Exodus
249
“Whoso offereth praise,” says the Creator, “glorifieth Me.”
Psalm
50:23
. All the inhabitants of heaven unite in praising God. Let us
learn the song of the angels now, that we may sing it when we join
their shining ranks. Let us say with the psalmist, “While I live will
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I praise the Lord: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any
being.” “Let the people praise Thee, O God; let all the people praise
Thee.”
Psalm 146:2
;
67:5
.
God in His providence brought the Hebrews into the mountain
fastnesses before the sea, that He might manifest His power in their
deliverance and signally humble the pride of their oppressors. He
might have saved them in any other way, but He chose this method in
order to test their faith and strengthen their trust in Him. The people
were weary and terrified, yet if they had held back when Moses bade
them advance, God would never have opened the path for them. It
was “by faith” that “they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land.”
Hebrews 11:29
. In marching down to the very water, they showed that
they believed the word of God as spoken by Moses. They did all that
was in their power to do, and then the Mighty One of Israel divided
the sea to make a path for their feet.
The great lesson here taught is for all time. Often the Christian life
is beset by dangers, and duty seems hard to perform. The imagination
pictures impending ruin before and bondage or death behind. Yet
the voice of God speaks clearly, “Go forward.” We should obey this
command, even though our eyes cannot penetrate the darkness, and
we feel the cold waves about our feet. The obstacles that hinder
our progress will never disappear before a halting, doubting spirit.
Those who defer obedience till every shadow of uncertainty disappears
and there remains no risk of failure or defeat, will never obey at all.
Unbelief whispers, “Let us wait till the obstructions are removed, and
we can see our way clearly;” but faith courageously urges an advance,
hoping all things, believing all things.
The cloud that was a wall of darkness to the Egyptians was to
the Hebrews a great flood of light, illuminating the whole camp, and
shedding brightness upon the path before them. So the dealings of
Providence bring to the unbelieving, darkness and despair, while to
the trusting soul they are full of light and peace. The path where God
leads the way may lie through the desert or the sea, but it is a safe path.
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