The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1932-07-21

LESSON TEXT-Exodus 14:1-S1.
GOLDEN TEXT-The Lord il my
strength and song, and he is become
my sa1vation.-Exodus 16:2.
PRIMARY ToPIC-walking Through
the Sea.
JUNIOR ToP1c-A Dry Path Through
the Sea.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-How Israel Won Freedom.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP.
IC-How God Helps His People.
!. Israel In Straitened Circumstances
wv 1-12).
1. Going out of the land Of Egypt
1879. The tenth stroke from the
strong hand of the Almighty made
Pharaoh willing to let Israel go. The
tenth turn Of the screw Of Omnipo-
tence brought him to time. The Isra-
elites went out from Egypt on their
way to the promised land with high
hand. The way of the wilderness was
longer route, but it had many val
liable lessons for them. By this way
they escaped the experiences of war
which would have come to them at
the hand Of the Philistines, but they
learned the crookedness and perverse-
ness Of their own hearts (Deut. S:12).
2. Hemmed in wv. 1-3). At the
Lords direction they turned from their
first course and were made to face
great difficulty. The Red sea was be-
fore them and mountains on either
side. However, they should have been
encouraged because the Lord went be-
fore them by day in pillar of cloud
to lead the way, and by night in
pillar of fire to give them light. He
took not away the pillar of cloud by
day, nor the pillar of fire by night
(13:21, 22).
8. Pursued by Pharaoh wv. 4-12).
The stricken Egyptians had now re.
covered from their sorrow. and per-
ceiving the straitened circumstances
of the Israeltes 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 their leaving the country.
II. The Miraculous Escape Of the
israeIites wv. 1929.
There seems to have been a two
fold object in leading them in to this
particular place.
1. To strengthen the faith of the
people. To be delivered from such
circumstances would impress upon
them anew the reality of the love and
power of God. 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 promises.
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
longer would have been unbelief. They
were to go forward a step at time
without raising any question as to the
outcome, for from the 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. When the situa-
ton was such that the Lords leader
ship was not necessary, the cloud
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.
2. To lay a snare for the overthrow
of the Egyptians. Those who will not
heed the warning judgments of God
may be allowed to 60 to their destruc-
ton under the presumption that the
Almighty is helping them.
Ill. The Overthrow of the Egyptians
wv. 23-27).
Having seen the Israelites go across
the sea dryshod, Pharaoh and his peo-
pie madly pursued them. They insane
ly thought that they in their unbelief
could follow in the wake of Gods chill
dren. The Lord looked forth from
the cloud and wrought confusion
among the Egyptians 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 destruc-
ton upoh the Egyptians.
w. 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 their mi
raculous deliverance and the over
whelming defeat of the Egyptians.
They attributed it all to God. In q
glad coming day, similar but much
larger company will sing the same
song with an important addition, name
~, the "Song of the Lamb" (Rev.
1879.