patriarchs and prophets-第71章
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Egyptians whom ye have seen today； ye shall see them again no more forever。
The Lord shall fight for you； and ye shall hold your peace。〃
It was not an easy thing to hold the hosts of Israel in waiting before the
Lord。 Lacking discipline and self…control； they became violent and
unreasonable。 They expected speedily to fall into the hands of their
oppressors； and their wailings and lamentations were loud and deep。 The
wonderful pillar of cloud had been followed as the signal of God to go
forward； but now they questioned among themselves if it might not foreshadow
some great calamity； for had it not led them on the wrong side of the
mountain； into an impassable way？ Thus the angel of God appeared to their
deluded minds as the harbinger of disaster。
But now； as the Egyptian host approached them； expecting to make them an
easy prey； the cloudy column rose majestically into the heavens； passed over
the Israelites； and descended between them and the armies of Egypt。 A wall
of darkness
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interposed between the pursued and their pursuers。 The Egyptians could no
longer discern the camp of the Hebrews； and were forced to halt。 But as the
darkness of night deepened； the wall of cloud became a great light to the
Hebrews； flooding the entire encampment with the radiance of day。
Then hope returned to the hearts of Israel。 And Moses lifted up his voice
unto the Lord。 〃And the Lord said unto Moses； Wherefore criest thou unto Me？
speak unto the children of Israel； that they go forward。 But lift thou up
thy rod； and stretch out thine hand over the sea； and divide it： and the
children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea。〃
The psalmist； describing the passage of the sea by Israel； sang； 〃Thy way
was in the sea； and Thy paths in the great waters； and Thy footsteps were
not known。 Thou leddest Thy people like a flock； by the hand of Moses and
Aaron。〃 Psalm 77：19； 20； R。V。 As Moses stretched out his rod the waters
parted； and Israel went into the midst of the sea； upon dry ground； while
the waters stood like a wall upon each side。 The light from God's pillar of
fire shone upon the foam…capped billows； and lighted the road that was cut
like a mighty furrow through the waters of the sea； and was lost in the
obscurity of the father shore。
〃The Egyptians pursued； and went in after them to the midst of the sea； even
all Pharaoh's horses； his chariots； and his horsemen。 And it came to pass；
that in the morning watch the Lord looked unto the host of the Egyptians
through the pillar of fire and of the cloud； and troubled the host of the
Egyptians。〃 The mysterious cloud changed to a pillar of fire before their
astonished eyes。 The thunders pealed and the lightnings flashed。 〃The clouds
poured out water； the skies sent out a sound： Thine arrows also went abroad。
The voice of Thy thunder was in the whirlwind； the lightning lightened the
world： the earth trembled and shook。〃 Psalm 77：17； 18； R。V。
The Egyptians were seized with confusion and dismay。 Amid the wrath of the
elements； in which they heard the voice of an angry God； they endeavored to
retrace their steps and flee to the shore they had quitted。 But Moses
stretched out his rod； and the piled…up waters； hissing； roaring； and eager
for their prey； rushed together and swallowed the Egyptian army in their
black depths。
As morning broke it revealed to the multitudes of Israel all that remained
of their mighty foesthe mail…clad bodies cast
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upon the shore。 From the most terrible peril； one night had brought complete
deliverance。 That vast； helpless throngbondmen unused to battle； women；
children； and cattle； with the sea before them； and the mighty armies of
Egypt pressing behindhad seen their path opened through the waters and
their enemies overwhelmed in the moment of expected triumph。 Jehovah alone
had brought them deliverance； and to Him their hearts were turned in
gratitude and faith。 Their emotion found utterance in songs of praise。 The
Spirit of God rested upon Moses； and he led the people in a triumphant
anthem of thanksgiving； the earliest and one of the most sublime that are
known to man。
〃I will sing unto Jehovah； for He hath triumphed gloriously；
The horse and his rider hath He thrown into the sea。
The Lord is my strength and my song；
And He is become my salvation：
This is my God； and I will praise Him；
My father's God； and I will exalt Him。
The Lord is a man of war：
Jehovah is His name。
Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath He cast into the sea：
And his chosen captains are sunk in the Red Sea。
The deeps cover them：
They went down into the depths like a stone。
Thy right hand； O Lord； is glorious in power；
Thy right hand； O Lord； dasheth in pieces the enemy。 。 。 。
Who is like unto Thee； O Lord； among the gods？
Who is like Thee； glorious in holiness；
Fearful in praises； doing wonders？ 。 。 。
Thou in Thy mercy hast led the people which Thou has redeemed：
Thou hast guided them in Thy strength to Thy holy habitation。
The peoples have heard； they tremble。 。 。 。
Terror and dread falleth upon them；
By the greatness of Thine arm they are as still as a stone；
Till Thy people pass over； O Lord；
Till the people pass over which Thou hast purchased。
Thou shalt bring them in； and plant them in the mountain of
Thine inheritance；
The place； O Lord； which Thou hast made for Thee to dwell in。〃
Exodus 15：1…16； R。V。
Like the voice of the great deep； rose from the vast hosts of Israel that
sublime ascription。 It was taken up by the women of Israel； Miriam； the
sister of Moses； leading the way； as they went
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forth with timbrel and dance。 Far over desert and sea rang the joyous
refrain； and the mountains re…echoed the words of their praise〃Sing ye to
Jehovah； for He hath triumphed gloriously。〃
This song and the great deliverance which it commemorates； made an
impression never to be effaced from the memory of the Hebrew people。 From
age to age it was echoed by the prophets and singers of Israel； testifying
that Jehovah is the strength and deliverance of those who trust in Him。 That
song does not belong to the Jewish people alone。 It points forward to the
destruction of all the foes of righteousness and the final victory of the
Israel of God。 The prophet of Patmos beholds the white…robed multitude that
have 〃gotten the victory；〃 standing on the 〃sea of glass mingled with fire；〃
having 〃the harps of God。 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of
God； and the song of the Lamb。〃 Revelation 15：2；3。
〃Not unto us； O Lord； not unto us； but unto Thy name give glory； for Thy
mercy； and for Thy truth's sake。〃 Psalm 115：1。 Such was the spirit that
pervaded Israel's song of deliverance； and it is the spirit that should
dwell in the hearts of all who love and fear God； In freeing out souls from
the bondage of sin； God has wrought for us a deliverance greater than that
of the Hebrews at the Red Sea。 Like the Hebrew host； we should praise the
Lord with heart and soul and voice for His 〃wonderful works to the children
of men。〃 Those who dwell upon God's great mercies； and are not unmindful of
His lesser gifts； will put on the girdle of gladness and make melody in
their hearts to the Lord。 The daily blessings that we receive from the hand
of God； and above all else the death of Jesus to bring happiness and heaven
within our reach； should be a theme for constant gratitude。 What compassion；
what matchless love； has God shown to us； lost sinners； in connecting us
with Himself； to be to Him a peculiar treasure！ What a sacrifice has been
made by our Redeemer； that we may be called children of God！ We should
praise God for the blessed hope held out before us in the great plan of
redemption； we should praise Him for the heavenly inheritance and for His
rich promises； praise Him that Jesus lives to intercede for us。
