Evening star., 1924-01-26


When tho argcI Of death passed over
the homes Of the Israelites and en-
tered the Egyptifn dwellings, taking
the, first born, every barrier to Is
,aeIs freedom was removed. Cen
turies have passed since that epoch
making night. At every passover
since that time the head of the home
has related the story of how God de-
livered His chosen people and aided
them to commence their history as a
nation. When every tarrier to the
freedom of tho enslaved people, had
been removed they commenced to as
semble at Succoth. which Moses had
selected as the place for their rem
devious
No people have ever believed more
firmly IN. the persistence of lifo after
death: than the Egyptians. Probably
this accounts for the fact that II Is
a land Of tombs. Archeologists have
claim ed that there are from 100000
coo. to T31,00O.090 graves in Egypt
filed with embalmed bodies. The re-
ligious faith that they held concern
ing the dead was 's, great that the
weightiest political affairs w uld
necessarily be neglected while the
king paid the last honors to his dead
SON After these religious cere-
monies had been concluded by the
royal families and the leaders who
We're bereaved with the universal so--
-ow of the nation they discovered
Il at tie Hebrews he'd stayed more
than three, days away fiom their
BONES and that they were encarped
with a mixed multitude that followed
chem IN what appeared to be trap;
Evidently, Pharaoh did not l2"k
for them to return after their Pro
posed religious service in the wilGer-
ness, which may have accounted Tor
his continuous refusel to let lSraei
go' until the visitation OF the plaques
In every Egyptian home. Realizing
the great economic loss the nation
had suffered by the departure OF the
| pwards of over two millions OF peo-
pie. most Of thHm the toilers OF the
.and, and thinking that the lsraelites
had lost their way. Paraoh deter
mined to pursue then ard force them
to return to their bondage. The -aSi.
appeared to be an easy one, as the
multitude was unarmed and were
caught in q regular cul de sac at the
:ea.
The vivid narrative presents the
tory of the di.tress of the great as
sembly wher they discovered the
Of 4bam ThsY had ranted
learned to fully trust Jehovah. The
mixed multitude, many of whom had
never heard of 1srieIs God, we're
more frightened probably than ah'i tne
fear spread to the whole multitude
Who turned upon Moses and con
demned by their, harsh criticisms the
man who had been used of God TO
was leading them. He had guided
them until they appeared to b.
remmed in between the rocks, Water
and the army of Pharaoh. whose
! chariots and horses approach couio
De heard in the ar1p OF lsrrel. ,,,
The short and direct course would
have been quicker. but they were not
prepared to meet the warlike tribes:
They needed TO learn the lesson OF
taith. as Moses had. amidst the ST.
could take their place among lie 7la :
tons CT the earth they Lad TO ne
united as a people. 1t takes time TO
cevelop unity from units. The chli-
dren of Israel had passed through
advorsity. "the school in wh; one me
learns courage. the crucible in which
we are rfove1 worthy" but there ap-
cared TO be IL lack of courage at that
hour. Ercampcd and trembling, with
the Sea Of Sedge. long strteh .Sa 6a
northern tip of the Red sea" On one
side and impossible rocks On the
other, they did not understand the
yalLe Of the smoke screen that Jeno
Yah placed between them and the
forces of the Egyptians Net until
the proud king could charge throGGh
HAT cloud could he harm Israel. IheS
Cid not know that II was a smoke
screen to the enemies and a source OF
light to them. Otherwise they lrl-h nj
have Understood that the ,'rotectln 8
power of God was their defense; Dc,
based by slavery, they complained
when brought face to face with their
first danger Gs a nation.
Moses revealed the elements OF
leadership in his attitude toward Is,
raeI. He remained calm, dignified and
confident amid their uproar and
complaint. He had Understood COO
program of bringing the nation II 70
an apparent place or danser anu ,ritb ~,
| a view of bringing destruction upon
the Egyptian monarch ard his forces.
Face to face with Jehovah. the Sreal
leader exhibited the fact that ne was
| anxious, subrr issive and oheolent I,
Whatever doubts, encouragement and
difficulties Moses had in that cruc1a
four he revealed only to God in ms
PRAYER for guidance and directions.
Israers dash for liberty was re-
ligious movement. 1t called TOT CO.
Jehovah and the people. Mans ex-
tremity is Gods opportunity ABOVE
tho roar of a storm and the tumult
of the people Moses he ard the com
rnand of the Lord calling the prophet
70 stretch out his hand over the sea
ard to command the people TO 20 for
ward. God started to do His part
with the 'tstrong east wind" as He
summoned Israel to attempt the ap-
rarentlv impossible. Moses delivered
the orders He stretched forth his
hand over The sea The people broke
camp and moved toward the sea. As
they approached it they saw that
shallow waters were divided. They
marched into the bed of the sea, NOV
ing steadily forward in obedience 10
the divine command. walking upoa
dry ground in the midst OF the sea
and were delivered forever from the
pursuing enemy.
scientific observers have seen Lax