The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1943-07-02
A PEOPLE IN DISTRESS

LESSON TEXT-Exodus 1854; 2:23-25.
GOLDEN TEXT-They cried, and their
cry came up unto God by reason Of the
bondage.-Exodus 2:23.
Today is Independence Day. Yet
much of the world is in bondage, and
the rest of it in a struggle to pre-
vent freedom from perishing from
the earth.
Our lesson too is about nation in
bondage, but we learn from it that
there is way to be free. Even so
we declare the way Of personal lib
erty which is open and free.
The Lord Jesus Christ opened it at
Calvary's tree and anyone who is
still the bond slave of Satan may
make this a great and glorious In
dependence Day by now declaring
his faith in the Deliverer of our
souls.
We begin today a series of lessons
in the book of Exodus which reveal
the high and mighty hand of God
working on behalf of His people.
The family of Jacob-or, as the
Bible calls them, the children of Is
rael-prospered in Egypt particular
ly as long as Joseph and the rulers
who remembered him were alive.
But they soon learned one of LIES
bitter lessons, that
I. Prosperity Is Not Always a
Blessing Q:6-1D.
The Hebrews were a peaceful,
law-abiding people. They were Gods
chosen people, and as He blessed
them they prospered, and thus limo
Gently they brought upon themselves
the hatred of the suspicious Egyp-
tians.
Prosperity is never an unmixed
blessing. We as nation know that
to be true. Not only does it lead to
a certain softening of the sinews,
but all too often it results in
weakening Of the moral fiber. which
makes man easy prey to the attack
of the enemy of our souls.
Is it not strange, then, that we
should-even in times of about war
fare-be so eager to chase the dol
lar that we are willing to neglect
our children, forget church, live I'M
natural lives, just that we may make
more and more money?
The Egyptians had, humanity
speaking, reason to fear this great
nation which was growing UP in
their midst. The new rulers did not
know Joseph and had forgotten the
spirit in which he had brought his
family into the land. The leaders
of the Egyptians therefore made
plans which appealed to their bril-
liant leaders as polite and wise. But
they reckoned without God, and the
burdens and Affections they placed
on the Israelites only served to bring
further blessing.
So Israel learned a lesson which
our present sorry world can profit
by, that
III. Persecution Is Not Always q
Burden wv. 12-14).
The people of Israel did not appre-
ciate it, but the bitterness of their
bondage was blessing in disguise.
Note that
l. It Kept Them Separate as
People. Affection often serves to
keep Gods people separated from
the world. 1t is doing so today.
2. It Disciplined Them and Pre-
pared Them for the Hardships of
Their Wilderness Journey. We too
do well to remember that whom
the Lord loveth he chasteneth," and
that it we are properly exercised
thereby, our sorrows may yield rich
fruit in our lives.
3. It Threw Them Back upon God.
Many are the saints of God who
have found that the fiery trial, the
burden so hard to understand, or
some affection of their body, has
caused them to bring their burden
to the Lord. We have travelled far
on the road Of faith when we have
reached the place where we learn
that "man's extremity is Gods op-
portunity."
They had only one place to turn.
They were hemmed in on every side,
but, as ever, they found that the
way up no man can close. They
called on their God.
iii. Prayer Always Brings Deliv-
erance (2:23-25).
Does God really know when His
people suffer? Does He really care?
Yes, He does. ''They CRIED" and
"fod heard" and remembered"
That's all we need to know. The
groaning of His people had already
stirred Gods gracious and tender
heart. But He waited to hear, their
cry before He answered. Such is
the law of prayer. May we not for
get it. Far too often we turn to
everyone and everything else, and
finally, in desperation, to God. Why
not turn to Him first?
Does God hear and answer pray
er? Yes, but remember that real
prayer is the cry of faith coming
"a 4. -