New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1919-01-24

ADDITIONAL NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
omy' 4:a2-40; Psalms 7S:1-l4: 106:7-l2; He
brews l1:Y.
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 IA
high hand. Through the land Of the
Philistines the journey would have
manded them to turn from that way
lest going through the land of the
PhfliStines 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
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, but
learned the c%rokedness and perverse-
ness of their own hearts deuteronomy
S:2).
The Lord went before them in n
pillar of cloud by day and a 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 Il SEEM
ing difficulty. The Red sea was before
them, and mountains Oh either side.
The stricken Egyptians had recovered
from their sorrow and 10y saw the
Israelites in Il situation from y .ich
they could not eXtricate themselves.
They interpreted this to mean that
Moses was unable to lead them u Of
their difficulty; therefore, they went
in pursuit, hoping yet to prevent them
from going out of the country.
l.. The Miraculous Escape Of the
lsraeIites IA :13-22).
They were in n 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 Il two-fOld object in
leading them into this peculiar place:
to strengthen the faith of the people
and to lay n 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 a 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 Il time when we
must make our faith active. God said,
Wherefore criest thou unto me?
Speak into the children of Israel that
they go forward" Having had his
definite promise, to have prayed long
err 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 vas adapted
to their needs as they went forward.
The form of his presence and help Is
determined by his peoples needs. The
cloud then passed to the rear and held
the enemy at bay. The presence of
God had a double effect; darkness and
confusion to the enemy and light and
guidance to his people. The ark in the
Philistines' country brought death and
destruction, while in the house Of
| Obed-edOm it brought peace and pros.
perity. The gospel of Christ is n saver
of life unto life and death unto death.
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 seer the Israelites go across
dry-shod, Pharaoh and his hosts mad
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 a snare and n 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 CRevelatiOn 6:16,
II: 2O: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 it is said that not
one escaped. This is but a type of the
utter overthrow of the ungOdly in the
future.
III. The Song Of Triumph us :1-21).
Standing on the other shore Of the
Red sea, they could fittingly sing the
song of triumph, because of the mirac-
ulous ~deliverance and the overwhelm-
ing defeat. Every n who has been
saved from the bondage Of sin and
,dootb Sbould sing praises unto Jeho-