And the same Jehovah, my young friend, will overshadow you with his protection, and be your guide and keeper, if you will put your trust in him. You may follow other guides, but they will always mislead you. You may seek for other aid, but it will always disappoint you. In God alone, through Christ, can you find the wisdom, and strength, and grace, which direction and supneed for you port, through the journey of life to the heavenly Canaan.

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How miserably the Israelites would have wandered from the course of safety, if God had not been their guide and defence! And how surely you will wander from the path of duty and peace into that of endless ruin, if you do not have the same Almighty Protector! Put yourself under his protection. Go to him, in the name of Christ, and beseech him to afford it to you. Then you will be safe ; now, and for ever.

CHAPTER XXII.

The Israelites encamp between Migdol and the Sea. Pharaoh overtakes them.

If the supposition is a correct one, (which we have much reason to believe it is,) that the modern Adjerout is the same place with Etham, then the direct route for the Israelites from this place, would have been eastward around the head of the Red Sea. This is the course of the caravans at the present time, and would have been theirs, on their third day's journey, if God, to answer his own purposes in the destruction of Pharaoh and his army, had not led them another way.

In obedience to the orders of Moses, who had received the divine command to that effect, and following the cloudy pillar which moved as their guide and shelter, the Israelites took a course quite different from the usual one. They turned off, in a south-east direction, to encamp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baal-zephon,-by the sea."

Three miles from the present city of Suez, is a fountain enclosed by a strong building, from which large supplies of water are drawn by oxen, and

turned into a tank without the building. It is called Bir Suez, or Well of Suez. That this was also a watering-place, at the time when the Israelites were on their march, is very probable. Near it, therefore, would have been a very convenient place for encampment, at the end of their third day's journey. This supposition, too, corresponds well with the unusual direction which they were required to take. It agrees also with the import of the word Migdol, which signifies a tower, or fortified place. Such a fortification would, in all probability, be placed there, to protect the fountain from the predatory tribes in the neighborhood; and between this and the sea, we may suppose, that the encampment of the Israelites was formed.

The precise location of Pi-hahiroth and Baalzephon, or their correspondence with any modern towns, must be left in uncertainty. The probability is, (if we are right in considering Bir Suez to be the same with Migdol,) that Pi-hahiroth lay at or near Suez, and Baal-zephon a little eastward of this. The encampment, then, "between Migdol and the sea," was before Pi-hahiroth, lying toward the east, and over against Baal-zephon still farther in the same direction. In this position, the Israelites would have the sea in front; the mountains of Attaka on their right; the desert in their rear; and no way of escape, so far as human sagacity could discover, should the Egyptians pursue, and press

upon them, in the route through which they had just passed.

God had made known to Moses his design, in bringing the Israelites into this perilous situation. All his late dealings with Pharaoh would but harden his heart the more. He and his people would reproach themselves for permitting their bondsmen to depart, and thus losing their valuable services. He would pursue them, with a mighty host, and feel sure of subduing and reclaiming. them; especially when he should hear of their being so completely hedged up, and unable to flee or extricate themselves from his grasp.

The relentless tyrant was to be on the very point of accomplishing his purpose, when the arm of the Almighty would be revealed for the rescue of his people, and the complete overthrow of their oppressors. "I will be honored," said he to his faithful servant, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am Jehovah."

Intelligence had been conveyed to Pharaoh, of the peculiar circumstances attending the flight of the Israelites from Egypt. He soon perceived that something more than a three days' journey into the wilderness was intended. The amount and value of the articles which they received from his people; their carrying off with them the whole of their flocks and herds. leaving none behind; and the preparations at Rameses for marshalling their host,

with the orders given by Moses, and the course they had taken; all convinced him that the Israelites had, as they hoped, made a final escape from his dominions. His selfish and vindictive passions were kindled into a rage. His great men, and the people at large, participated in his feelings. All burned with resentment against their late bondsmen. They resolved to bring them back again to servitude; and immediate preparations were made for the pursuit.

Six hundred chosen chariots of the king, with commanders over each, manned and equipped for battle, were immediately put in readiness. His other chariots, and horsemen, and whole army The collected were added to accompany them. force was speedily in motion. No time was lost. All was urgency and despatch. Proud in their numbers and strength, and sure of an easy triumph over the defenceless Israelites, Pharaoh and his host overtook them in their encampment by the sea, and situated as we have seen.

The approach of such an army was visible at some distance. The Israelites knew full well of whom it was composed, and what must be their design. They were unarmed, and had no means of resistance. Flight was hopeless. Hemmed in by the sea, the mountains, and the desert, with the Egyptians bearing down upon them on the only side where escape was possible, they gave them.