EXODUS OF ISRAELITES-[EPOCH 4].
EXODUS TO THE CAPTIVITY-[DISPENSATION D].
AFTER the Israelites had suffered hard bondage in the land of Egypt for more than two hundred years, the Lord sent Moses to procure their deliverance, to bring them out of that land, and to be their leader through the wilderness to the land of promise (Ex. 3).
The last terrible stroke of judgment that fell upon the Egyptians, when the destroying angel entered their dwellings in the dead of night, and slew all their first-born, completely broke down their stubborn resistance to the demands of Moses; so that, in the utmost consternation, they hastened, even that same night, to drive the Israelites out of the land: " And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men; " and to hasten their movements, they lent them such things as they required (Ex. 12).
So all the Israelites—" about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children. And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle "—departed in haste from Egypt that very night, and journeyed from Rameses to Succoth.
As soon as they started, God, in His marvelous condescension, undertook to be their Guide, by means of a pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night; such as had never been seen before. " And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night."
In Ex. 14 we have a most graphic account of the first great event that befell them after they had journeyed a short distance—the "passage of the Red Sea." When Pharaoh and his mighty host pursued them, and bore down upon them in a defile leading to the sea, the hearts of the people melted within them for fear; and they cried unto the Lord in their distress, Then Moses, the servant of God, in the full confidence of a noble faith, could boldly say, even at such a critical moment, " Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord." Never was faith more signally rewarded.
The Lord immediately provided a wondrous way of deliverance, by opening up a highway in the midst of the sea—the very barrier that blocked their way—for them to pass over. And they "went into the, midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left " (Ex. 14).
A most marvelous scene was presented to view by this stupendous miracle, the thousands of Israel marching forward between those high walls of water until they safely reached the other side; but when the proud-hearted Pharaoh, with his formidable army, essayed to follow them, the waters swiftly returned, and they were all instantly overwhelmed and destroyed.
That was to Israel a glorious day of deliverance; ever to be had in remembrance with praises and thanksgivings; and we wonder not at their bursting forth into that grand exulting song of triumph given to us in Ex. 15 for the Lord had truly "triumphed gloriously." This memorable event is frequently referred to in Scripture; and has always been regarded as an expressive type of the full salvation and deliverance provided for every true believer by the blessed Lord Jesus Christ, through His perfect work.
The departure of the children of Israel from Egypt, and their entering upon a long pilgrimage through the wilderness, to a land they had never seen, was a most important crisis in their history; as it was the commencement for them, of entirely new circumstances and conditions, of life; under which they were brought into nearer relationship to God (who was pleased, in His infinite goodness, to become their special Guide and Protector), so as to be instructed and disciplined by Him in His governmental principles and ways, through the instrumentality of Moses and other leaders and prophets.
Following their divinely directed movements after they crossed the Red Sea, we have a series of the most wonderful occurrences mentioned, such as never transpired in the history of any other people or nation. We can but merely glance at some of them, without entering into details.
A few of the leading incidents in this part of their extraordinary history are their various journeyings through the wilderness, guided by the pillar of cloud; the many miraculous interpositions of Jehovah on their behalf; sending them bread from heaven, and giving them water out of the rock, &c.; the giving of the law at Mount Sinai; the construction of the tabernacle and the ark; the appointment of various sacrifices, offerings, and feasts; the frequent direct communications from God to them, through Moses; the visitations of God in judgment for their iniquities, and, on the other hand, the subjugation of their enemies when they were obedient and trusted in Him.
All these remarkable events connected with their long pilgrimage of forty years may be regarded as the first part of their history, in the dispensation we are now considering.
Moreover, all the circumstances of this notable pilgrimage have ever been a rich mine of most precious instruction to believers throughout all ages. Indeed we are expressly told that these things were written for our profit. "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples (or types): and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come " (1 Cor. 10:1111Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. (1 Corinthians 10:11)).
Marvelous types and foreshadowings of the glorious work of Christ in redemption, and of the experiences of believers, they have found their full accomplishment in the antitypes of these latter days.
All the events of this period of Israel's history, from their Exodus to their entrance into Canaan, are recorded in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
In the second part of this dispensation we have the entrance of the Israelites into Canaan under Joshua; his conquests and possession of Palestine, and his subsequent division of the land.
The chief points of interest in this part of their history are—the memorable passage of the Jordan; the encampment at Gilgal, when the manna ceased, and the people ate of the old corn of the land; the overthrow of Jericho; the numerous battles with the kings of Canaan, and Joshua's final victories; and the division of Palestine among the twelve tribes,—all of which are narrated in the book of Joshua.
Then, in the third part, we find the Israelites under the government of judges—some fifteen in number, from Othniel to Samuel—for a period of about two hundred and thirty years, of which we have an account in the first twelve chapters of the book of Judges.
This part comprises many battles with the heathen kings around them, in some of which they were victorious, because they trusted in God and were obedient; and in others they were defeated by reason of their disobedience and rebelliousness.
On account of their oft-repeated departures from God, and their participation with the heathen in their idolatrous and wicked ways, God also permitted their enemies to reduce them, at various times, to a state of servitude for several years.
Thus they were made subject to the kings of Mesopotamia, and of Moab, to Jabin and Sisera, to the kings of Midian and Ammon, and to the Philistines.
In the fourth part we have the government of a long roll of kings of Judah and Israel (in two different lines after the division), from Saul the first to Zedekiah the last, who was taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar to Babylon—particulars of which are recorded in 1 Sam. 10-31, 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, and 1 and 2 Chronicles.
This kingly period, which lasted for about five hundred and seven years, includes a variety of intensely interesting histories, which are full of the most profitable instruction. But it would be foreign to our purpose to do more than just allude to them in a very general way.
The first four kings—Saul, David, Solomon, and Rehoboam—reigned over the whole house of Israel; but, after the revolt under Rehoboam, we have two separate lines—the one of the kings of Judah, and the other of the kings of Israel.
The total number of monarchs during these five hundred and seven years was twenty-three over Judah and nineteen over Israel; some of whom "did that which was right in the sight of the Lord," and many others who did that which was evil. But of all these forty-two kings, David—the man after God's own heart; the "sweet psalmist of Israel "—stands out pre-eminently above them all as the noblest character, and the most faithful and devoted servant of the Lord. " David did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, and turned not aside from anything that He commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite." He was distinguished above all for his unwavering and realistic faith in God, and for the grand courage which that faith gave him in fighting the battles of the Lord, as well as for his profound piety, and earnest devotion as a true worshipper of God; while he was the best and most righteous ruler the Israelites ever had. Hence he has been most highly honored of God, in being chosen as the special type of the Lord Jesus in His kingly character and future reign; while to him is assigned the headship of the whole house of Israel; and the privilege of being regarded as chief in the direct lineage of Christ Himself, which facts are so often referred to in Scripture: " I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper," &c. (Jer. 23:55Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. (Jeremiah 23:5)). " Hosanna to the Son of David " (Matt. 21:99And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. (Matthew 21:9)). " And the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David " (Luke 1:3232He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: (Luke 1:32); Isa. 9:77Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 9:7)), and many other similar passages.
The whole of this dispensation—i.e. from the Exodus to the Captivity—comprising the foregoing series of events—continued for about nine hundred and four years; and, taken as a whole, may be described as a time of law, and judicial and kingly government, the latter beginning with Saul.