Wails of Despair Yield to Triumph
By Mrs. H. W. Cottrell
Israel's March from Egypt to the Red Sea—Their Old Enemy About to Capture Them—Delivered Through Obedience and Faith MORE than two hundred years had elapsed since a Hebrew lad was sold by his brethren into Egypt. Of this lad it is recorded the Lord was with Joseph. He found favor with the king, and in time of famine was made ruler over all the land of Egypt. King Pharaoh sent to Canaan, and brought Joseph's father, Israel, and all his house—threescore and ten souls—to Egypt, and gave them possessions in the land of Goshen. A KING WHO KNEW NOT JOSEPH
"But there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph." When the new king saw that the once small Hebrew colony had become a mighty multitude, he feared they would join his enemies in time of war; so set taskmasters over them, who afflicted them until "the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage." The Lord had told Abram, hundreds of years before, that his seed would be afflicted four hundred years, and afterward He would bring them out with great substance. When the time arrived for the fulfillment of this prophecy, the Lord sent Moses to ask Pharaoh to let the people go; but Pharaoh refused to grant the request, until the Lord sent judgments upon the land, and Egypt was spoiled, and the people cried out, "We be all dead men." Then the king sent for Moses in the night, and urged them to go out in haste. When the people left plague-stricken Egypt, it is said of them, "And the children of Israel went out with an high hand." The seventy souls had increased to an exceeding great multitude. More than six hundred thousand people threw off the shackles of slavery, and went out of Egypt a free nation. With faces Canaan-ward, and but a short distance intervening between them and the "land flowing with milk and honey," they journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, and forward to Etham, journeying or camping as the "pillar of cloud" by day and the "pillar of fire" by night indicated. When the friendly "pillar" rose to lead them from Etham, it turned their faces from Canaan, and led to the Red Sea. As the people turned their eyes toward Egypt, they observed in the distance a slowly431moving cloud, which they took for a caravan of merchantmen returning from Egypt; but soon they could distinguish chariots and horsemen advancing toward the sea. All eyes were fixed on the strange spectacle; and as it drew nearer, they recognized the familiar Egyptian armor. There was no doubt as to the object of Pharaoh's pursuit; and as Egyptian servitude faced them again, they turned to flee before the enemy. But before them was the spreading sea, and beside them were towering mountains, while the armies of Egypt were closing their only way of escape. Filled with terror, the people gave way to wild confusion. Some were crying to God, and others were censuring Moses for their awful situation, and murmuring because he had not left them in Egypt. Their bright visions of Canaan were transformed into graves in the wilderness, or to Egyptian bondage again. IN THE CONFUSION, HOPE REVIVES
Amidst the confusion, the voice of Moses sounded out over the camp. The tumult was hushed, and they caught the inspiring words of their leader: "Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will show to you to-day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to-day, ye shall see them again no more forever. The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace." Ex. 14: 13, 14. These words of faith and courage from Moses inspired the hearts of the people with new hope, and the Lord told Moses to "speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward." In obedience to the words, "Go forward," that mighty host broke camp and faced the sea, trusting the God of Moses to bridge the water or part the waves and lay a path for their feet in the deep. The "pillar" that went before them rose in majesty, passed over the camp, and stood between the two camps. To Israel it was a light to illuminate their forward march; but to the Egyptians it was blackness, and hid from view their prey. The armies of Israel advanced till the feet of the foremost ranks touched the water's edge, and the Lord said to Moses: "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." Ex. 14: 16. When Moses stretched his hand out over the sea, the waters divided, and stood in walls on "the right hand, and on the left"; and by the light of the cloud, the people walked through the deep as on dry land. When the morning dawned, the last of Israel's multitude had finished the walk of faith, and stood on the shores of deliverance. Instead of graves in the wilderness for Israel, as they feared, Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea again, and it returned to its place, and buried the Egyptians in one common grave in the deep. For the Lord's wonderful deliverance, the people manifested their grateful thanksgiving in appropriate services. Moses led that mighty chorus of voices as they sang the inspired anthem of deliverance found in the fifteenth chapter of Exodus; while Miriam, with a timbrel in hand, led the women in the glad refrain, "Sing ye to the Lord, for He hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath He thrown into the sea."