patriarchs and prophets-第62节

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awful　knowledge　of　the　impending　judgment　upon　their　oppressors；　the　cares
and　labors　incident　to　their　speedy　departureall　were　for　the　time
swallowed　up　in　gratitude　to　their　gracious　Deliverer。　Many　of　the　Egyptians
had　been　led　to　acknowledge　the　God　of　the　Hebrews　as　the　only　true　God；　and
these　now　begged　to　be　permitted　to　find　shelter　in　the　homes　of　Israel　when
the　destroying　angel　should　pass　through　the　land。　They　were　gladly
welcomed；　and　they　pledged　themselves　henceforth　to　serve　the　God　of　Jacob
and　to　go　forth　from　Egypt　with　His　people。

The　Israelites　obeyed　the　directions　that　God　had　given。　Swiftly　and
secretly　they　made　their　preparations　for　departure。　Their　families　were
gathered；　the　paschal　lamb　slain；　the　flesh　roasted　with　fire；　the
unleavened　bread　and　bitter　herbs　prepared。　The　father　and　priest　of　the
household　sprinkled　the　blood　upon　the　doorpost；　and　joined　his　family
within　the　dwelling。　In　haste　and　silence　the　paschal　lamb　was　eaten。　In　awe
the　people　prayed　and　watched；　the　heart　of　the　eldest　born；　from　the　strong
man　down　to　the　little　child；　throbbing　with　indefinable　dread。　Fathers　and
mothers　clasped　in　their　arms　their　loved　first…born　as　they　thought　of　the
fearful　stroke　that　was　to　fall　that　night。　But　no　dwelling　of　Israel　was
visited　by　the　death…dealing　angel。　The　sign　of　bloodthe　sign　of　a
Saviour's　protectionwas　on　their　doors；　and　the　destroyer　entered　not。

At　midnight　〃there　was　a　great　cry　in　Egypt：　for　there　was

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not　a　house　where　there　was　not　one　dead。〃　All　the　first…born　in　the　land；
〃from　the　firstborn　of　Pharaoh　that　sat　on　his　throne　unto　the　firstborn　of
the　captive　that　was　in　the　dungeon；　and　all　the　firstborn　of　cattle〃　had
been　smitten　by　the　destroyer。　Throughout　the　vast　realm　of　Egypt　the　pride
of　every　household　had　been　laid　low。　The　shrieks　and　wails　of　the　mourners
filled　the　air。　King　and　courtiers；　with　blanched　faces　and　trembling　limbs；
stood　aghast　at　the　overmastering　horror。　Pharaoh　remembered　how　he　had　once
exclaimed；　〃Who　is　Jehovah；　that　I　should　obey　His　voice　to　let　Israel　go？　I
know　not　Jehovah；　neither　will　I　let　Israel　go。〃　Now；　his　heaven…daring
pride　humbled　in　the　dust；　he　〃called　for　Moses　and　Aaron　by　night；　and
said；　Rise　up；　and　get　you　forth　from　among　my　people；　both　ye　and　the
children　of　Israel；　and　go；　serve　the　Lord；　as　ye　have　said。　Also　take　your
flocks　and　your　herds；　as　ye　have　said。　。　。　。　And　be　gone；　and　bless　me
also。〃　The　royal　counselors　also　and　the　people　entreated　the　Israelites　to
depart　〃out　of　the　land　in　haste；　for　they　said；　We　be　all　dead　men。〃




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　25

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Exodus


With　their　loins　girt；　with　sandaled　feet；　and　staff　in　hand；　the　people　of
Israel　had　stood；　hushed；　awed；　yet　expectant；　awaiting　the　royal　mandate
that　should　bid　them　go　forth。　Before　the　morning　broke；　they　were　on　their
way。　During　the　plagues；　as　the　manifestation　of　God's　power　had　kindled
faith　in　the　hearts　of　the　bondmen　and　had　struck　terror　to　their
oppressors；　the　Israelites　had　gradually　assembled　themselves　in　Goshen；　and
notwithstanding　the　suddenness　of　their　flight；　some　provision　had　already
been　made　for　the　necessary　organization　and　control　of　the　moving
multitudes；　they　being　divided　into　companies；　under　appointed　leaders。

And　they　went　out；　〃about　six　hundred　thousand　on　foot　that　were　men；　beside
children。　And　a　mixed　multitude　went　up　also　with　them。〃　In　this　multitude
were　not　only　those　who　were　actuated　by　faith　in　the　God　of　Israel；　but
also　a　far　greater　number　who　desired　only　to　escape　from　the　plagues；　or
who　followed　in　the　wake　of　the　moving　multitudes　merely　from　excitement　and
curiosity。　This　class　were　ever　a　hindrance　and　a　snare　to　Israel。

The　people　took　also　with　them　〃flocks；　and　herds；　even　very　much　cattle。〃
These　were　the　property　of　the　Israelites；　who　had　never　sold　their
possessions　to　the　king；　as　had　the　Egyptians。　Jacob　and　his　sons　had
brought　their　flocks　and　herds　with　them　to　Egypt；　where　they　had　greatly
increased。　Before　leaving　Egypt；　the　people；　by　the　direction　of　Moses；
claimed　a　recompense　for　their　unpaid　labor；　and　the　Egyptians　were　too
eager　to　be　freed　from　their　presence　to　refuse　them。　The　bondmen　went　forth
laden　with　the　spoil　of　their　oppressors。

That　day　completed　the　history　revealed　to　Abraham　in　prophetic　vision
centuries　before：　〃Thy　seed　shall　be　a　stranger　in　a　land　that　is　not
theirs；　and　shall　serve　them；　and　they　shall　afflict　them　four　hundred
years；　and　also　that　nation；　whom　they　shall

