MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— Exodus 12:37-39
THE NOMINAL FOLLOWERS OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH; THE MOTIVES BY WHICH THEY ARE ACTUATED, AND THE PERPLEXITIES BY WHICH THEY ARE TESTED
The children of Israel are now going out of Egypt, the land of bondage, freed by the remarkable interposition of Heaven. They were allowed to leave openly, being even thrust out by Pharaoh. They had not to go out by stealth. God does not encourage craft in His people; He renders it unnecessary, as He will give them an open freedom in due time—a freedom which their enemies shall witness, but not be Competent to hinder. The Israelites went out on foot. They did not go out of bondage in chariots, conveyed easily by welcome method. They had to go out as pilgrims. The early experiences of the soul in freedom are sometimes hard and trying. The Church is often footsore in its pilgrimage through this life; but it is sustained by the thought of liberty on which it is entering yet more and more. The Israelites went out in great numbers. When we remember that only seventy persons went down into Egypt, we may well be astonished that in about 215 years so great a multitude should go out. Dean Alford computes the number to be 2,400,000 in all. Nor would this be a miraculous increase during seven generations. God can multiply His Church in bondage, and the Church of seventy shall become innumerable. The little one becomes a great nation. No weapon formed against the Church can prosper. The Israelites went out from Egypt early in the morning. The destruction of the first-born of the Egyptians occurred at midnight, then the Israelites were commanded to depart from bondage. It would take some time to make known to them the tidings of Pharaoh, to collect them into one vast host, and to be ready for so great a journey. And when the soul leaves the bondage of sin, it is morning, the night is far spent, and the full shining of the Sun of Righteousness is at hand. Morning joys come upon the freed soul. The Israelites went out from Egypt followed by a mixed multitude. In this multitude were to be found heathens who were deeply impressed by the wonderful works of Jehovah as seen in the history of Israel, many who were tired of the despotic rule of Pharaoh, and many more who were animated by curiosity, and who desired to see to what end this vast nation would be led; and no doubt many families who had intermarried with Israel would follow their relatives, animated by mingled feelings of love and sorrow. We have in the allegiance of this mixed multitude to Israel a type of the manner in which many ally themselves to the Christian Church.
I. The motives by which the nominal adherents of the Christian Church are animated. That there are many nominal adherents to the Christian Church is beyond all doubt or question. There is a mixed multitude following the Church in its earthly pilgrimage. These join in the external services of the Church. They aid the financial enterprises of the Church, and they swell the numbers of the Church, but they are not of the true and spiritual Israel, and very soon grow weary even of a nominal adherence to the Church of Christ. Let us look at the motives by which they are actuated in thus following the Church.
1. They are acquainted and impressed with the history of the Church, and hence are induced to follow it. This mixed multitude was acquainted with the history of the Israelites, with their degrading bondage, and with the marvellous interposition of God on their behalf. They had seen the miracles that had been wrought in order to secure the freedom of the enslaved people; they were inspired with reverence of soul, and thought it well to be associated with a people so highly favoured. Hence they followed Israel on their journey. And so men join the Church. They have read the history of the Church of Christ, they have been instructed in the power of the great God who defends the good, and they think it a grand and profitable thing to be associated with those people whose God is the Lord. They follow the Church more for its history and temporal success, than because it is a glorious privilege and duty to be pure in heart, and to be spiritually united to those of kindred moral aims and sentiments.
2. They have an inner conviction that the Church is right, and hence they are sometimes led to follow it. No doubt there were amongst this mixed multitude those who had a deep insight into the life and history of Israel; they had received instruction and convictions in reference to Jehovah which now were potent within them, and which led them to follow the Israelites in this exodus. And there are men who ally themselves to the Christian Church after this fashion. They are rightly instructed in the doctrines of Christianity, they have received convictions and impressions in reference to the claims of God upon the worship of the soul, which they find it difficult to dismiss; and hence, to quiet conscience, they give a nominal adherence to the Christian Church. This is the way of many. They lack the one thing, hence they lack all.
3. They are associated by family ties with those who are real members of the Christian Church, and hence they are induced to follow it. There can be no doubt but that the Israelites had intermarried with Egyptian families, and now that they are departing, many relationships would be severed, and many intimate friendships; and perhaps some would even prefer to accompany their loved ones as far as they could on their march of freedom. This was well. It is well to follow our relatives when they are engaged in the enterprises of the Church; but we should follow then in right motive and spirit. Natural affection is not the true basis of Church life, but true love to God in Christ Jesus. There are multitudes in the Church to-day who are there from no other motive than because their parents are. The son goes to church because his father goes, and not from any intelligent conviction of duty, or from any desire to pay homage to the Eternal Father.
