Exodus 14:31

And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did.

One principal object that the Lord had in view in choosing his methods of delivering the Israelites from Egypt was to establish their faith in Jehovah. This result followed, for "the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses."

PRACTICAL AND SUGGESTIVE.

God's people find his presence most manifest when danger is the greatest and trouble the deepest. Ver. 19.

God's people find light and comfort when his enemies find darkness and terror. Ver. 20.

God's people find. path of safety cleft for them through the seas of trouble and danger. Ver. 21.

Personal redemption is not unlike this national redemption. Both proceed under God's direction, and both turn upon the shed blood. Both require. baptism of both soul and body. And when the pilgrim state is entered both have their places of rest and of peril, and their interpositions of God.

From Africa to Asia; from bondage to freedom; from terror to trust; from Pharaoh to Jehovah; such was the transition wrought when Israel crossed the Red Sea. It was. great national emancipation, typical of many such which the world has seen since, and typical of the emancipation of the redeemed saints from the sway of Satan.

CRISES.--There are moments in the life both of men and nations, both of the world and of the Church, when vast blessings are gained, vast dangers averted, through our own exertions--by the sword of the conqueror, by the genius of the statesman, by the holiness of the saint. Such, in Jewish history, were the conquest of Palestine by Joshua, the deliverances wrought by Gideon, by Samson, and by David. Such, in Christian history, was the revolution effected by Clovis, by Charlemagne, by Alfred, by Bernard, and by Luther. But there are moments of still higher interest, of still more solemn feeling, when deliverance is brought about, not by human energy, but by causes beyond Our own control. Such, in Christian history, are the raising of the siege of Leyden by the waters in Holland, and the overthrow of the Spanish Armada, and such, above all, was the passage of the Red Sea.-- A. P. Stanley.

NAPOLEON'S EXPERMENT.--My next object was to find out the exact spot where Napoleon was overtaken by the waves near Suez. Actuated by latent rationalism, and desirous to contradict the miracle, or at any rate to render it easy of belief to unbelievers by proving that It was conformable to the ordinary laws of nature, he one day waited for the ebb of the tide, and made an attempt to follow what he supposed were the footsteps of Moses in passing the creek. In regard to his effort in this way, it has been remarked by the author of Eothen, that he and his horsemen managed the matter in. manner more resembling the failure of the Egyptians than the success of the Israelites. The tide came up regardless of him and his staff, and it was with great difficulty that any of them reached the land. Some of the people at Suez told me that Napoleon fell from his horse into the sea, and was only dragged out by the assistance of the natives on shore. Others said that he spurred his horse through the waters, breast high, back to the beach in front of the English hotel, and that his faithful stood manifested more firmness and sagacity than its rider.-- Dr. Aiton.

POINTS FOR TEACHERS.

1. Review the events since the last lesson; the night of terror in Egypt; the consent of the king; the flight of Israel; the pursuit of the Egyptians. 2. Consider the critical condition of Israel; the sea before; the Egyptians breathing vengeance behind. 3. Point out the strength of Israel; obeying the Lord and therefore the Lord their defender. They see no way, but faith understands that the Lord will point out. way. 4. Consider the means; the sea parted; the cloud conceals them from the Egyptians; the pillar of fire lights them. God the only light and the only safety. 5. Israel's march; Moses leads; on dry land; the waters. wall of defence; the Lord the defender; so always when his people are in the strict line of duty. 6. Point to the Egyptians; following blindly, rashly, as rashly as sinners plunge into sin; thoughtless of danger till It comes and then too late; the waters roll back, confusion, death. 7. Consider the type; all sinners in Egypt of thraldom to sin; flee by repentance led by faith and lighted by the pillar of God's truth under Christ as leader: then baptized into Christ, and baptism, baptism into death, stands between them and the old Egypt of their sins. From thence forward they are bound for Canaan.