Lesson 57 - Senior
Memory Verse
"He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy" (Proverbs 29:1).
Cross References
I The Exodus from Egypt
1. God, considering Israel's human weakness, leads them through a wilderness, [EXO:13:17], [EXO:13:18]; [EXO:14:11-12]; [PS:78:39]; [PS:103:6-7], [PS103:13-14].
2. The bones of Joseph are taken with them, [EXO:13:19]; [GEN:50:25]; [JOS:24:32]; [ACT:7:15-16]; [HEB:11:22].
3. God leads and protects them with a pillar of a cloud and in a pillar of fire, [EXO:13:20-22]; [NUM:9:15-23].
II Pharaoh's Pursuit and the Israelites' Seemingly Hopeless Plight
1. Israel's route causes Pharaoh to think they are bewildered and lost, an easy prey for his armies, [EXO:14:1-4]; [NUM:33:1-8].
2. Pharaoh regrets his liberation of Israel and pursues them, [EXO:14:5-9].
3. The Children of Israel are fearful when they see Egypt's armies, [EXO:14:10-12]; [PS:106:7]; [ISA:31:1].
4. Moses gives Israel a reassuring charge, [EXO:14:13-14].
III The Deliverance from the Armies of Egypt
1. The Lord honours Moses' faith, instructing Israel to go forward, [EXO:14:15-16]; [HEB:11:29].
2. The final destructive judgment is sent to demonstrate the eternal existence and power of God, [EXO:14:17-18]; [PS:106:7-12].
3. The pillar of fire is light to Israel but darkness to Egypt, [EXO:14:19-20]; [2CO:2:14-16]; [JHN:3:18]; [PS:105:39].
4. The waters are divided by the power of God, [EXO:14:21-22]; [PS:77:15-20], [JOB:26:10-12]; [ISA:63:11-14]; [1CO:10:1-2].
5. The overconfident Egyptians are trapped in the sea, [EXO:14:23-31].
IV The Song of Triumph
1. The deliverance from Pharaoh's last attempt at oppression causes Israel to fear the Lord and praise Him, [EXO:14:31]; [EXO:15:1-3]; [PS:66:5-7]; [REV:15:1-4].
2. They recount in their song the details of the miracle, [EXO:15:4-10].
3. A chorus of praise is inspired by this demonstration of God's power, [EXO:15:11-13].
4. A prophetic glimpse is given of the coming effect of this miracle on the nations of Canaan, [EXO:15:14-16]; [JOS:2:9-11].
5. An assurance of God's continued benevolence is given, guaranteed by His eternal existence, [EXO:15:17-19]; [ISA:51:9-11].
6. The women of Israel sing a response of praise, [EXO:15:20-21]; [MIC:6:4].
Notes
Retributive Judgment
Perhaps during the long period of slavery in Egypt it seemed to the Israelites that the Lord did not hear their prayers. But God had put the tears of these slaves into His bottle and when the hour of doom rang out there was an answer for each of those diamond drops. Egypt had oppressed the Israelites for many years, but the time of retribution finally came. It seemed to be long in coming, but it was thorough when it came. The arrears, which had been accumulating for decades were all exacted from this last generation, who had not righted the wrongs of their predecessors but were happy to continue in them in order that they might also receive the illegal benefits of slavery -- a practice which has always met with God's disapproval.
It is well that we learn wisdom from these events. Retributive Providence, in punishing an evil, sometimes apparently lets the full judgment fall upon those who have the evil last in hand and who are determined to keep the evil at all costs. Jesus affirmed that on the Jews of His generation would come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom they slew between the Temple and the altar ([MAT:23:35]). We know, from the annals of secular history, that this was literacy fulfilled; and the responsibility for the shedding of the Blood of Jesus was also laid upon the Jews, in the terrible massacre of the Jews at the destruction of Jerusalem. They would have averted this promised punishment by accepting Jesus as their Messiah, but they chose the alternative. The Egyptians of Moses' day might have enjoyed life and security for many years if they had honoured and obeyed the God of Israel; but, instead, they chose the way of evil.
The Beginning of the Journey
The direct route to Canaan would have been by the seacoast through the land occupied by the Philistines. But we are told in secular history that this route was garrisoned with Egyptian armies and there was also a great wall extending from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean. Had the Israelites been obliged to commence their journey to the Promised Land by a military campaign, there is little room to doubt that they would have been discouraged, rebelled against Moses and Aaron, and returned to Egypt.
To avert this, God led them through a wilderness. They were a comparatively unorganised nation of slaves and needed the hardness and discipline that life in the wilderness would drive them to produce a generation equal to the task of conquering and settling a land already inhabited by powerful people. God led them in a roundabout way that He might call them to the slopes of the mount to hear the sound of His voice. God will take us to Heaven if we follow Him, but He has not promised to take us by the near way. One thing is sure: He will not lead us by the way of the "Philistines" or any others who would effect our ruin ([ROM:8:28]).
