- NICOLAS POUSSIN. MOSES DEFENDING THE WOMEN. /
W ONDERFUL as is the weakness <strong>of</strong> Immanity, it is never quite so wonderful as the strength <strong>of</strong> God. As human history reveals mankind, it does not appear marvelous that "they were sore afraid," I and that Egypt, which had taught them by its cities <strong>of</strong> the dead an almost fantastic belief as to the value <strong>of</strong> sepulture, should come before them as a fitter place to die in than was this desert. The hour had now come when that rod, once a serpent - the emblem <strong>of</strong> power seized for noble purposes-must he lifted up in dauntless Ltith. Night came, as night full <strong>of</strong> doubt and full <strong>of</strong> vision always comes when any soul or nation, led by divine influences, comes up to a circumstance apparently fatal to its progress. That night gave to the host <strong>of</strong> Israel a deeper meaning for the pillar <strong>of</strong> cloud and fire. Such times <strong>of</strong> trial to huraan faith in the supreme \'alue <strong>of</strong> righteousness and freedom al ways disclose a f..lct which comes, :l'i did the fiery cloud, behveen the hosts <strong>of</strong> Israel and the hosts <strong>of</strong> Egypt. That fact isJesus Christ. This hour with Israel held a foregleam <strong>of</strong> him; and it gi"('es an intimation <strong>of</strong> his place in the philosophy <strong>of</strong> history. His personality, his life. his illeal- these are pillars <strong>of</strong> cloud and fire in the process <strong>of</strong> history. History is largely the record <strong>of</strong> a perpetual flight <strong>of</strong> Israel out <strong>of</strong> Egypt, toward freedom. Always to Egyptlike conseryatism and despotism this personal fact, Christ Jesus, is a cloud that he-wilders and darkens - for unadvancing antiquity and selfishness never understands him; while, to Israel's faith in progress, even though it falters, this same fact, inextinguishable and serene, is a perpetual and kindly illumination. "It was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these, so that the one came not near the other all the night." 2 Israel had followed the emblem to the sea's edge. "\Vherefore criest thou unto me?" said the resourceful God, ,,·ho would be trusted only by action; "speak unto the cbildren <strong>of</strong> Israel, that they go forward." 3 Over the sea tbe rod was lifted up, hy tbe calm faith <strong>of</strong> Moses. Over the path left beneath its shadow, as the waves rolled back on either hand, the solemn and wondering Hebrews marched dry-shod. Their advance, however, was not enough. It is never enough that good may conquer; evil must be extirpated. The pursuing Egyptians followed into tbe midst <strong>of</strong> the sea. The later I Exodus xiv. 10. 2 Exodus xi,·, 20. 3 Exodus xiv, IS- CHAPTER VII. THE RED SEA. lSO song <strong>of</strong> the Psalmist indicates that a terrific thunderstorm hurst upon them. This is the account in the Book <strong>of</strong> Exodus: "_-\nd it clime to pass. that in the mornilig ,vatch Jehovah looked unto the host <strong>of</strong> the Egyptians through the pillar <strong>of</strong> fire aud <strong>of</strong> the cloud, allli trou hIed the host <strong>of</strong> the Egyptians, and took <strong>of</strong>f their chariot wheels, that they dran' them heavilv : so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from tile face <strong>of</strong> Israel; for Jehovah, fighteth for them against the Egyptians. And Jehovah said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea. that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. And Moses stretched forth bis hand over tbe sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and Jehovah overthre,,· the Egyptians in the midst <strong>of</strong> the sea. And the waters returned and covered the chariots, and the borsemeu, and all the host <strong>of</strong> Pharaoh that came into the sea after them." 1 SJ.int Paul, who seems to he attracted constantly to state and restate the prohlem and triumph <strong>of</strong> Israel, puts it all into these eloquent words: "They were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea." 2 So much for Israel, and so much for Egypt. A national tragedy, almost fdtal to the throne <strong>of</strong> Egypt, had at length succeeded the long and agonizing years <strong>of</strong> Israel's bondage. Retribution came, and every anguish had its compensation in the scales <strong>of</strong> Jehovah. Looked at from the point <strong>of</strong> view already taken, it does not at all detract from tbe present and pennanent meaning to mankind <strong>of</strong> such a disaster to Egypt, whicb \vas also a victory for Jehovah anel a deliverance to Israel, if any <strong>of</strong>· the man\' explanations <strong>of</strong> tbe occurrence' <strong>of</strong> the a-wft;1 event be adopted, \vholly or in part. Kone <strong>of</strong> them, hmvever, appear to be entirely satisfactory. Travelers and scholars <strong>of</strong> the first rank have given the most tborough research and wide learning to this fragment <strong>of</strong> the worlel. From Strabo, and Josephus, and Diodorus <strong>of</strong> Sicily to Napoleon I., Niebuhr, Stanley, and Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Palmer, every scrap <strong>of</strong> information concerning the past and present condition and location <strong>of</strong> these waters and mountains has been drawn into service, to make it less difficult for less believing minds to account for these unmatched incidents. Doubtless, the waters <strong>of</strong> the Red Sea, at tbat date, may have occupied a 1 Exodus xiv, 24-28. 21. Corinthians x, 2. --