MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— Exodus 13:17-19
THE WAY OF GOD IN CONDUCTING THE LIFE OF THE GOOD
The children of Israel have now passed from the hand of Pharaoh into the immediate care of God, a transition new to them, which they did not understand, and which would be a long, and not always welcome, discipline to them. This discipline commences at once in that they are not to travel the nearest way to Canaan, but the furthest. We observe:—
I. That it is the way of God to bring the good to a place of rest. Canaan had been promised as an inheritance to the Israelites. Thither was the Lord to lead them. And to weary human life, which has been long enslaved by sin, but which has entered into the freedom of the gospel, there is promised a destiny of repose, sweet and sacred. Heaven is the destined resting-place of the soul, and thither it is being conducted by God. This is the design of God, to lead the souls of the good into eternal repose. This is the end of all the discipline of life.
II. That it is the way of God to bring the good away from the things that would be unfriendly to their welfare. “Not through the way of the land of the Philistines.” The Philistines were a warlike people, and would certainly have interrupted the march of Israel to Canaan. And so the Divine Being, in leading the soul to its destined rest, conducts it out of the way of its enemies. The soul is not wilfully to go into peril. Many men have not been led by the way of fortune, or social distinction, because that would have been as the way of the Philistines to them. God selects the life-path of the good. He selects it wisely. He selects it kindly. We often question His providence, but it is because of our ignorance and impatience.
III. That it is often the way of God to bring the good a circuitous route to their destination. “But God led the people about.” Had God so ordained it the Israelites might have reached their destination in five or six days. But the nearest way is not always the best. This is true in commerce. This is true in worship. This is true in moral character. The shortest way to be rich is not always the best; the quickest way to be good is not always the best. Wisdom often calls men to the longest life-route. It is often ordained by heaven that the soul shall go the tedious wilderness journey. Thus is it prepared for Canaan. Thus is it humbled. Thus is it taught to confide in God. This way is not the most pleasant, but it is morally the most profitable. The Israel of God needs the discipline of the long way.
IV. That it is the way of God to bring the good along unwelcome paths. “Through the way of the wilderness of the Red Sea.” The children of Israel, had they been consulted, would not have chosen the wilderness as their destined path. They would not have chosen to face the Red Sea. They would, no doubt, have preferred the shorter route. It is well that we have not to be the guides of our own lives, that we have a heavenly Guide. But why did God expose the Israelites to the perils of the wilderness when He was so anxious to shield them from the Philistines? Because the wilderness was a preferable and needful discipline; and because it is impossible to get to Canaan, whichever route is taken, without perplexities. But God is always with the good in their wanderings in the wilderness.
V. That it is the way of God to bring the good into a better and more thorough knowledge of themselves. The children of Israel were not taken to Canaan immediately after their freedom from bondage; they had to pursue a long journey in the desert. And so it is with the young convert, he is not taken to heaven at once, but is conducted through the discipline of life, that his zeal, love, and faith may be tested. The wilderness life will reveal him to himself. The further the good get on in the journey of life, the more and more they see the depravity of their hearts. This is the Divine purpose. Men know little of themselves when they commence the Christian course. They get to know more in the desert. Some Christians are taken to heaven through a long route of pain. They long for home, but the journey is prolonged. It is hard to see the reason of their protracted existence. The Divine purpose is not yet accomplished in them.
VI. That it is the way of God to bring the good into a wise exercise of their own strength. “And the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.” It is somewhat difficult to give the exact interpretation of the term “harnessed,” but it probably intimates that the Israelites were arranged in five grand divisions. They walked in battle array. And so, while it is the way of God to conduct human life to its destination, it is also the duty of man to exercise his own wisdom and strength, so that he may do all to aid the plans of God concerning him. LESSONS:—
1. That God leads men from Egypt to Canaan.
2. That men must give themselves up to the guidance of God.
3. That life is often through a long wilderness.
4. However long the journey, men must trust in God.
THE TENDER CONSIDERATION MANIFESTED BY GOD TOWARDS THE ISRAELITES
The Christian life is a growth, and if assailed by some temptations in its infancy, the consequences might be fatal. He, therefore, who commences and maintains the process of our salvation, gradually accustoms His soldiers and servants to the difficulties of their warfare. Their faith, love, zeal, and self-denial are thus exercised rather than oppressed. The text confirms this consolatory view of the Divine procedure.
