You remember that when God would bring His people out of Egypt, Pharaoh wanted to compromise-of course by that compromise to keep the people as his slaves. Three separate offers he makes to Moses, each of which would have prevented salvation according to God's thought of it. The first compromise was, Worship in the land."

"And Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron, and said, Go ye, sacrifice to your God in the land."

And still the world asks, Why need you leave us ? You are entitled to your opinions, but why be so extreme ? Why three days' journey into the wilderness ? – why separate from what you were brought up in, and from people as good as you ? Ah, they do not know what that three days' journey implies; that the death and resurrection of Christ place you where you are no more of the world than He is! Egypt-luxurious, civilized, self-satisfied, idolatrous Egypt-and the wilderness ! What a contrast ! Yet only in the wilderness can you sacrifice to God.

Then he tries another stratagem:

"And he said unto them, Go, serve the Lord your God; but who are they that shall go ?

"And Moses said, We will go with our young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds we will go; for we must hold a feast unto the Lord.

"And he said unto them, Let the Lord be so with you, as I will let you go, and your little ones:look to it; for evil is before you. Not so:go now ye that are men, and serve the Lord; for that ye did desire."

By their little ones he had them safe, of course- a perfectly good security that they would not go far away. And so it is still. How many are brought back into the world by the children they did not bring with them out of the world.

One last hope remains for Pharaoh:

"And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said, Go ye, serve the Lord; only let your flocks and your herds be stayed:let your little ones also go with you."

"Leave your possessions," he says; and how many leave their possessions ! Themselves are saved; but their business, their occupation, these are still not sacred things, they are "secular"- what have these things to do with the salvation of the soul ? But God says, No:bring them all out of Egypt:yourselves, your families, your property, all are to be Mine. And, in fact, His they must be if we would ourselves keep them, for we cannot keep them of ourselves.

How important it is for us to be right with God! It is not a mere question of points or detail; it is a question of truth of heart to Him, which affects every detail-the whole character and complexion of our lives, indeed. So you must not wonder at a question of cattle being concerned with a deeper question of salvation itself-looking at salvation not merely as from wrath and condemnation- but salvation from all sin also. Be persuaded of this that only thus can we find, in the full power of it, what salvation is. F. W. G.