Books linked by conjunction “And:” Scripture history a connected whole, [1].—So is secular history organic: “Philosophy of history.” The Pentateuch being a still closer unity, Exodus rehearses the descent into Egypt, [2].—Heredity: the family of Jacob, [3].—Death of Joseph. Influence of Egypt on the shepherd race, [4].—A healthy stock: good breeding. Goethe’s aphorism, [5].—Ourselves and our descendants, [6].
God in History, i. 7.
In Exodus, national history replaces biography, [6].—Contrasted narratives of Jacob and Moses. Spiritual progress from Genesis to Exodus, [7].—St. Paul’s view: Law prepares for Gospel, especially by our failures, [8].—This explains other phenomena: failures in various circumstances, of innocence in Eden; of an elect family; now of a race, a nation, [9].—Israel, failing with all advantages, needs a Messiah. Faith justifies, in Old Testament as in New, [10].—Scripture history reveals God in this life, in all things, [11].—True spirituality owns God in the secular: this is a gospel for our days, [12]–[13].
The Oppression, i. 7–22.
Early prosperity: its dangers: political supports vain, [13].—Joseph forgotten. National responsibilities: despotism, [14].—Nations and their chiefs. Our subject races, [15].—The Church and her King: imputation. Pharaoh precipitates what he fears, [16].—Egypt and her aliens: modern parallels, [17].—Tyranny is tyrannous even when cultured, [18].—Our undue estrangement from the fallen: Jesus a brother. Toil crushes the spirit, [19].—Israel idolatrous. Religious dependence, [20]. —Direct interposition required. Bitter oppression, [21].—Pharaoh drops the mask. Defeated by the human heart. The midwives, [22].—Their falsehood. Morality is progressive, [23].—Culture and humanity, [24].—Religion and the child, [25].
[CHAPTER II.]
The Rescue of Moses, ii. 1–10.
Importance of the individual, [26].—A man versus “the Time-spirit,” [27].—The parents of Moses, [28].—Their family: their goodly child, [29].—Emotion helps faith, [30].—The ark in the bulrushes, [31].—Pharaoh’s daughter and Miriam, [32].—Guidance for good emotions: the Church for humanity, [33].
The Choice of Moses, ii. 11–15.
God employs means, [34].—Value of endowment. Moses and his family. “The reproach of Christ,” [35].—An impulsive act, [36].—Impulses not accidents. The hopes of Moses, [37].—Moses and his brethren. His flight, [38].