4. They are troubled by ideas of the retributive providence of God, and so are induced to seek shelter in the Church. No doubt many who were now numbered amongst this mixed multitude had seen the devastation wrought in Egypt by the retributive judgments of Heaven, and so were induced to follow the Israelites, lest further destruction should come upon their native land. And men in these days have been instructed in reference to the retributive providences of God, and are anxious to avert them or to seek a refuge from them, and so they yield a nominal allegiance to the Christian Church, hoping thereby to share the safety of the good.
5. They have an idea that it is socially correct to be allied to the Church, and therefore are induced to follow it. True, this idea would hardly enter into the minds of the Egyptians. They would not imagine that they were to gain in social status by going out into the wilderness with these liberated slaves. Here is the contrast. In our own time the Church occupies more lofty station and is in greater popular esteem, and many imagine that they gather dignity and reputation from resting under its shadow. They consider a man an infidel or of bad moral reputation who is connected with no Christian Church; and hence men join to win social respect.
6. They always follow the multitude. No doubt many followed the Israelites simply because there was a great crowd going out of Egypt. There are some people who will always follow a crowd, without being able to give any adequate reason for so doing; and so when men see the crowd going to the Christian Church, they join without knowing why!
II. The perplexities by which the nominal adherents of the Christian Church are tested. We read elsewhere that “the mixed multitude that was among the Israelites fell a lusting” (Numbers 11:4). Their unhallowed desires were not gratified. Their deliverance had not been so glorious as they had imagined. Trial was before them, and they rebelled against the first privations of the wilderness. And so it is, nominal members of the Christian Church are soon tested, and they often yield to the trying conditions of the pilgrim Church life.
1. The nominal members of the Church are tested by the outward circumstances of the Church. If the Church is rich and in favourable social conditions, then the mixed multitude will follow on most assiduously; but if, on the other hand, it is in the wilderness, sorefooted, without food and without prestige, then they fall away. The temporal condition of a Church is often a test of the moral sincerity of its adherents. Only true and faithful souls will follow a Church in the wilderness, trusting only to the providence of God for needed help and succour.
2. They are tested by the pilgrim difficulties of the Church. The pilgrim difficulties of the Church are numerous and varied; and they will only be overcome by a brave and trustful spirit. There is no bread. How is it to be obtained! And few indeed will follow the Church when it is apparently destitute of bread. That is the time when the mixed multitude falter and become weak. They have not faith to meet the emergency.
3. They are tested by the pilgrim requirements of the Church. The Church in its pilgrim condition requires strong faith in God. great courage to meet the difficulties of the wilderness, and perseverance so that it may not grow weary of the march. Nominal adherents have not the needful moral qualities to meet the requirements of the time, and hence they fall away.
SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS ON THE VERSES
Exodus 12:37-39. The sons of Israel are in a pilgrim state here below.
From countries and cities with habitations God sometimes leads His people to pitch in booths.
Men, women, and children God numbers with his Church or Israel.
Providence so ordering, all sorts of people may join themselves to God’s Church, though not in truth.
God’s word fails not in giving His Church great substance when He seeth it good.
Liberty from Egypt is Israel’s good portion with unleavened cakes.
In working liberty for his Church God may put it upon some hardship.
God sometimes prevents the providence of His Church, that He may provide for it
ILLUSTRATIONS
BY
REV. WM. ADAMSON
National Migration! Exodus 12:37. There are numerous migrations of great Asiatic and Tariar tribes on record; but none to equal this in its stupendous character. Scotland was a kingdom in Europe for almost a thousand years before its union with England in 1707. It shows a long line of kings. It made wars—fought great battles—and concluded treaties. Yet, when at the beginning of the last century, it became entirely united to England, its population was little more than the half of that which Moses led out of Egypt. Had the whole Scottish people removed en masse into the adjoining realm of England in one night, what a stir it would have created! It would have been for ever recorded as one of the most remarkable in European history; and yet it would have been vastly inferior in importance to Israel’s national migration, inasmuch as that people were far more numerous, while their flocks and herds were five times as many as all Scotland could have produced—
“What sought they thus afar!
Bright jewels of the mine!
The wealth of seas, the spoils of war!
They sought a faith’s pure shrine!”
—Hemans.
Pilgrim-Path! Exodus 12:37-39. Watching the heavy mist or rain clouds rising up from the horizon towards the zenith, we naturally expect them to obscure the deep blue vault overhead. Sometimes this is not the case. The up-soaring masses disappear as if by magic on nearing the zenith. This is owing to these water-clouds coming in contact with a region of warm air, which greedily devours the moisture they contain. Such is the power of the Divine Life in the soul to appropriate the water-drops of refreshment in the clouds of affliction. Sorrows are rain-clouds, and from them the believer eagerly draws all spiritual moisture for his soul’s clearer outline and more entire conformity to the image of Christ. Whatever injuries these thunder and lightning clouds of suffering may cause to the godless, they can only prove abounding mercies to God’s children. That which proves a bane to the sinner, procures a blessing on the saint—
“Confirming, cleansing, raising, producing
Strong thoughts, grave thoughts, lasting to the end.”
—De Vere.