If the Children of Israel had entered Palestine by the near way they would have missed a great deal of God's providence. The Song of Moses would never have been sung. Miriam's harp would have remained untuned. Elim, with its wells, and palms, would have been undiscovered to them; and Sinai, with its words of love and law, would have been unknown. The manna from Heaven would never have been given, and God's patience and goodness in the hour of trial would have been untasted by them. The Children of Israel had faith and confidence that their leaving Egypt was forever and that their destination was the land of Canaan. This is demonstrated by the fact that they took the bones of Joseph with them. This was not relic worship on their part but a fulfilment of a promise made to Joseph that his bones would be buried with his own people.
The Pillar of a Cloud and of Fire
The Lord revealed Himself to Moses through the burning bush, and now He reveals Himself to the Israelites in a pillar of fire and of a cloud. This vast host of at least 3,000,000 must often have been spread over several miles of desert plains and mountain slopes, and they needed some signal that they could see from afar. The same thing that proved a blessing to the Israelites was a hindrance to the enemies of God's people. When the Egyptian armies neared the Israelites, the pillar went between them and was a light to the Children of Israel and darkness to the Egyptians. But still Pharaoh and his armies rushed on. There was nothing in their hearts that would heed God's warnings. The cup of their iniquity was full.
The Israelites were in what appeared to be a trap. The sea was in front, mountains on both sides, and the armies of Egypt behind. But even though their faith failed, Moses' confidence stood firm. He did not know just how God would deliver at first, but he knew God would! We believe from the way God spoke to Moses, that as soon as he reassured the Israelites that God would deliver them, he went to prayer asking that such assurance might be made real to them. God's answer was, "Wherefore criest thou unto me? . . . go forward" -- and forward they went!
The Parted Sea
The rod was lifted and the proud waters of the sea were divided. A thunderstorm raged and the clouds poured out water, but the bed of the sea became dry ground ([PS:77:16-20]). What wonders are made possible through simple faith and absolute obedience! But no one can "go forward" in the strength of God until he has first "stood still" in his own helplessness. This miracle brought fear to the hearts of many of the Canaanites, for we read that they were still smitten by fear 40 years later ([JOS:2:9-11]).
Some discount the story of the passage through the Red Sea by denying everything miraculous in it. They say that an unusually low tide and strong winds over shadow places made a ford for the people. But the whole account is given to us as a miracle, not only in the historical portions of Scripture, but in the inspired Psalms and songs of praise sung by Israel even today. If it were only the ordinary tidal action of the sea, and not a miracle, the action of the tides would have been better known to Pharaoh and his generals than it was to Israel. A commander would not lead his armies into certain defeat when he had knowledge of the facts of wind and tide. It is absolutely unreasonable to believe that the whole affair could have been so executed to save all Israel and destroy all the Egyptians in the normal operation of natural forces.
The whole thing was an act of God's judgment upon Egypt and mercy to the Israelites. Those who decreed, years before, that all the male Children of the Hebrews should be drowned, were themselves destroyed in the pit they had destined for others ([EST:7:10]). God renders to every man according to his works. This act of God's omnipotence could not help but make the Egyptians acknowledge that the God of Israel was the only God and the true God. What they would not admit during the patient dealings of God with them in the past, they had to acknowledge, at least, in the hour of final calamity.
The Song of Moses
The first expression of Israel's national life was a glad burst of inspired song, known as the Song of Moses. It is, in addition to being a song of thanksgiving, a sublime prophecy foretelling the powerful effect of the destruction of Egypt's army on the nations all around. It tells of the future settlement of Canaan, the erection of the Temple and sanctuary on Mt. Zion, and the perpetuity of the dominion and worship of God.
Moses was a poet as wed as a lawgiver. He not only wrote history, law, precept, and prophecy, but more than once he perpetuated them in the words of an inspired song. We are told that the Redeemed win sing the song of Moses in Heaven ([REV:15:3]). There were no songs of joy or eternal hope in Egypt because infidelity and unbelief have no such paeans of praise. Thank God for the fact that He has given His people this medium of praise and worship, that they might draw nearer to Him and closer to one another in bonds of fellowship by the singing of inspired words and melody. "Sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider bath he thrown into the sea."
Questions
1. Why did the Lord lead Israel in the way of the wilderness?
2. What did the taking of the bones of Joseph out of Egypt indicate?
3. By what means did the Lord lead the Children of Israel during their years in the wilderness?
4. What did Pharaoh think had happened to the Israelites when he received word of the direction of their march?
5. Did the Egyptians remain grateful that the Israelites had left Egypt?
6. What did the Israelites do when they saw the Egyptians coming?
7. What advice did Moses give to the Israelites?
8. What command did God give Moses when Moses prayed for help?
9. Tell what happened to the Egyptians when they pursued the Israelites.
10. When are we to "stand still" and when are we to "go forward"?