ADMONITION, COMFORT, HOPE.
By M. C. W.
PAUL, in speaking of God's dealings with Israel, says that the things "happened unto them for examples [or types]; and they are written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come." 1 Cor. 10:11. In Romans 15:4, he says that whatsoever was written in the Old Testament was "written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope." Then, certainly, if we use these lessons on "Old Testament History" aright we cannot fail to be benefited thereby. Let us look at some of the lessons which the past quarter has taught us:— 1. God does not forget his people. The Lord had promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that their seed should inherit Canaan. He had foretold the time when the promise should be fulfilled. Gen. 15:13-16. The patriarchs died in faith believing it. Joseph gave the children of Israel a practical lesson of faith when he gave commandment concerning his bones. Heb. 11:22. Israel no doubt professed to believe Joseph. He was a prophet of God. His very remains, resting in Egypt among them, were continually saying that God would deliver his people. But when oppression came, when their sons were slain, when Moses, whom God had chosen to lead them out, was forced to flee, the outlook must have been very dark indeed. And it looked but little better when he, having returned, a sun-browned shepherd with his simple crook, seemed to double the wrath of the king upon them by his demands that Israel should go. Ex. 5:21; 6:9. The very deliverer seemed to make their bondage greater. The people evidently thought that Moses was only self-sent, as before. But God had not forgotten his people. That darkest hour was the herald of the day. Their extremity was God's opportunity. Their helplessness as the least of all nations (Deut. 7:7) could best manifest to the world God's power and glory. And Moses with his shepherd's crook and the presence and power of God, was mightier than all the dazzling glory, power, and wealth of Egypt, earth's mightiest nation. Then and thus he delivered that the world as well as Israel might know that Jehovah was God; that, like Jethro the Midianite, they would acknowledge, "Now I know that Jehovah is greater than all gods; for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them." Ex. 18:11. 2. God's mercy and forbearance to Pharaoh. He first demanded of Pharaoh to let Israel go that they might serve their God. Ex. 5:1; 8:20; 10:3. The very justice of the request indicated the character of Jehovah. He did not demand that the Egyptians should serve him, contrary to their desire or conscience. He only demanded that his own people, who had toiled for the Egyptians so many years unrecompensed, who had through one of their number preserved the land, should serve him. But Pharaoh, haughty and intolerant, would not grant this simple demand of simple justice and equal rights. The Lord then shows his power above that of Egypt in the miracle of the rods being turned to serpents. Pharaoh rejects this evidence. No life has yet been taken; not an Egyptian has been injured. God is pleading with the haughty king. Then begin the miracles of mercy, called plagues. They were plagues to the wicked; but if Pharaoh and his people had heeded them, they would have proved messengers of mercy. They were designed to show not only the power of Jehovah above all gods, above all the operations of nature (hence the Creator), but they also manifested the broken reeds on which Pharaoh was trusting,—the gods of Egypt, which were no gods. But Pharaoh would not learn; he set his stubborn heart against all mercy, till the Spirit of God left him forever, and God's mercy and power were manifested in Egypt's destruction. Let us be admonished by this lesson to heed the first demand of the Lord, to obey the smallest precept, to be faithful now, instead of waiting for greater evidence, or a better time. Had Pharaoh been willing to grant the first request, he would have opened his heart to receive instruction, and would have been saved forever had he remained faithful. But he would not. His example is a solemn warning against hardness of heart and stubbornness of disposition. 3. God's provision for his people and their unbelief. God is infinite in knowledge, wisdom, and power. He knew how he would deliver his people, how he would open the Red Sea, how he would sweeten the bitter water or cause the sweet to flow from the riven rock, how he would supply food for his people, before he sent Moses to deliver them. But every step of the way some manifested their unbelief. They feared at the Red Sea, and thought it was better to serve the Egyptians; they murmured at Marah because of the one bitter thing among so many blessings; they longed for the flesh pots, when just before them, at the time needed "the corn of Heaven" would be given; and finally, after a solemn pledge to obey God's awful voice, they deliberately turned back to the bondage of the Egyptian idolatry. The seeming delay of deliverance, and the supposed obstacles that arose, were only to try their faith. Faith should have said, as it did say at the Red Sea, "Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will show to you to-day." Ex. 14:13. Moses knew by faith in God's word (Ex. 14:3, 4) that God would deliver them, only he knew not how. Moses knew that God would give them bread and water, if he did not know the way in which it would be done. God had pledged his word and his power to deliver his people, and Moses knew that they would be delivered. God tries our faith in ways as strange to us as these were to Israel. Murmur not, "fear not little flock." Does the Red Sea lie before you? If you are walking in God's light, if you are following Christ, the Pillar of Fire and Cloud, God will open the way. Have you come to the bitter waters of Marah? The Lord has the remedy to sweeten them; let faith apply it. Just beyond are the living wells of Elim. Is your path a desert, parched and dry? He will give you water from the living Rock. And all through your journey it will go with you. He will strengthen you to endure all the ills and woes which he does not remove. 4. There was a great threefold lesson in the giving of the manna. First, it showed God's power to provide whatever his people needed in every place, however barren that place might be of nature's products or resources. Secondly, it pointed out the true Sabbath of the Lord for forty years, so that all who believe his word might never doubt its holiness, nor question whether any other day than the seventh might be the Sabbath. Thirdly, he tried their faith and loyalty. He gave them food; he gave them drink; their raiment waxed not old; and having these, they should have been content. Certainly what more could they have asked on a mere journey to the "land of milk and honey"? But do not many rebel even as did they? Are not many longing for the flesh-pots of Egypt or the feasts of Baal on their professed journey to the heavenly Canaan? Are we pilgrims on a journey, or dwellers in the land? If we are truly journeying to the "better country," the land of milk and honey, "having food and raiment, let us be therewith content." Christ, the supplier of food, the fountain of living water, will go with us, a Leader, a Helper, a Saviour, the fullness of comfort and hope; and his presence will ever afford us the shadow of the great Rock in a weary land.