I. The circumstances of the Israelites. The deliverance of the chosen tribes was at this moment like the first rays of the morning spread upon the mountains. They had been redeemed from bondage. They were commencing their journey to the promised land, every spirit filled with pleasure. They were confident of their power to endure the trials of the way. The heart-searching God knew their deficiencies; and a variety of circumstances connected with their feeble faith determined Him in wisdom to divert their feet towards Canaan by a devious path.
(1.) The Philistines, who lay between them and the promised inheritance, were a brave and warlike people, against whom the sons of Jacob, numerous as they were, could not hope to succeed in battle. Wisely therefore did the Lord judge that they would shrink from such enemies. Such are the Christian’s foes. They are well practised. Satan has triumphed over man in every age, over the philosophy of Greece, the wisdom of Rome, and the refinement of Britain. And thinkest thou, Christian, that the enemies of thy soul are enfeebled? No! What, then, would be the consequences if God led thee past them to Canaan? Wisely and graciously are you led by the wilderness.
2. The Israelites were disarmed, and therefore utterly unable to cope with the Philistines, who were prepared with every means of defence which a people whose delight was in war could invent. The young believer just escaped from the house of bondage is defenceless. His enemies are armed. He cannot expect to wield the sword of the Spirit with the full energy of one who has been accustomed to fight with it.
3. In thus estimating the goodness of God towards the children of Israel in their need, we must add that their spirits were bowed down by long captivity. The hard bondage in mortar and brick was not the school in which to learn courage. Hence Israel was not fitted to match against the free soldiers of Philistia. The slavery of Satan unfits for conflict with the foes of the soul.
II. The dealing of God towards them. God might have made Israel at peace with the Philistines; or have given them courage to defeat their foes. But this procedure would have comprehended less of moral discipline.
1. He avoided the nearest way to the promised land, and led them by the way of the wilderness. The Israelites would be astonished at the line of march; they would be disposed to murmur. Has not God often contradicted your desires? You ought not to impugn His wisdom. The passenger ignorant of navigation cannot direct the course of the ship. The shipmaster knows the rocks; God knows our path best.
2. The Most High saw fit, not only that His chosen tribes should avoid the shortest way, but that they should pass through the dangers of the Red Sea, and sojourn in the wilderness of Zin. Could this be the result of wisdom. Clouds and darkness are round about Him. It is the exclusive province of unerring wisdom to draw a line between the discipline necessary for our moral good, and that severity of affliction, which might overwhelm us with despondency. We must confide in our heavenly Father.
3. Never then, should it be forgotten, that although the journey of the Israelites was contrary to their expectations, their wishes, and their clouded judgment, it was the safest and the best path to Canaan.—Buddicom’s Christian Exodus.
SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS ON THE VERSES
Exodus 13:17. After the redemption of His Church, God provides for guiding it to rest.
Nearest ways to rest with men are not always approved by God for His people.
God will not put His people upon war or hard trial, until He train them for it.
God’s special care of His Church is to keep it from a retreat to bondage after redemption.
“Although that was near.”—
1. Yet it was not a wise way.
2. It was not a safe way.
3. It was not a selected way.
Exodus 13:18. The way of the wilderness:—
1. Rough.
2. Circuitous.
3. Unexpected.
4. Testing.
5. The best.
The way of the wilderness:—
1. Men are divinely led in it.
2. Men must expect difficulties in it.
3. Men will realise many comforts in it.
4. Men may develop patience in it.
God orders salvation to His people as it pleaseth Himself, and for their good.
God in wisdom sometimes translates His Church from the house of bondage to a wilderness.
Wilderness and Red Sea paths are the ways of God’s people here below.
Exodus 13:19. An interesting incident of Israel’s departure from Egypt.
The Israelites did not neglect to take the bones of Joseph with them in their march out of Egyptian bondage. In this we have—
I. The discharge of a sacred trust. “And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob” (Genesis 1:24-25). Thus it was the wish of the dying patriarch that his bones should, in the day of Israel’s freedom, be carried in the great procession of emancipated slaves. This wish was regarded. Christianity teaches us to pay some heed to the last requests of departing friends. Many people are heedless of the wishes of the dead, and any promise made to them is speedily forgotten. Not so with Moses, he revered the sainted dead. How many young men are unmindful of the requests of their buried parents?
