The Policy of the King of Egypt to Retain the Children of Israel the Means of His Losing Them

    The Providence of God frequently makes the means which men wickedly employ to effect their purposes, the very means of thwarting them. So was it with the king of Egypt on this occasion. Alarmed with the increase of the children of Israel, yet not willing to lose them out of his dominions, he resolved to retain them in safety by oppression. Rulers may justly take precautions against any in their dominions from whom danger is apprehended. But it never can be just to oppress wantonly and without necessity. "And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. And he said unto his people, Behold the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land." This gave rise to a most cruel persecution, and ended in the deliverance of Israel out of Egypt. Had Pharaoh treated them with kindness, generosity, and justice, they never, humanly speaking, would have consented to leave Egypt for the promised land. After all that they had suffer* ed, they were sometimes willing to go back to the land of bondage. All their oppressions and sufferings were necessary to make them willing to return to Canaan.

    Let the people of God learn from this that they ought patiently to submit to the tyranny and oppression of civil rulers, if it is the will of Providence to cast their lot under such. They ought to take their afflictions as coming from the hand of God, in one point of view, as well as from the hand of man, in another. Cruel and oppressive treatment from their rulers may be necessary to urge them on to make progress in their journey to the heavenly Canaan. An oppressive law, by which they are excluded from office, honours, or emoluments, is very sinful in the authors, but may be very useful to the oppressed. If the world would know us, we would be inclined to know the world. It is better for the Christian when men cast out his name as evil, than when they celebrate it with the loudest praises.