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serve；　will　I　judge：　and　afterward　shall　they　come　out　with　great
substance。〃　Genesis　15：13；　14。＇*　SEE　APPENDIX；　NOTE　3。＇　The　four　hundred
years　had　been　fulfilled。　〃And　it　came　to　pass　the　selfsame　day；　that　the
Lord　did　bring　the　children　of　Israel　out　of　the　land　of　Egypt　by　their
armies。〃　In　their　departure　from　Egypt　the　Israelites　bore　with　them　a
precious　legacy；　in　the　bones　of　Joseph；　which　had　so　long　awaited　the
fulfillment　of　God's　promise；　and　which；　during　the　dark　years　of　bondage；
had　been　a　reminder　of　Israel's　deliverance。

Instead　of　pursuing　the　direct　route　to　Canaan；　which　lay　through　the
country　of　the　Philistines；　the　Lord　directed　their　course　southward；　toward
the　shores　of　the　Red　Sea。　〃For　God　said；　Lest　peradventure　the　people
repent　when　they　see　war；　and　they　return　to　Egypt。〃　Had　they　attempted　to
pass　through　Philistia；　their　progress　would　have　been　opposed；　for　the
Philistines；　regarding　them　as　slaves　escaping　from　their　masters；　would　not
have　hesitated　to　make　war　upon　them。　The　Israelites　were　poorly　prepared
for　an　encounter　with　that　powerful　and　warlike　people。　They　had　little
knowledge　of　God　and　little　faith　in　Him；　and　they　would　have　become
terrified　and　disheartened。　They　were　unarmed　and　unaccustomed　to　war；　their
spirits　were　depressed　by　long　bondage；　and　they　were　encumbered　with　women
and　children；　flocks　and　herds。　In　leading　them　by　the　way　of　the　Red　Sea；
the　Lord　revealed　Himself　as　a　God　of　compassion　as　well　as　of　judgment。

〃And　they　took　their　journey　from　Succoth；　and　encamped　in　Etham；　in　the
edge　of　the　wilderness。　And　the　Lord　went　before　them　by　day　in　a　pillar　of
cloud；　to　lead　them　the　way；　and　by　night　in　a　pillar　of　fire；　to　give　them
light；　to　go　by　day　and　night。　He　took　not　away　the　pillar　of　the　cloud　by
day；　nor　the　pillar　of　fire　by　night；　from　before　the　people。〃　Says　the
psalmist；　〃He　spread　a　cloud　for　a　covering；　and　fire　to　give　light　in　the
night。〃　Psalm　105：39。　See　also　I　Corinthians　10：1；　2。　The　standard　of　their
invisible　Leader　was　ever　with　them。　By　day　the　cloud　directed　their
journeyings　or　spread　as　a　canopy　above　the　host。　It　served　as　a　protection
from　the　burning　heat；　and　by　its　coolness　and　moisture　afforded　grateful
refreshment　in　the　parched；　thirsty　desert。　By　night　it　became　a　pillar　of
fire；　illuminating　their　encampment　and　constantly　assuring　them　of　the
divine　presence。

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In　one　of　the　most　beautiful　and　comforting　passages　of　Isaiah's　prophecy；
reference　is　made　to　the　pillar　of　cloud　and　of　fire　to　represent　God's　care
for　His　people　in　the　great　final　struggle　with　the　powers　of　evil：　〃The
Lord　will　create　upon　every　dwelling　place　of　Mount　Zion；　and　upon　her
assemblies；　a　cloud　and　smoke　by　day；　and　the　shining　of　a　flaming　fire　by
night：　for　above　all　the　glory　shall　be　a　covering。　And　there　shall　be　a
tabernacle　for　a　shadow　in　the　daytime　from　the　heat；　and　for　a　place　of
refuge；　and　for　a　covert　from　storm　and　from　rain。〃　Isaiah　4：5；　6；　margin。

Across　a　dreary；　desertlike　expanse　they　journeyed。　Already　they　began　to
wonder　whither　their　course　would　lead；　they　were　becoming　weary　with　the
toilsome　way；　and　in　some　hearts　began　to　arise　a　fear　of　pursuit　by　the
Egyptians。　But　the　cloud　went　forward；　and　they　followed。　And　now　the　Lord
directed　Moses　to　turn　aside　into　a　rocky　defile；　and　encamp　beside　the　sea。
It　was　revealed　to　him　that　Pharaoh　would　pursue　them；　but　that　God　would　be
honored　in　their　deliverance。

In　Egypt　the　report　was　spread　that　the　children　of　Israel；　instead　of
tarrying　to　worship　in　the　desert；　were　pressing　on　toward　the　Red　Sea。
Pharaoh's　counselors　declared　to　the　king　that　their　bondmen　had　fled；　never
to　return。　The　people　deplored　their　folly　in　attributing　the　death　of　the
first…born　to　the　power　of　God。　Their　great　men；　recovering　from　their
fears；　accounted　for　the　plagues　as　the　result　of　natural　causes。　〃Why　have
we　done　this；　that　we　have　let　Israel　go　from　serving　us？〃　was　the　bitter
cry。

Pharaoh　collected　his　forces；　〃six　hundred　chosen　chariots；　and　all　the
chariots　of　Egypt；〃　horsemen；　captains；　and　foot　soldiers。　The　king　himself；
attended　by　the　great　men　of　his　realm；　headed　the　attacking　army。　To　secure
the　favor　of　the　gods；　and　thus　ensure　the　success　of　their　undertaking；　the
priests　also　accompanied　them。　The　king　was　resolved　to　intimidate　the
Isra