Exodus
245
Israel. Some cried unto the Lord, but far the greater part hastened to
Moses with their complaints: “Because there were no graves in Egypt,
hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou
dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word
that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve
the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians,
than that we should die in the wilderness.”
Moses was greatly troubled that his people should manifest so
little faith in God, notwithstanding they had repeatedly witnessed the
manifestation of His power in their behalf. How could they charge
upon him the dangers and difficulties of their situation, when he had
followed the express command of God? True, there was no possibility
of deliverance unless God Himself should interpose for their release;
but having been brought into this position in obedience to the divine
direction, Moses felt no fear of the consequences. His calm and
assuring reply to the people was, “Fear ye not, stand still, and see
the salvation of the Lord, which He will show to you today: for the
Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more
forever. The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.”
It was not an easy thing to hold the hosts of Israel in waiting before
the Lord. Lacking discipline and self-control, they became violent and
unreasonable. They expected speedily to fall into the hands of their
oppressors, and their wailings and lamentations were loud and deep.
The wonderful pillar of cloud had been followed as the signal of God
to go forward; but now they questioned among themselves if it might
not foreshadow some great calamity; for had it not led them on the
wrong side of the mountain, into an impassable way? Thus the angel
of God appeared to their deluded minds as the harbinger of disaster.
But now, as the Egyptian host approached them, expecting to
make them an easy prey, the cloudy column rose majestically into
the heavens, passed over the Israelites, and descended between them
and the armies of Egypt. A wall of darkness interposed between the
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pursued and their pursuers. The Egyptians could no longer discern the
camp of the Hebrews, and were forced to halt. But as the darkness of
night deepened, the wall of cloud became a great light to the Hebrews,
flooding the entire encampment with the radiance of day.
Then hope returned to the hearts of Israel. And Moses lifted up his
voice unto the Lord. “And the Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore criest