II. The fulfilment of an ancient prophecy. “And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.” Good men often turn prophets in their last hours, as though their insight into the plans and purposes of God, which will be given in heaven, commenced on earth. The last few words of life are often more valuable and impressive than all that have preceded. God can kindle the fire of prophecy in the soul of a dying saint, that the sorrowful may be encouraged.
III. The giving of a timely encouragement. When it was announced amongst the Israelites that the bones of Joseph were in their procession they would be inspired and encouraged by the fulfilment of the ancient prophecy, and they would regard this as a pledge of all that was to follow.
IV. The bestowal of an appropriate honour on an illustrious ancestor. Joseph was an illustrious ancestor, and was worthy of the regard thus paid to his remains. The dead bones of some men are worthy of more respect than the entire lives of many who are living, and who are esteemed great in the world.
ILLUSTRATIONS
BY
REV. WM. ADAMSON
Christian-Obedience! Exodus 13:17. Bunyan places the “Slough of Despond” between Christian’s slavery and Christian’s soldiery. While in Egypt, the Israelites were slaves; so soon as they escaped from Egypt, they became soldiers. The Christian life is a warfare, and there is no discharge in this war. Once enlisted, Israel’s hosts must march under the banner of the Captain of their Salvation. And so is it with the sinner saved through grace. He is bound to follow the emblazoned heraldry of the “Pillar of the Truth,” whose folds wave in the breezes of the Spirit. Like the soldier, who dies in harness, all his armour buckled on and his powers gathered up for a last encounter, the Christian is prepared to fight to the last. His Pharaoh can follow him to the brink of the river, but no farther. Therefore he obeys—
“I have no plan! My will in meekness bowed,
I trust the sign that will not let me stray.”
The Right Way! Exodus 13:18. Two centuries ago, a gallant knight was commissioned to conduct a noble lady from the Royal Court to a southern province in France. Not long after he had set out on his journey, they put up at a quiet hostelry, where the lady and her maid of honour found private apartments. During the course of the evening, an unknown friend warned the cavalier not to take the shorter and best road next morning, but to select the longer and more rough way, on account of an ambushment which had been formed. Thanking his kind monitor, he next morning proceeded by the winding and difficult route. Much shaken by the stumbling of the horses, the lady and her attendant vented their displeasure upon the knight for preferring the worst and longest way; but when they arrived after tedious and exhausting struggles at their destination, and learned what a narrow escape they had had from the jaws of death, they acknowledged the prudence and perception, the foresight and faithfulness, of their leader. The Church of God may think the short way to eternal perfection the best; but when she knows as she also is known, then will her song be on the borders of the jaspar-sardine sea, Just and true are Thy ways, O King of Saints!—
“Thou must pass through this tangled, dreary wild,
If thou wouldst reach the city undefiled, Thy peaceful home above.”
Home-Longings! Exodus 13:18. Imagine some poor, shipwrecked mariner cast ashore upon a lonely island in mid-ocean. The climate of the island may be perpetual summer—the flowers may blossom and fruits ripen through all the year—the forests may be full of singing birds, with bright plumage, flashing like meteors in the shadows of the tropical glades—the air may be daily loaded with sweet perfumes, wafted by the balmy breezes—the skies may be genial, and the whole year one continued season of growth and bloom; but will that castaway sailor be satisfied? Alone, the seeming paradise will be a prison. He will long for his distant home beyond the melancholy main. Night and morning he will climb the rocky height, and scan the wide, watery horizon for some friendly ship. And at last, when the white sail is seen, it looks to him as the white wing of an angel flying to his rescue. So ought Israel to have felt in Egypt! And so ought Israel’s host to have welcomed the “Ship of Providence” sent to convey them across the Arabian Sandy Sea to their home in Canaan! But man is thus cast away by his own folly, and to him the ship of Salvation is sent to bear him across the stormy sea of life to the land of rest, the home of the soul.
“Dreams cannot picture a land so fair—
Sorrow and death may not enter there.”
Hemans.