patriarchs and prophets-第70章

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way。　During　the　plagues；　as　the　manifestation　of　God's　power　had　kindled
faith　in　the　hearts　of　the　bondmen　and　had　struck　terror　to　their
oppressors；　the　Israelites　had　gradually　assembled　themselves　in　Goshen；　and
notwithstanding　the　suddenness　of　their　flight；　some　provision　had　already
been　made　for　the　necessary　organization　and　control　of　the　moving
multitudes；　they　being　divided　into　companies；　under　appointed　leaders。

And　they　went　out；　〃about　six　hundred　thousand　on　foot　that　were　men；　beside
children。　And　a　mixed　multitude　went　up　also　with　them。〃　In　this　multitude
were　not　only　those　who　were　actuated　by　faith　in　the　God　of　Israel；　but
also　a　far　greater　number　who　desired　only　to　escape　from　the　plagues；　or
who　followed　in　the　wake　of　the　moving　multitudes　merely　from　excitement　and
curiosity。　This　class　were　ever　a　hindrance　and　a　snare　to　Israel。

The　people　took　also　with　them　〃flocks；　and　herds；　even　very　much　cattle。〃
These　were　the　property　of　the　Israelites；　who　had　never　sold　their
possessions　to　the　king；　as　had　the　Egyptians。　Jacob　and　his　sons　had
brought　their　flocks　and　herds　with　them　to　Egypt；　where　they　had　greatly
increased。　Before　leaving　Egypt；　the　people；　by　the　direction　of　Moses；
claimed　a　recompense　for　their　unpaid　labor；　and　the　Egyptians　were　too
eager　to　be　freed　from　their　presence　to　refuse　them。　The　bondmen　went　forth
laden　with　the　spoil　of　their　oppressors。

That　day　completed　the　history　revealed　to　Abraham　in　prophetic　vision
centuries　before：　〃Thy　seed　shall　be　a　stranger　in　a　land　that　is　not
theirs；　and　shall　serve　them；　and　they　shall　afflict　them　four　hundred
years；　and　also　that　nation；　whom　they　shall

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serve；　will　I　judge：　and　afterward　shall　they　come　out　with　great
substance。〃　Genesis　15：13；　14。＇*　SEE　APPENDIX；　NOTE　3。＇　The　four　hundred
years　had　been　fulfilled。　〃And　it　came　to　pass　the　selfsame　day；　that　the
Lord　did　bring　the　children　of　Israel　out　of　the　land　of　Egypt　by　their
armies。〃　In　their　departure　from　Egypt　the　Israelites　bore　with　them　a
precious　legacy；　in　the　bones　of　Joseph；　which　had　so　long　awaited　the
fulfillment　of　God's　promise；　and　which；　during　the　dark　years　of　bondage；
had　been　a　reminder　of　Israel's　deliverance。

Instead　of　pursuing　the　direct　route　to　Canaan；　which　lay　through　the
country　of　the　Philistines；　the　Lord　directed　their　course　southward；　toward
the　shores　of　the　Red　Sea。　〃For　God　said；　Lest　peradventure　the　people
repent　when　they　see　war；　and　they　return　to　Egypt。〃　Had　they　attempted　to
pass　through　Philistia；　their　progress　would　have　been　opposed；　for　the
Philistines；　regarding　them　as　slaves　escaping　from　their　masters；　would　not
have　hesitated　to　make　war　upon　them。　The　Israelites　were　poorly　prepared
for　an　encounter　with　that　powerful　and　warlike　people。　They　had　little
knowledge　of　God　and　little　faith　in　Him；　and　they　would　have　become
terrified　and　disheartened。　They　were　unarmed　and　unaccustomed　to　war；　their
spirits　were　depressed　by　long　bondage；　and　they　were　encumbered　with　women
and　children；　flocks　and　herds。　In　leading　them　by　the　way　of　the　Red　Sea；
the　Lord　revealed　Himself　as　a　God　of　compassion　as　well　as　of　judgment。

〃And　they　took　their　journey　from　Succoth；　and　encamped　in　Etham；　in　the
edge　of　the　wilderness。　And　the　Lord　went　before　them　by　day　in　a　pillar　of
cloud；　to　lead　them　the　way；　and　by　night　in　a　pillar　of　fire；　to　give　them
light；　to　go　by　day　and　night。　He　took　not　away　the　pillar　of　the　cloud　by
day；　nor　the　pillar　of　fire　by　night；　from　before　the　people。〃　Says　the
psalmist；　〃He　spread　a　cloud　for　a　covering；　and　fire　to　give　light　in　the
night。〃　Psalm　105：39。　See　also　I　Corinthians　10：1；　2。　The　standard　of　their
invisible　Leader　was　ever　with　them。　By　day　the　cloud　directed　their
journeyings　or　spread　as　a　canopy　above　the　host。　It　served　as　a　protection
from　the　burning　heat；　and　by　its　coolness　and　moisture　afforded　grateful
refreshment　in　the　parched；　thirsty　desert。　By　night　it　became　a　pillar　of
fire；　illuminating　their　encampment　and　constantly　assuring　them　of　the
divine　presence。

