Thanksgiving for God’s Benefits
He spake, and the locusts came and caterpillars, that is, grasshoppers, and that without number, Ex. 10, 12-20, v. 35. and did eat up all the herbs in their land and devoured the fruit of their ground, everything that was left after the hail.
V. 36. He smote also all the first-born in their land, Ex. 12, 29, the chief of all their strength, for so the oldest sons were called, Gen. 49, 3.
V. 37. He brought them forth also with silver and gold, freely given to them by the Egyptians, by the direction of the Lord, Ex. 12, 35. 36; and there was not one feeble person among their tribes, that is, unfit for the march through the wilderness, Ex. 13, 18. V. 38. Egypt was glad when they departed, rejoicing to be rid of their unlucky presence; for the fear of them, through the agency of the Lord, fell upon them.
V. 39. He spread a cloud for a covering, for a bower or protecting screen against the heat of the sun, and fire to give light in the night, for that was the purpose of the pillar of fire, Ex. 13, 21.
V. 40. The people asked, the true Israelites, the believers, among them, praying, the others demanding, and He brought quails, Ex. 16, 12-14; Num. 11, 31, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven, Ps. 78, 24. 25; John 6, 31, the miraculous feeding with manna.
V. 41. He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out, in great abundance, Ex. 17, 6; Num. 20, 10. 11; they ran in the dry places like a river, Ps. 78, 15. 16. The Lord’s reasons for these marvelous dealings with His people are given in conclusion. V. 42. For He remembered His holy promise and Abraham, His servant, His faithfulness to the word of His promise being His motive in showing such kindness to the children of Israel, Ex. 2, 24.
V. 43. And He brought forth His people with joy, surely giving them occasion enough for rejoicing, and His chosen with gladness, with the voice of singing, Ex. 15, 1; v. 44. and gave them the lands of the heathen, whose land they occupied after the conquest of Canaan; and they inherited the labor of the people, of the heathen nations, Deut. 6, 10, taking possession of homes and cultivated lands which others had prepared with hard work, v. 45. that they might observe His statutes, the precepts of the covenant, and keep His laws, those pertaining to mankind in general, this being the second reason why the Lord showed Israel His favor, to induce them to show obedience to Him.
Praise ye the Lord, this hallelujah being echoed by the true, spiritual Israel, the Church of God, at all times, for all the marvels of His gracious favor in and through Christ, the Redeemer.