Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 1.djvu/313

Rh wrath, who have long resisted the influences of his grace. It is spoken in a way of triumph over this obstinate and presumptuous rebel; "I, even I, will take an effectual course to humble him; he shall break, that would not bend." It is an expression like that, (Isa. 1. 24.) Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries.

II. A guard set upon Israel's camp there where it now lay most exposed, which was in the rear, v. 19, 20. The angel of God, whose ministry was made use of in the pillar of cloud and fire, went from before the camp of Israel, where they did not now need a guide, (there was no danger of missing their way through the sea, nor needed they any other word of command than to go forward,) and it came behind them, where now they needed a guard, (the Egyptians being just ready to seize the hindmost of them,) and so was a wall or partition between them. There, it was of use to the Israelites, not only to protect them, but to light them, through the sea, and, at the same time, it confounded the Egyptians, so that they lost the sight of their prey just then when they were ready to lay hands on it. The word and providence of God have a black and dark side toward sin and sinners, but a bright and pleasant side toward those that are Israelites indeed. That which is a savour of life unto life to some, is a savour of death unto death to others. This was not the first time that He, who in the beginning divided between light and darkness, (Gen. 1. 4.) and still forms both, (Isa. 45. 7.) had, at the same time, allotted darkness to the Egyptians, and light to the Israelites; a specimen of the endless distinction which will be made between the inheritance of the saints in light, and that utter darkness which for ever will be the portion of hypocrites. God will separate between the precious and the vile.

21. And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. 22. And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand and on their left. 23. And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. 24. And it came to pass, that in the morning-watch the looked, unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians, 25. And took off their chariot-wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the fighteth for them against the Egyptians. 26. And the said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon tbe Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. 27. And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. 28. And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them: there remained not so much as one of them. 29. But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. 30. Thus the saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea-shore. 31. And Israel saw that great work which the did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the, and believed the  and his servant Moses.

We have here the history of that work of wonder, which is so often mentioned both in the Old and New Testament, the dividing of the Red-sea before the children of Israel. It was the terror of the Canaanites, (Josh. 2. 9, 10.) the praise and triumph of the Israelites, Ps. 114. 3.—106. 9. —136. 13, 14. It was a type of baptism, 1 Cor. 10. 1, 2. Israel's passage through it was typical of the conversion of souls, (Isa. 11. 15.) and the Egyptians' perdition in it was typical of the final ruin of all impenitent sinners, Rev. 20. 14. Here is,

I. An instance of God's almighty power, in the kingdom of nature, in dividing the sea, and opening a passage through the waters. It was a bay, or gulf, or arm of the sea, two or three leagues over, which was divided, v. 21. The instituted sign made use of was, Moses's stretching out his hand over it, to signify that it was done in answer to his prayer, for the confirmation of his mission, and in favour to the people which he led. The natural sign was a strong east-wind, signifying that it was done by the power of God, whom the winds and the seas obey. If there be any passage in the book of Job, which has reference to the miracles wrought for Israel's deliverance out of Egypt, it is that, (Job 26. 12.) He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through Rahab, (so the word is,) that is, Egypt. Note, God can bring his people through the greatest difficulties, and force a way where he does not find it. The God of nature has not tied himself to its laws, but, when he pleases, dispenses with them, and then the fire does not burn, nor the water flow.

II. An instance of his wonderful favour to his Israel. They went through the sea to the opposite shore, (for I cannot suppose, with some, that they fetched a compass, and came out again on the same side,) v. 22. they walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea, v. 29. And the pillar of cloud, that glory of the Lord, being their rere-ward, Isa. 58. 8. (that the Egyptians might not charge them in the flank,) the waters were a wall to them, (it is twice mentioned,) on their right hand, and on their left. Moses and Aaron, it is probable, ventured first into this untrodden path, and then all Israel after them; and this march through the paths of the great waters would make their march afterward, through the wilderness, less formidable. They who had followed God through the sea, needed not to fear following him whithersoever he led them. This march through the sea was in the night, and not a moon-shiny night, for it was seven days after the full moon, so that they had no light but what they had from the pillar of cloud and fire. This made it the more awful; but where God leads