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In　one　of　the　most　beautiful　and　comforting　passages　of　Isaiah's　prophecy；
reference　is　made　to　the　pillar　of　cloud　and　of　fire　to　represent　God's　care
for　His　people　in　the　great　final　struggle　with　the　powers　of　evil：　〃The
Lord　will　create　upon　every　dwelling　place　of　Mount　Zion；　and　upon　her
assemblies；　a　cloud　and　smoke　by　day；　and　the　shining　of　a　flaming　fire　by
night：　for　above　all　the　glory　shall　be　a　covering。　And　there　shall　be　a
tabernacle　for　a　shadow　in　the　daytime　from　the　heat；　and　for　a　place　of
refuge；　and　for　a　covert　from　storm　and　from　rain。〃　Isaiah　4：5；　6；　margin。

Across　a　dreary；　desertlike　expanse　they　journeyed。　Already　they　began　to
wonder　whither　their　course　would　lead；　they　were　becoming　weary　with　the
toilsome　way；　and　in　some　hearts　began　to　arise　a　fear　of　pursuit　by　the
Egyptians。　But　the　cloud　went　forward；　and　they　followed。　And　now　the　Lord
directed　Moses　to　turn　aside　into　a　rocky　defile；　and　encamp　beside　the　sea。
It　was　revealed　to　him　that　Pharaoh　would　pursue　them；　but　that　God　would　be
honored　in　their　deliverance。

In　Egypt　the　report　was　spread　that　the　children　of　Israel；　instead　of
tarrying　to　worship　in　the　desert；　were　pressing　on　toward　the　Red　Sea。
Pharaoh's　counselors　declared　to　the　king　that　their　bondmen　had　fled；　never
to　return。　The　people　deplored　their　folly　in　attributing　the　death　of　the
first…born　to　the　power　of　God。　Their　great　men；　recovering　from　their
fears；　accounted　for　the　plagues　as　the　result　of　natural　causes。　〃Why　have
we　done　this；　that　we　have　let　Israel　go　from　serving　us？〃　was　the　bitter
cry。

Pharaoh　collected　his　forces；　〃six　hundred　chosen　chariots；　and　all　the
chariots　of　Egypt；〃　horsemen；　captains；　and　foot　soldiers。　The　king　himself；
attended　by　the　great　men　of　his　realm；　headed　the　attacking　army。　To　secure
the　favor　of　the　gods；　and　thus　ensure　the　success　of　their　undertaking；　the
priests　also　accompanied　them。　The　king　was　resolved　to　intimidate　the
Israelites　by　a　grand　display　of　his　power。　The　Egyptians　feared　lest　their
forced　submission　to　the　God　of　Israel　should　subject　them　to　the　derision
of　other　nations；　but　if　they　should　now　go　forth　with　a　great　show　of　power
and　bring　back　the　fugitives；　they　would　redeem　their　glory；　as　well　as
recover　the　services　of　their　bondmen。

The　Hebrews　were　encamped　beside　the　sea；　whose　waters

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presented　a　seemingly　impassable　barrier　before　them；　while　on　the　south　a
rugged　mountain　obstructed　their　further　progress。　Suddenly　they　beheld　in
the　distance　the　flashing　armor　and　moving　chariots　betokening　the　advance
guard　of　a　great　army。　As　the　force　drew　nearer；　the　hosts　of　Egypt　were
seen　in　full　pursuit。　Terror　filled　the　hearts　of　Israel。　Some　cried　unto
the　Lord；　but　far　the　greater　part　hastened　to　Moses　with　their　complaints：
〃Because　there　were　no　graves　in　Egypt；　hast　thou　taken　us　away　to　die　in
the　wilderness？　wherefore　hast　thou　dealt　thus　with　us；　to　carry　us　forth
out　of　Egypt？　Is　not　this　the　word　that　we　did　tell　thee　in　Egypt；　saying；
Let　us　alone；　that　we　may　serve　the　Egyptians？　For　it　had　been　better　for　us
to　serve　the　Egyptians；　than　that　we　should　die　in　the　wilderness。〃

Moses　was　greatly　troubled　that　his　people　should　manifest　so　little　faith
in　God；　notwithstanding　they　had　repeatedly　witnessed　the　manifestation　of
His　power　in　their　behalf。　How　could　they　charge　upon　him　the　dangers　and
difficulties　of　their　situation；　when　he　had　followed　the　express　command　of
God？　True；　there　was　no　possibility　of　deliverance　unless　God　Himself　should
interpose　for　their　release；　but　having　been　brought　into　this　position　in
obedience　to　the　divine　direction；　Moses　felt　no　fear　of　the　consequences。
His　calm　and　assuring　reply　to　the　people　was；　〃Fear　ye　not；　stand　still；
and　see　the　salvation　of　the　Lord；　which　He　will　show　to　you　today：　for　the
Egyptians　whom　ye　have　seen　today；　ye　shall　see　them　again　no　more　forever。
The　Lord　shall　fight　for　you；　and　ye　s