THE SONG OF TRIUMPHI.

Then sung Moses and the children of Israel a song of deliverance and of praise unto the Lord, saying,

"The Lord is my strength and my song, and he is become my salvation.

"Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea; his chosen captains also hath he drowned in the Red sea.

"The depths have covered them: they sank to the bottom as a stone.

"And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea." EXOD. 15 : 2, 4, 5, 21.

In this beautiful song all the glory of their deliverance is ascribed to God, and the joyful conclusion is, "The Lord shall reign for ever and ever."

It appears to have been composed for performance in a great congregation of the people; the men under musical leaders, and Miriam at the head of the women, answering each other in responsive parts.

Miriam is the Hebrew name for Maria and Mary.

MIRACLES OF THE WILDERNESS.

1. Manna fell upon the earth like dew, or hoarfrost, for their daily food.

2. The bitter waters of Marah were made sweet and wholesome.

3. Flocks of quails came up and covered the camp to supply them with flesh to eat. The word Marah, signifies bitter.

ΜΑΝΝΑ.

Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you." EXOD. 16:4.

The manna began to fall about one month after they left Egypt. The provisions they brought with them were exhausted, and the people were murmuring for want of food. It fell around the camp in small white grains, which covered the ground in the morning, and continued to fall every day, except the Sabbath, during forty years. When the Israelites had passed over Jordan, and entered the promised land, the miraculous supply of manna ceased.

This great miracle was daily wrought before the eyes of the people; a constant manifestation of the providential care of God.

What was the most extraordinary circumstance attending this miracle? Was it not this, that no manna fell on the Sabbath?

Jehovah observes the great day of rest! He prepares in one day the food for two days.

As little as is

What an example for man! consistent with supplying the wants of nature should be done in regard to food on the Sabbath. So God teaches us by the manna.

"For that the Lord hath given you the Sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days: abide ye every man in his place; let no man go out of his place on the seventh day."

Does not this precept forbid travelling, and all unnecessary walking abroad on the Sabbath?

Why did the manna spoil that was kept over?
Was it not to show the folly of hoarding?

God fed them day by day. So Christ teaches us to pray, Give us this day our daily bread.

How was the manna prepared for food?

The grains, about the size of coriander seed, were pounded fine in mortars, kneaded into cakes, and baked in pans.

"And the taste of it was like wafers made with honey." It is called "bread of heaven," and "angels' food." PSA. 78: 24, 25.

Of what was manna typical?

Of Christ. the bread of life that came down from heaven. JOHN 6:48-51.

There is a substance still found in Arabia which is called manna, but it is collected only in small quantities. The manna that fed the Israelites was miraculously created to supply their wants in the desert. When the Israelites first saw it, they did not know what it was, and said one to another, What is it? Hence the name of MANNA, which signifies, What is this?

"And Moses said, This is the thing which the Lord commandeth, Fill an omer of it to be kept for your generations, that they may see the bread wherewith I have fed you in the wilderness."

Would there be any reason for preserving a specimen of the manna, if it still continued to fall?

WATER FROM THE ROCK, OR FOURTH MIRACLE OF THE WILDERNESS.

When the people again wanted water, did they trust God and wait?

No; they murmured against Moses, and were ready to stone him to death. They tempted God also, and forgetful of the evidences of his presence and care, exclaimed,

"Is the Lord among us, or not?"