0226. THE BIBLE CRIES.

THE BIBLE CRIES.

Exo_12:29-36.

Introduction.

Grenfell on Faith. "I am determined, God helping me, that no man shall rob me of my faith. I won’t hide it away. I’ll keep it right around with me. I will see it gets exercise. I will feed it all I can, so that it shall not starve. I won’t force it, if I can avoid it, and make it weedy and weakling. When in real danger, if I can, I will go to some one stronger than I, to help to keep it safe. But when that necessity arises to whom shall I look for help? Surely directly to Him Who I believe gave it to me" (Sir W.T. Grenfell, M.D.).

It is good when we are so determined. Some have a faith easily lost.

This Chapter a Test. This portion, and many another, is a test of faith. It is an awful section.

"Rose Up" (Exo_12:30). One could play upon this sentence. This Pharaoh had ascended the throne through the death of the firstborn-his two elder brethren. "His firstborn"

1. Had achieved notable victories.

2. He himself was a weak monarch.

3. His brave and valiant son shared the throne with hint.

4. But he died young.

Darkness (chap. Exo_10:21-22). To understand the awfulness of this visitation, let us note that the cause of the cry took place at the end of three days of darkness. The fourth day began in the dark-sunset of the third day.

Shriek. So another version renders it. The Eastern custom when one died, was that the whole family set up a bitter cry of distress, rushed out into the street with loud and frantic cries, and others joined in.

Harsh and Cruel. Does the stroke seem harsh and cruel? It will if you begin here. There were other cries.

I. The Cry of Sin (Gen_18:20 and Gen_19:13).

Twice. Twice over is this cry spoken of. Once to Abraham and once to Lot.

Sin’s Voice. Sin has a voice that God can hear. The greater the sin the more clamorous the voice.

Ills Men Do. It is possible to think of the ills men suffer, and not of the ills men do.

The Sins of the Egyptians. Think of Egypt’s sin to God! What a voice! Oh, yes! there was another cry besides theirs.

II. The Cry of Injustice (Neh_5:1).

Neglected. So much time had been given to public duty that husbandry had been neglected. The poor Jews then were taken advantage of by their wealthier compatriots.

Injustice’s Cry. Injustice has a voice that God can hear.

Sad. It is sad when brethren impose on brethren.

Egypt’s Injustice.

1. Israel only came to sojourn in Egypt.

2. Came as invited guests.

3. Note how unjust Egypt was to them.

III. The Cry of the Oppressed (Exo_2:23; Exo_3:7,Exo_3:9).

Literal. Two different Hebrew words are here rendered by the one word "cry." First is literally "Loud Cry," second "Great Cry."

Israel. If all the Egyptians cried out under the heavy hand of Israel’s God, Israel, yea, all Israel, had for many years-not one midnight hour only-cried out as the result of the Egyptian’s severe rule.

IV. The Cry of Blood (Exo_12:13; Heb_12:24). Voice. Blood has a voice that God can hear. Every drop of blood on Israel’s doorsteps cried for protection.

Every Home. Death entered every home, in substitute or reality. The blood outside was the proof of a dead body within.

Egyptians. We have no doubt that if any of the Egyptians had come under the shadow of blood they would be saved.

Servant (Exo_12:31). Only blood-protected beings became the servants of God.

Bless (Exo_12:32). Only those blessed by sprinkling of blood like Moase, are able to bless others.

V. The Cry of the Oppressor (Exo_12:30).

All. All were on equality-prince or peasant. Pharaoh’s son who received Divine honours, and serfs.

Why Doubly Bitter. All this misery was crowned by their keen reflection that it might have been prevented.

Not a Cry of Penitence.

1. This was only a cry of terror.

2. It was a cry of sorrow, but sorrow is not repentance. "Godly sorrow worketh repentance" (2Co_7:10).

3. Bunyan: "The first string that the musician touches is the bass. God also plays upon this string first, when he sets the soul in tune for Him." When God tunes a soul He commonly begins with the lowest note.

VI. The Cry of the Substitute (Mat_27:46; Mar_15:37). The cry of the Forsaken One. The cry of a broken heart.

VII. The Cry of Adoption (Rom_8:15).

VIII. The Advent Cry (Mat_25:6).

Midnight. Another midnight cry.

Our Lord’s Return in Three Aspects, seen in Matthew 25:

1. As testing profession (Virgin) (Mat_25:1-13).

2. As testing service (Talents) (Mat_25:14-30).

3. As testing Gentile nation (Mat_25:31, etc.).

Autor: James Smith