Cleveland County herald., 1919-01-02
NPROvED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL SUNlNYSQIOOL
 LESSON By REV. P. B. FITZWATER, D. D. Teacher of English Bible in the Moody Bible Institute of ChicGgo) Copyright. 1918, Western Newspaper
 Union.)
LESSON FOR JANUARY 26
ISRAEL CROSSING THE RED SEA

LESSON TEXT-Exodus 14:13-15:21.
 GOLDEN TEXT-Thus the Lord saved the Israelites that day out of the hands of the Egyptians. Exodus 14:30.
 ADDITIONAL IMATERIAL-Deutero omy 4:32-40; Psalms 7S:1-14: 10G:T-I2: 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 Israeltes go out on their way to the promised land with a 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 Philistines they see war and desire to turn back to Egypt. The Lord had re- spect for their needs "He knoweth 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 i'll q pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night. He not only thus indi- cated 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 q seenl- 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 q situation from which they could not extricate themselves. They interpreted this to mean that Moses was unable to lead then. out of their difficulty; therefore, they went in pursuit, hoping yet to prevent then, from going out Of the country.
 |. The Miraculous Escape of the IsraeIites GA :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 a two-fold object in leading them into this peculiar place: to 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 mur- murs by saying, Fear ye not. stand still and see the salvation of the Lord" Standing still in such trial ;e, foit fo1 boI (tn1'c ises. This is hard for the natural man to do. Before the salvation of the Lord can ever be seen or eXperi- enced we must come thus to him. While repOsing our confidence in the Lord, there comes time when we must make our faith active. God said, Wherefore crieSt thou unto me? Speak unto the children of Israel that they go forward" Having had his definite promise, to have prayed long- CT 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.
 II. The Overthrow of the Egyptians (23 -27).
 Having seen the Israelites go across dry-shod, Pharaoh and his hosts mad ly pursued them. They insanely thought that they iii their unbelief could follow in the wake of Gods chil- dren. The very things which are a wall and defense to the faithful be- come d snare and means of destruc' tion to the enemies of Gods people. The Lord looked forth from the cloud and wrought confusion among the Egyptians. There is day coming when d look from the Almighty will cause a much greater consternation among the wicked (Revelation 6:16. IT: BOILED. 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 it is said that not one escaped.
 III, The Song of Triumph (15 :l-2l).
 Standing on the other shore or the Red sea, they could fittingy sing the song of triumph, because of the mirac- ulous deliverance and the oyerwheln- ing defeat.