mh_parser/vol_split/2 - Exodus/Chapter 8.xml

<div2 id="Ex.ix" n="ix" next="Ex.x" prev="Ex.viii" progress="34.56%" title="Chapter VIII">
<h2 id="Ex.ix-p0.1">E X O D U S</h2>
<h3 id="Ex.ix-p0.2">CHAP. VIII.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ex.ix-p1">Three more of the plagues of Egypt are related in
this chapter, I. That of the frogs, which is, 1. Threatened,
<scripRef id="Ex.ix-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.8.1-Exod.8.4" parsed="|Exod|8|1|8|4" passage="Ex 8:1-4">ver. 1-4</scripRef>. 2. Inflicted,
<scripRef id="Ex.ix-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.8.5-Exod.8.6" parsed="|Exod|8|5|8|6" passage="Ex 8:5,6">ver. 5, 6</scripRef>. 3. Mimicked by
the magicians, <scripRef id="Ex.ix-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.8.7" parsed="|Exod|8|7|0|0" passage="Ex 8:7">ver. 7</scripRef>. 4.
Removed, at the humble request of Pharaoh (<scripRef id="Ex.ix-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Exod.8.8-Exod.8.14" parsed="|Exod|8|8|8|14" passage="Ex 8:8-14">ver. 8-14</scripRef>), who yet hardens his heart, and,
notwithstanding his promise while the plague was upon him
(<scripRef id="Ex.ix-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Exod.8.8" parsed="|Exod|8|8|0|0" passage="Ex 8:8">ver. 8</scripRef>), refuses to let
Israel go, <scripRef id="Ex.ix-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Exod.8.15" parsed="|Exod|8|15|0|0" passage="Ex 8:15">ver. 15</scripRef>. II. The
plague of lice (<scripRef id="Ex.ix-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Exod.8.16-Exod.8.17" parsed="|Exod|8|16|8|17" passage="Ex 8:16,17">ver. 16,
17</scripRef>), by which, 1. The magicians were baffled (<scripRef id="Ex.ix-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Exod.8.18-Exod.8.19" parsed="|Exod|8|18|8|19" passage="Ex 8:18,19">ver. 18, 19</scripRef>), and yet, 2. Pharaoh
was hardened, <scripRef id="Ex.ix-p1.9" osisRef="Bible:Exod.8.19" parsed="|Exod|8|19|0|0" passage="Ex 8:19">ver. 19</scripRef>. III.
That of flies. 1. Pharaoh is warned of it before (<scripRef id="Ex.ix-p1.10" osisRef="Bible:Exod.8.20-Exod.8.21" parsed="|Exod|8|20|8|21" passage="Ex 8:20,21">ver. 20, 21</scripRef>), and told that the
land of Goshen should be exempt from this plague, <scripRef id="Ex.ix-p1.11" osisRef="Bible:Exod.8.22-Exod.8.23" parsed="|Exod|8|22|8|23" passage="Ex 8:22,23">ver. 22, 23</scripRef>. 2. The plague is
brought, <scripRef id="Ex.ix-p1.12" osisRef="Bible:Exod.8.24" parsed="|Exod|8|24|0|0" passage="Ex 8:24">ver. 24</scripRef>. 3. Pharaoh
treats with Moses about the release of Israel, and humbles himself,
<scripRef id="Ex.ix-p1.13" osisRef="Bible:Exod.8.25-Exod.8.29" parsed="|Exod|8|25|8|29" passage="Ex 8:25-29">ver. 25-29</scripRef>. 4. The plague
is thereupon removed (<scripRef id="Ex.ix-p1.14" osisRef="Bible:Exod.8.31" parsed="|Exod|8|31|0|0" passage="Ex 8:31">ver.
