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The numerous and distressing miracles which Jehovah wrought for the liberation of his people, finally convinced them of their mistake concerning the impotency of Jehovah. Contempt gave way to astonishment and despair. The reiteration of the most dreadful calamities proved to this superstitious nation, that the God of their slaves was no creature of the imagination; that his existence was real; and that he possessed a power far beyond that which they could ascribe to their fictitious Deities. three trifling imitations of his magicians might at first suggest to the sovereign, that his gods were at least equal in power.

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Yet the triumphs of Jehovah were finally complete, although the tyrant was deeply interested in the detention of so large a number of laborious subjects, and used every evasion to prevent their being rescued from his arm. The magicians owned that the miracles which they could not imitate were wrought by a more powerful God. Many of the people believed in his judgments, and listening to the advice of Moses, when he predicted a tremendous storm of hail and rain, preserved their property from destruction: and Pharaoh himself, who at an early

interview with the servant of God, haughtily demands who is Jehovah that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not Jehovah, neither will I let Israel go," was finally compelled to intreat that Moses would intercede in his be half, and to implore the blessing of the God whom he had defied. "Begone, and bless me also."

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But the greatness and extent of the impression made upon the community at large is manifest from the "mixed multitude” which accompanied the Hebrews in their flight. We may suppose this multitude to consist of Egyptians, and of Ethiopians, and other sojourners in the Land, who were so deeply convinced of the superior power of the God whom the Hebrews worshipped, that they willingly relinquished every thing which could have endeared to them their native or adopted country, in order to place themselves under his protection, and share in the destiny of this highly-favoured people. They were doubtless instrumental in preparing the way of the Lord, by bearing testimony to the wonders. wrought in Egypt, and proving to all the nations, with whom they had intercourse, that the reports concerning the miraculous escape of the Israelites, were neither invented, nor exaggerated. We are informed by their leader, Moses, that one

object in miraculously preserving the Israelites from the avenging pursuit of Pharaoh, was that the Egyptians might be more fully convinced of the power of Jehovah, and the certainty of his protecting those who confided in him. "I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them, and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his hosts, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen; and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have got ten my honour upon Pharaoh, upon nis chariots, and upon his horsemen."

When Jethro, the idolatrous priest of Midian, heard. "all that the Lord had done unto Pharaoh, and to the Egyptians, for Israel's sake, he blessed the God of Israel, saying, “now I know that Jehovah is greater than all gods, for in the things wherein they dealt proudly he was above them." His education and his profession naturally induced him to believe in the existence and influence of other gods, but the wonders of which he was informed compelled him to acknowledge their inferiority.

Moses expected that these wonders, wrought for the chosen people, would make a deep impression upon the heathens. This is obvious from the tenour of his expostulation with God, when the people had provoked his wrath by'

murmuring at the discouraging report of the spies, and God threatened "I will smite them with pestilence, and disinherit them, and I will make of thee a greater nation, and mightier than they." This zealous and disinterested chief said unto the Lord," then the Egyptians shall hear it, and they shall tell it to the inhabitants of this land, for they have heard that thou Lord art among this people, and now if thou shalt kill all this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of thee will speak, saying, because the Lord was not able to bring this people into the land which he sware unto them, therefore he hath slain them in the wilderness."*

The dread and consternation of the Moabites, when the children of Israel approached their borders, was manifested by the expedient usedby Balak their king; who, to revive their drooping courage, was induced to bribe one of his prophets to curse" this company that licketh up all that is round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field.". The failure of the attempt, the blessings pronounced by the mouth of Balaam upon this people, and his declaring "there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither any divination against Israel, the Lord his God is with him, and the shout of a

*Numb. ch. xiv, v. 12. 16.

king is among them," must have greatly increas ed the terror of the Moabites.

We are also informed, that "when the kings of the Amorites, who were on the western side of Jordan, and all the Canaanites who were by the sea, had heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of Jordan, from before the children of Israel, that their hearts melted, neither was their spirit within them any more." These were wonders which no one had ever ascribed to the heathen deities; and from which, as they could not avoid acknowledging, their gods were unable to save them.

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During the siege of Jericho, Rhahab the harlot was induced to conceal the spies sent by Joshua, from a conviction that his people were protected by the irresistible power of their God; and she said unto the men, I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that your terror has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you; for we have heard how the Lord dried up the waters of the red sea for you, when you came out of Egypt, &c.-and as soon as we had heard these things our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you, for the Lord your God he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.” This was a proof that they did

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