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II. "Who has brought you out of the land of Egypt." Egypt and the house of bondage are the same; only they are represented to us under different expressions. The first expression is, "Who has brought you out of the land of Egypt."
Why does the Lord mention the deliverance of Israel out of Egypt?
(1) Because of the strangeness of the deliverance. God delivered his people Israel by strange signs and wonders, by sending plague after plague upon Pharaoh, blasting the fruits of the earth, and killing all the first-born in Egypt. Exod 12:29. When Israel marched out of Egypt, God made the waters of the sea to part, and become a wall to his people, while they went on dry ground. And he made the same sea a causeway to Israel, and a grave to Pharaoh and his chariots. Well might the Lord make mention of this strange deliverance. He wrought miracle upon miracle for the deliverance of that people.
(2) God mentions Israel's deliverance out of Egypt because of the greatness of the deliverance. He delivered Israel from the pollutions of Egypt. Egypt was a bad air to live in, it was infected with idolatry; the Egyptians were gross idolaters; they were guilty of that which the apostle speaks of in Rom 1:23. "They changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things." The Egyptians, instead of the true God, worshiped corruptible man; they deified their king, forbidding all, under pain of death, to say that he was a man. They worshiped birds, as the hawk. They worshiped beasts, as the ox. They made the image of a beast, to be their God. They worshiped creeping things, as the crocodile, and the mouse. God mentions it therefore as a signal favor to Israel, that he brought them out of such an idolatrous country. "I brought you out of the land of Egypt."
The thing I would note is, that it is no small blessing to be delivered from places of idolatry. God speaks of it no less than ten times in the Old Testament, "I brought you out of the land of Egypt;" an idolatrous place. Had there been no iron furnace in Egypt—yet so many altars being there, and false gods, it was a great privilege to Israel to be delivered out of Egypt. Joshua reckons it among the chief and most memorable mercies of God to Abraham, that he brought him out of Ur of the Chaldees, where Abraham's ancestors served strange gods. Josh 24:2, 3. It is well for the plant that is set in a bad soil, to be transplanted to a better, where it may grow and flourish; so it is a mercy when any who are planted among idolaters, are removed and transplanted into Zion, where the silver drops of God's Word make them grow in holiness.
Wherein does it appear to be so great a blessing to be delivered from places of idolatry?
(1) It is a great mercy, because our nature is prone to idolatry. Israel began to be defiled with the idols of Egypt. Ezek 22:3. Dry wood is not more prone to take fire—than our nature is to idolatry. The Jews offered cakes to the queen of heaven, that is, to the moon. Jer 7:15.
Why is it that we are prone to idolatry?
Because we are led much by visible objects, and love to have our senses pleased. Men naturally imagine a God that they may see; though it be such a God that cannot see them—yet they would see it; which makes the idolater worship something that he can see.
(2) It is a mercy to be delivered from idolatrous places, because of the greatness of the sin of idolatry, which is giving that glory to an image—which is due to God. All divine worship God appropriates to himself; it is a flower of his crown. The fat of the sacrifice is claimed by him. Lev 3:3. Divine worship is the fat of the sacrifice, which he reserves for himself. The idolater devotes this worship to an idol, which the Lord will by no means endure. "My glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to engraved images." Isa 42:8. Idolatry is spiritual adultery. "With their idols have they committed adultery." Ezek 23:37. To worship any other than God, is to break wedlock, and makes the Lord disclaim his interest in a people. "She is not my wife." Hos 2:2. "Your people have corrupted themselves;" no more my people—but your people. Exod 32:7. God calls idolatry, blasphemy. "In this your fathers have blasphemed me." Idolatry is devil worship. Ezek 20:27, 31. "They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to new gods." Deut 32:17. These new gods were old devils. "And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils." Lev 17:7. The Hebrew word is hairy ones, because the devils were hairy, and appeared in the forms of satyrs and goats. How dreadful a sin is idolatry; and what a signal mercy is it to be snatched out of an idolatrous place, as Lot was snatched by the angels out of Sodom!
(3) It is a mercy to be delivered out of idolatrous places, because idolatry is such a foolish and irrational religion. I may say, as Jer 8:9: "What wisdom is in them?" Is it not folly to refuse the best, and choose the worst? The trees in the field of Jotham's parable, despised the vine-tree, which cheers both God and man, and the olive which is full of fatness, and the fig-tree which is full of sweetness, and chose the bramble to reign over them—which was a foolish choice. Judg 9. So it is for us to refuse the living God, who has power to save us—and to make choice of an idol, which has eyes and sees not, feet but walks not. Psalm 115:6, 7. What madness is this? Therefore to be delivered from committing such folly, is a mercy.
(4) It is a mercy to be delivered from idolatrous places, because of the sad judgements inflicted upon idolaters. This is a sin which enrages God, and makes the fury come up in his face. Ezek 38:18. Search through the whole book of God, and you shall find no sin he has followed with more plagues, than idolatry. "Their sorrows shall be multiplied, who hasten after another god." Psalm 16:4. "They moved him to jealousy with their engraved images." Psalm 78:58. "When God heard this, he was wrath, and greatly abhorred Israel; so that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh." Verses 59, 60. Shiloh was a city belonging to the tribe of Ephraim, where God set his name. Jer 7:12. But, for their idolatry, God forsook the place, gave his people up to the sword, caused his priests to be slain, and his ark to be carried away captive, never more to be returned. How severe was God against Israel for worshiping the golden calf! Exod 32:27. The Jews say, that in every misery that befalls them, there is "an ounce of the golden calf in it." "Come out of her, my people, that you be not partakers of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues." Rev. 18:4. Idolatry, lived in, cuts men off from heaven. 1 Cor 6:9. So then it is no small mercy to be delivered out of idolatrous places.
