVATION
among the wicked (Revelation 6:l6.
II: .20:ll-lS). lie not only looked
upon them but took OF 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.
~. The Song OF Triumph t1o;l-2D.
Standing ON the other shore of the
Red sea. they could fittingly sing the
song OF triumph. because Of the mirac-
ulous deliyerance and the overwhelm-
ing defeat.