f its surest and
strongest bulwark, a national religion. From such an excursion,
therefore, the people would have returned, already well-nigh
emancipated, and with recognised leaders. Certainly Pharaoh could not
listen to any such proposal, unless he were prepared to reverse the
whole policy of his dynasty toward Israel.

But the refusal answered two good ends. In the first place it joined
issue on the best conceivable ground, for Israel was exhibited making
the least possible demand with the greatest possible courtesy--"Let us
go, we pray thee, three days' journey into the wilderness." Not even so
much would be granted. The tyrant was palpably in the wrong, and
thenceforth it was perfectly reasonable to increase the severity of the
terms after each of his defeats, which proceeding in its turn made
concession more and more galling to his pride. In the second place, the
quarrel was from the first avowedly and undeniably religious: the gods
of Egypt were matched against Jehovah; and in the successive plagues
which desolated his land Pharaoh gradually learnt Who Jehovah was.

In the message which Moses should convey to the elders there are two
significant phrases. He was to announce in the name of God, "I have
surely visited you, and seen that which is done unto you in Egypt." The
silent observation of God before He interposes is very solemn and
instructive. So in the Revelation, He walks among the golden
candlesticks, and knows the work, the patience, or the unfaithfulness of
each. So He is not far from any one of us. When a heavy blow falls we
speak of it as "a Visitation of Providence," but in reality the
visitation has been long before. Neither Israel nor Egypt was conscious
of the solemn presence. Who knows what soul of man, or what nation, is
thus visited to-day, for future deliverance or rebuke?

Again it is said, "I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt
into ... a land flowing with milk and honey." Their affliction was the
divine method of uprooting them. And so is our affliction the method by
which our hearts are released from love of earth and life, that in due
time He may "surely bring us in" to a better and an enduring country.
Now, we wonder that the Israelites clung so fondly to the place of their
captivity. But what of our own hearts? Have they a desire to depart? or
do they groan in bondage, and yet recoil from their emancipation?

The hesitating nation is not plainly told that their afflictio