Use one. See the goodness of God to our nation, in bringing us out of mystic Egypt, delivering us from popery, which is Romish idolatry, and causing the light of his truth to break forth gloriously among us. In former times, and more lately in the Marian days, England was overspread with idolatry. It worshiped God after a false manner; and it is idolatry, not only to worship a false god—but the true God in a false manner. Such was our case formerly; we had purgatory, indulgences, the idolatrous mass, the Scriptures locked up in an unknown tongue, prayers to saints and angels, and image-worship. Images are teachers of lies. Hab 2:18. Wherein do they teach lies? They represent God, who cannot be seen, in a bodily shape. "You saw no similitude, only you heard a voice." Deut 4:12.
The soul cannot be painted, being a spirit; much less can God be pictured. "To whom then will you liken God?" Isa 40:18. The Papists say they worship God by the image; which is a great absurdity, for if it be absurd to fall down to the picture of a king when the king himself is present, much more to bow down to the image of God when God himself is present. Jer 23:24. What is the popish religion, but a bundle of ridiculous ceremonies? Their wax, flowers, candles, beads, crucifixes; what are these but Satan's policy, to dress up a carnal worship, fitted to carnal minds! Oh! what cause have we to bless God for delivering us from popery! It was a mercy to be delivered from the Spanish invasion; but it is a far greater to be delivered from the popish religion, which would have made God give us a bill of divorce.
Use two. If it be a great blessing to be delivered from the Egypt of popish idolatry, it shows the sin and folly of those who, being brought out of Egypt, are willing to return to it again. The apostle says, "Flee from idolatry." 1 Cor 10:14. But these rather flee to idolatry; and are herein like the people of Israel, who, notwithstanding all the idolatry and tyranny of Egypt, longed to go back to Egypt. "Let us return into Egypt." Numb 14:4. But how shall they go back into Egypt? How shall they have food in the wilderness? Will God rain down manna any more upon such rebels? How will they get over the Red Sea? Will God divide the water again by miracle, for such as leave his service, and go into idolatrous Egypt?
And are there not such among us, who say, "Let us go back to the Romish Egypt again"? If we do, what shall we get by it? I am afraid the leeks and onions of Egypt, will make us sick. Do we ever suppose that, if we drink in the cup of fornication, we shall drink in the cup of salvation? Oh! that any should so forfeit their reason, as to enslave themselves to the pope of Rome; that they should be willing to hold a candle to a mass-priest, and bow down to a strange god! Let us rather say as Ephraim, "What have I to do any more with idols?" Hos 14:8.
Use three. If it be a mercy to be brought out of Egypt, it is not desirable or safe to plant one's self in an idolatrous place, where it may be a capital crime to be seen with a Bible in our hands. Some, for secular gain, thrust themselves among idolaters, and think there is no danger to live where Satan's seat is. They pray God would not lead them into temptation—but they lead themselves into temptation! They are in great danger of being polluted. It is hard to be as the fish, which keeps fresh in salt waters. A man who dwells among coal pits—will soon be blackened. You will sooner be corrupted by idolaters, than they will be converted by you. Joseph got no good by living in an idolatrous court; he did not teach Pharaoh to pray—but Pharaoh taught him to swear. They "were mingled among the heathen, and served their idols." Psalm 106:35, 36. I fear it has been the undoing of many; that they have seated themselves among idolaters, for advancing their trade, and at last have not only traded with them in their commodities—but in their religion.
Use four. It is a mercy to be brought out of the land of Egypt, a defiled place, and where sin reigns. It reproaches such parents as show little love for the souls of their children, whether it be in putting them out to service, or matching them. In putting them out to service, their care is chiefly for their bodies, that they may be provided for, and they care not what becomes of their souls. Their souls are in Egypt—in houses where there is drinking, swearing, Sabbath-breaking, and where God's name is every day dishonoured. In matching their children, they look only at money. "Be not unequally yoked." 2 Cor 6:14. If their children are equally yoked for estate, they care not whether they be unequally yoked for religion. Let such parents think how precious the soul of their child is; that it is immortal, and capable of communion with God and angels.
Will you let a soul be lost—by placing it in a bad family? If you had a horse you loved, you would not put him in a stable with other horses that were sick and diseased; and do you not love your child better than your horse? God has entrusted you with the souls of your children; you have a charge of souls. God says, as 1 Kings 20:39: "Keep this man: if he is missing, then shall your life be for his life." So says God, if the soul of your child miscarry by your negligence, his blood will I require at your hand. Think of this, all you parents; take heed of placing your children in Egypt—in a wicked family! Do not put them in the devil's mouth! Seek for them a sober, pious family, such as Joshua's. "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Josh 14:15. Such a family as Cranmer's, which was a nursery of piety, a Bethel, of which it may be said, "The church which is in his house." Col. 4:15.
Use five. Let us pray that God would keep our English nation from the defilements of Egypt, that it may not be again overspread with superstition and idolatry. Oh, sad religion! not only to have our estates, our bodies enslaved—but our consciences. Pray that the true Protestant religion may still nourish among us, that the sun of the gospel may still shine in our horizon. The gospel lifts a people up to heaven, it is "the crown and glory of the kingdom"; if this be removed, Ichabod, the glory is departed! If the top of the beech tree is cut off—the whole body of the tree withers rapidly. Just so, the gospel is the top of all our blessings; if this top be cut, the whole body politic will soon wither. O pray that the Lord will continue the visible tokens of his presence among us, his ordinances, that England may be called, Jehovah-Shammah, "The Lord is there." Ezek 48:35. Pray that righteousness and peace may kiss each other, that so glory may dwell in our land.
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