Article November 19, 1927 Issue

Obedience

CLYDE D. CAREY

OBEDIENCE to spiritual law has always characterized those who have achieved great victories for God. Many illustrations drawn from the great storehouse of Scripture serve to illustrate this point. A notable example is found in the leadership of Moses at the Red Sea, as told in the fourteenth chapter of Exodus.

When night fell upon the armies of Israel encamped by the shore of the Red Sea, the raging waters before them and the chariots of Pharaoh thundering on behind, to human sense their plight was indeed a serious one. It is not strange that the people cried unto Moses and longed for the comparative safety of Egypt. But Moses looked to God for relief, and his obedience won the day. In that critical hour, obedience had to be instant and implicit, had to be born of faith and love. There could be no swerving, no questioning of Love's command. There could be no halting indecision. His own vision must be clear, and he must inspire his people. He must "speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward."

Released from serving the Egyptians, the children of Israel had started on their journey only to be confronted by another and even more threatening situation, the danger of annihilation on the shore of the Red Sea. From the human standpoint there was no way of escape, but to Moses the raging waters were no more powerful than had been the wrath of Pharaoh. Recognizing the powerlessness of error to impede true heavenward progress, Moses turned to God for inspiration. He discerned with his clear spiritual vision what his people could not yet behold, namely, a way of escape already provided by God. Then, divinely bidden, he lifted his rod and "stretched out his hand over the sea." And we read that "the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night," and "the waters were divided. And the children of Israel 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." Thus did obedience triumph.

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November 19, 1927
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