Exodus 14:5-10 And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people… I. THAT THE GOOD, IN SEEKING TO COME OUT OF THE BONDAGE OF SIN, ARE FREQUENTLY PURSUED BY OLD ENEMIES. 1. Satan. He is powerful. He has great resources. He will arouse indwelling corruption. To sense all seems dark. To faith all is bright. We cannot get to the Promised Land without much resistance from the devil. 2. Wicked habits. The habits of youth are not easily conquered, hence they should be carefully formed, or they may impair the Christian career of the future. 3. Wicked companions pursuing with taunts and slanders even to the banks of the Red Sea. These are a terror to many a godly soul. Thus we see that Satan pursues the good with a great army, with many allies, in splendid array, and often strikes fear into their hearts. II. THAT SOMETIMES THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF LIFE APPEAR TO FAVOUR THE PURSUIT OF THE OLD ENEMIES OF THE SOUL. "And overtook them encamping by the sea," etc. The world in which we live is a Pi-hahiroth, and the devil knows it: but the God who has brought us from Egypt can bring us from before Pi-hahiroth, if we trust in Him — He is greater than the pursuing enemies. III. THAT THE PURSUIT OF THE OLD ENEMIES OF THE SOUL OFTEN AWAKENS THE SORROWFUL APPREHENSION OF THE GOOD. "And when Pharaoh drew near... sore afraid." How often does it happen that when the good are followed by their old enemies, they forget the mercies of the past, the power of God, and look only to the on-coming foe. They think they will have to yield to the prowess of Satan, and go back to the old bondage of the soul. But we see in this narrative the folly of allowing the advance of old enemies to awaken terror in the heart of the good; for they are only advancing that the power of God may be seen in their defeat. Good people of melancholy temperament sometimes think that they made a mistake in coming out of Egypt, and that they will never reach Canaan. Such fears are dishonouring to the grace of God. IV. THAT THE PURSUIT OF THE OLD ENEMIES OF THE SOUL MUST BE MET UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF HEAVEN. "Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord." It is a blessed fact that God adapts the method of His redemption to the weak condition of His people. 1. The enemies of the soul are overcome by God. He alone can give salvation from the enmity of Satan, from the weakness of self, and from the perilous circumstances of the wilderness life. 2. The soul must wait patiently the outcome of this aid. The good know not by what method of discipline the Lord will deliver them from their old habits of evil. We see here the advantage of having God as our Helper, in that He can make a way for our feet through the sea.Lessons: 1. That the good, being pursued by the enemies of their old life, are in constant need of Divine grace. 2. That progress in the freedom of the soul is in spite of the enmity of Satan. 3. That all moral progress is the outcome of the help of God to the soul. (J. S. Exell, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us? |
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