31</scripRef>), and Pharaoh's heart hardened, <scripRef id="Ex.ix-p1.15" osisRef="Bible:Exod.8.32" parsed="|Exod|8|32|0|0" passage="Ex 8:32">ver. 32</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="Ex.ix-p1.16" osisRef="Bible:Exod.8" parsed="|Exod|8|0|0|0" passage="Ex 8" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ex.ix-p1.17" osisRef="Bible:Exod.8.1-Exod.8.15" parsed="|Exod|8|1|8|15" passage="Ex 8:1-15" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Exod.8.1-Exod.8.15">
<h4 id="Ex.ix-p1.18">The Plagues of Egypt. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.ix-p1.19">b. c.</span> 1491.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ex.ix-p2">1 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.ix-p2.1">Lord</span>
spake unto Moses, Go unto Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.ix-p2.2">Lord</span>, Let my people go, that they
may serve me.   2 And if thou refuse to let <i>them</i> go,
behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs:   3 And the
river shall bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall go up and
come into thine house, and into thy bedchamber, and upon thy bed,
and into the house of thy servants, and upon thy people, and into
thine ovens, and into thy kneadingtroughs:   4 And the frogs
shall come up both on thee, and upon thy people, and upon all thy
servants.   5 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.ix-p2.3">Lord</span>
spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch forth thine hand with thy
rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and
cause frogs to come up upon the land of Egypt.   6 And Aaron
stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came
up, and covered the land of Egypt.   7 And the magicians did
so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs upon the land of
Egypt.   8 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said,
Intreat the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.ix-p2.4">Lord</span>, that he may take
away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the
people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.ix-p2.5">Lord</span>.   9 And Moses said unto Pharaoh,
Glory over me: when shall I intreat for thee, and for thy servants,
and for thy people, to destroy the frogs from thee and thy houses,
<i>that</i> they may remain in the river only?   10 And he
said, To morrow. And he said, <i>Be it</i> according to thy word:
that thou mayest know that <i>there is</i> none like unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.ix-p2.6">Lord</span> our God.   11 And the frogs
shall depart from thee, and from thy houses, and from thy servants,
and from thy people; they shall remain in the river only.   12
And Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh: and Moses cried unto the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.ix-p2.7">Lord</span> because of the frogs which he
had brought against Pharaoh.   13 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.ix-p2.8">Lord</span> did according to the word of Moses; and the
frogs died out of the houses, out of the villages, and out of the
fields.   14 And they gathered them together upon heaps: and
the land stank.   15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was
respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.ix-p2.9">Lord</span> had said.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.ix-p3">Pharaoh is here first threatened and then
plagued with frogs, as afterwards, in this chapter, with lice and
flies, little despicable inconsiderable animals, and yet by their
vast numbers rendered sore plagues to the Egyptians. God could have
plagued them with lions, or bears, or wolves, or with vultures or
other birds of prey; but he chose to do it by these contemptible
instruments. 1. That he might magnify his own power. He is Lord of
the hosts of the whole creation, has them all at his beck, and
makes what use he pleases of them. Some have thought that the power
of God is shown as much in the making of an ant as in the making of
an elephant; so is his providence in serving his own purposes by
the least creatures as effectually as by the strongest, that the
excellency of the power, in judgment as well as mercy, may be of
God, and not of the creature. See what reason we have to stand in
awe of this God, who, when he pleases, can arm the smallest parts
of the creation against us. If God be our enemy, all the creatures
are at war with us. 2. That he might humble Pharaoh's pride, and
chastise his insolence. What a mortification must it needs be to
this haughty monarch to see himself brought to his knees, and
forced to submit, by such despicable means! Every child is,
ordinarily, able to deal with those invaders, and can triumph over
them; yet now so numerous were their troops, and so vigorous their
assaults, that Pharaoh, with all his chariots and horsemen, could
make no head against them. Thus he <i>poureth contempt upon
princes</i> that offer contempt to him and his sovereignty, and
makes those who will not own him above them to know that, when he
pleases, he can make the meanest creature to insult them and
trample upon them. As to the plague of frogs we may observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.ix-p4">I. How it was threatened. Moses, no doubt,
attended the divine Majesty daily for fresh instructions, and
(perhaps while the river was yet blood) he is here directed to give
notice to Pharaoh of another judgment coming upon him, in case he
continue obstinate: <i>If thou refuse to let them go,</i> it is at
thy peril, <scripRef id="Ex.ix-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.8.1-Exod.8.2" parsed="|Exod|8|1|8|2" passage="Ex 8:1,2"><i>v.</i> 1, 2</scripRef>.
Note, God does not punish men for sin unless they persist in it.
<i>If he turn not, he will whet his sword</i> (<scripRef id="Ex.ix-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.7.12" parsed="|Ps|7|12|0|0" passage="Ps 7:12">Ps. vii. 12</scripRef>), which implies favour <i>if he
turn.</i> So here, <i>If thou refuse, I will smite thy borders,</i>
intimating that if Pharaoh complied the controversy should
immediately be dropped. The plague threatened, in case of refusal,
was formidably extensive. Frogs were to make such an inroad upon
them as should make them uneasy in their houses, in their beds, and
at their tables; they should not be able to eat, nor drink, nor
sleep in quietness, but, wherever they were, should be infested by
them, <scripRef id="Ex.ix-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.8.3-Exod.8.4" parsed="|Exod|8|3|8|4" passage="Ex 8:3,4"><i>v.</i> 3, 4</scripRef>. Note,
1. God's curse upon a man will pursue him wherever he goes, and lie
heavily upon him whatever he does. See <scripRef id="Ex.ix-p4.4" osisRef="Bible:Deut.28.16" parsed="|Deut|28|16|0|0" passage="De 28:16">Deut. xxviii. 16</scripRef>, &amp;c. 2. There is no
avoiding divine judgments when they invade with commission.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.ix-p5">II. How it was inflicted. Pharaoh not
regarding the alarm, nor being at all inclined to yield to the
summons, Aaron is ordered to draw out the forces, and with his
outstretched arm and rod to give the signal of battle. <i>Dictum
factum—No sooner said then done;</i> the host is mustered, and,
under the direction and command of an invisible power, shoals of
frogs invade the land, and the Egyptians, with all their art and
all their might, cannot check their progress, nor so much as give
them a diversion. Compare this with that prophecy of an army of
locusts and caterpillars, <scripRef id="Ex.ix-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Joel.2.2" parsed="|Joel|2|2|0|0" passage="Joe 2:2">Joel ii.
