MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— Exodus 2:23; Exodus 2:25
THE KING DYING, THE PEOPLE SUFFERING, GOD REIGNING
Whether this king was the same as the one mentioned in Exodus 1:8 is uncertain. Probably he was the Pharaoh from whom Moses fled. This new king was the Pharoah of the Exodus. On his accession the Children of Israel had reason to hope for a change in their oppressed condition, in which hope, however, they were bitterly disappointed. They renewed their earnest prayers for deliverance and God heard them.
I. The King dying. Review the moral character of this monarch:—
1. He was despotic in his rule. He encouraged a wholesale system of slavery. He employed every possible agency for the entire subjection of Israel He was unmoved by human suffering.
2. He was vindictive in his temper. He sought to slay Moses—Moses was the adopted son of his royal daughter—he was an inmate of the palace. Pharaoh would therefore be interested in him—would regard him with more than ordinary affection. Yet, because he killed an Egyptian, he seeks his death—not that he cared so much about the death of one of his subjects—He was animated by the passion of revenge.
3. He was altogether out of sympathy with the Providential arrangements of God. Did he enslave the Israelites?—They were the chosen people of Jehovah. Did he seek the death of Moses?—He was the representative of an oppressed nation, and an instrument appointed for the accomplishment of the purposes of Heaven. The rule of Pharaoh was thus altogether out of harmony with the moral history of the persons and events with which it had to do, and was counter to the authority of God. Yet this man dies. The despot meets with his conqueror. The revengeful is met by one who is heedless of the threat of passionate temper. The man who has contended with the Divine providence must leave the scene of his hopeless conflict, and intricate confusion, to appear before the God whose authority he has sought to dethrone. What an awful thing to die under such circumstances. How completely wicked men—no matter what their station in life—are in the hand of God. The folly—the woe—the eternal ruin of sin. A king in this world may be a lost spirit in the next.
II. The People Suffering. (Exodus 2:23.)
1. Their suffering was tyrannic. “By reason of the bondage.” They had lost their freedom. They were made to work beyond their strength. The heroic tendencies of their nature were subdued—They were broken spirited by the injustice—the pain of slavery.
2. Their suffering was intense. “And the Children of Israel sighed.”
3. Their suffering was long continued.
4. Their suffering appealed to the Infinite. “And their cry came up unto God,” The suffering of the universe in all its speciality and collective woe is known—and appeals to God—it pleads for the mitigation of its pain—the removal of its grief. Suffering should link our souls to God—it should be an inspiration to prayer—then it will ultimately merge into the highest freedom. It is the delight of heaven to work the freedom of human souls.
III. God reigning. (Exodus 2:24.)
1. God reigns though kings die. Pharaoh died—God is eternal—the folly of trusting in kings—the wisdom of trusting in the Infinite. Pharoah thought more about his own reign than of God’s. That kingdom is the strongest—the purest—the happiest, which makes the Divine reign the basis of its legislation. The Israelites thought more of the kingship of Pharoah, than of Jehovah—the grandeur of the former was seen—its power was felt—the Divine King was invisible—God had to educate the heart of the people to Himself. Now the nation is crying to heaven for release.
2. God reigns though men suffer. The Israelites were in bondage—in grief—yet God reigned. It is sometimes difficult when we are in sorrow—perplexed—oppressed, to realise the Divine Rulership. It must be realised by faith, God rules above to stay the fury of impious monarchs—to protect the injured—to sustain His Church—to soothe the pain of the world. He will ultimately remove the Pharoah—the trouble of a pious soul.
3. God reigns in harmony with His covenant made with the good. “And God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.” He had entered into a covenant with the Father of the Faithful, to give his posterity an inheritance in the land of Canaan. In his seed all nations were to be blessed. Four hundred years had passed. God had not forgotten. The time of deliverance is near. The benefit of a pious ancestry—their piety has a tendency to work our freedom. The Divine will is not capricious; it is in harmony with settled principles; it has respect to moral character—to past distinguished service; it is benevolent in its design—continuous in its operation. Let every nation—every family—have a covenant with God. Learn—
1. Do not despond in times of affliction.
2. Afflictions are designed to bring us into harmony with the requirements of God’s covenant for our good.
3. It is the purpose of God to work the freedom and welfare of men.
SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS ON THE VERSES
Exodus 2:23. God makes succession of times—of rulers—to serve the welfare of His Church.
Time appears long to the sorrowful when deliverance is delayed.
Oppressors may die, and yet persecution not die with them.… Cries to heaven are often extorted from God’s persecuted children.… If men want freedom they cannot do better than direct their attention to God.
Exodus 2:24. There is a pitch of oppression which will not fail to awaken the wrath of heaven.
This last is a precious scripture. My soul, put a note upon it. No sigh, no groan, no tear of God’s people can pass unobserved. He putteth the tears of His people in His bottle. Surely, then, He can never overlook what gives vent to these tears, the sorrows of the soul. Our spiritual afflictions Jesus knows, and numbers all. How sweet the thought! The spirit maketh intercession for the saints, with groanings which they cannot utter. And do, my soul, observe the cause of deliverance. Not our sighs, nor our groanings, nor our brokenness of heart; not these, for what benefit can these render to a holy God? But God hath respect in all to His own everlasting covenant. Yes, Jesus is the all in all of the covenant. God the Father hath respect to Him For His sake, for His righteousness, for His atoning blood, the groanings of His people find audience at the mercy seat, and also obtain redress. [Dr. Hawker.]
God’s ear is close to the strong cries of His oppressed people.
Secret groans are as audible with God as loud cries.
God hears when creatures think Him deaf.
Covenant remembrance with God is covenant performance.
Exodus 2:25. God hath ears, and memory, and eyes, and knowledge to help His people.
The sons of Israel are looked on, and regarded when they pray to God.
God’s inspection of His oppressed is a comfortable visitation.
ILLUSTRATIONS
Exodus 2:23. The Romans, in a great distress, were put so hard to it, that they were fain to take the weapons out of the temples of their gods to fight with them; and so they overcame. And this ought to be the course of every true Christian, in times of public distress, to fly to the weapons of the Church, prayers and tears. The Spartan’s walls were their spears, the Christian’s walls are his prayers. His help standeth in the name of the Lord, who hath made both heaven and earth [Callamy’s Sermon].