Exodus 14:15-18 - Homiletics

The reward of faith.

God rewarded the faith and trust of Moses by a revelation of the manner of that deliverance which he so confidently expected. Hitherto the manner had been involved in mystery; and it is scarcely likely that any one had even conjectured it as a possible thing. There was no precedent for such an interference with the laws of nature; and the thought could scarcely occur to the imagination of any one. But, to reward his faithful servant, to quiet his anxiety, and give definiteness to his expectations of deliverance, God now plainly revealed the mode in which he would save his people. God is ever "a rewarder of them that diligently seek him," and especially rewards faith. The faith of Abraham, which made him trust God's promise to create of him a great nation, when as yet he had no child, obtained for him the gift of Canaan and the covenant of circumcision. The faith of Noah, who believed God's threat of a deluge, which all the rest of the world scorned, saved him and his family from perishing by water. The faith of Enoch, by which he "walked with God" though he could not see him—caused God to "take him." Faith brings us, to a certainty,—

1 . The present blessing of an assured trust which nothing can imperil;

2 . Quietness and confidence—the feeling that we may "stand still and see the salvation of God;"

3 . Freedom from panic fears and unworthy apprehensions;

4 . Cheerfulness and hopefulness—a conviction that God will give us what is best for us. Faith may also, by God's mercy, obtain for us further gifts in the future—blessings not naturally arising out of it, but added to it as rewards by God, and signs of his approval.

The faith of Moses was ultimately rewarded,

1 . By success in the great object of his life—the liberation of his people and their safe-conduct through all the perils of the wilderness to the verge of Canaan;

2 . By God's approval of him as "Moses, the servant of the Lord" ( Deuteronomy 34:5 ); and

3 . By the vision of Canaan from Pisgah.