2</scripRef>, &amp;c.; and see <scripRef id="Ex.ix-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.34.16-Isa.34.17" parsed="|Isa|34|16|34|17" passage="Isa 34:16,17">Isa. xxxiv. 16, 17</scripRef>. Frogs came up, at the
divine call, and <i>covered the land.</i> Note, God has many ways
of disquieting those that live at ease.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.ix-p6">III. How the magicians were permitted to
imitate it, <scripRef id="Ex.ix-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.8.7" parsed="|Exod|8|7|0|0" passage="Ex 8:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>. They
also brought up frogs, but could not remove those that God sent.
The unclean spirits which came <i>out of the mouth of the
dragon</i> are said to be like frogs, which go forth to the kings
of the earth, to deceive them (<scripRef id="Ex.ix-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Rev.16.13" parsed="|Rev|16|13|0|0" passage="Re 16:13">Rev.
xvi. 13</scripRef>), which probably alludes to these frogs, for it
follows the account of the turning of the waters into blood. The
dragon, like the magicians, intended by them to deceive, but God
intended by them to destroy those that would be deceived.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.ix-p7">IV. How Pharaoh relented under this plague:
it was the first time he did so, <scripRef id="Ex.ix-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.8.8" parsed="|Exod|8|8|0|0" passage="Ex 8:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>. He begs of Moses to intercede for
the removal of the frogs, and promises fair that he will let the
people go. He that a little while ago had spoken with the utmost
disdain both of God and Moses is now glad to be beholden to the
mercy of God and the prayers of Moses. Note, Those that bid
defiance to God and prayer in a day of extremity will, first or
last, be made to see their need of both, and will cry, <i>Lord,
Lord,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.ix-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Matt.7.22" parsed="|Matt|7|22|0|0" passage="Mt 7:22">Matt. vii. 22</scripRef>.
Those that have bantered prayer have been brought to beg it, as the
rich man that had scorned Lazarus courted him for a drop of
water.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.ix-p8">V. How Moses fixes the time with Pharaoh,
and then prevails with God by prayer for the removal of the frogs.
Moses, to show that his performances had no dependence upon the
conjunctions or oppositions of the planets, or the luckiness of any
one hour more than another, bids Pharaoh name his time. <i>Nellum
occurrit tempus regi—No time fixed on by the king shall be
objected to,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.ix-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.8.9" parsed="|Exod|8|9|0|0" passage="Ex 8:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>.
<i>Have thou this honour over me,</i> tell me <i>against when I
shall entreat for thee.</i> This was designed for Pharaoh's
conviction, that, if his eyes were not opened by the plague, they
might by the removal of it. So various are the methods God takes to
bring men to repentance. Pharaoh sets the time for
<i>to-morrow,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.ix-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.8.10" parsed="|Exod|8|10|0|0" passage="Ex 8:10"><i>v.</i>
10</scripRef>. And why not immediately? Was he so fond of his
guests that he would have them stay another night with him? No, but
probably he hoped that they would go away of themselves, and then
he should get clear of the plague without being obliged either to
God or Moses. However, Moses joins issue with him upon it: "<i>Be
it according to thy word,</i> it shall be done just when thou
wouldst have it done, <i>that thou mayest know that,</i> whatever
the magicians pretend to, <i>there is none like unto the Lord our
God.</i> None has such a command as he has over all the creatures,
nor is any one so ready to forgive those that humble themselves
before him." Note, The great design both of judgments and mercies
is to convince us that there is none like the Lord our God, none so
wise, so mighty, so good, no enemy so formidable, no friend so
desirable, so valuable. Moses, hereupon, applies to God, prays
earnestly to him, to remand the frogs, <scripRef id="Ex.ix-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.8.12" parsed="|Exod|8|12|0|0" passage="Ex 8:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>. Note, We must pray for our
enemies and persecutors, even the worst as Christ did. In answer to
the prayer of Moses, the frogs that came up one day perished the
next, or the next but one. They all died (<scripRef id="Ex.ix-p8.4" osisRef="Bible:Exod.8.13" parsed="|Exod|8|13|0|0" passage="Ex 8:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>), and, that it might appear that
they were real frogs, their dead bodies were left to be raked
together in heaps, so that the smell of them became offensive,
<scripRef id="Ex.ix-p8.5" osisRef="Bible:Exod.8.14" parsed="|Exod|8|14|0|0" passage="Ex 8:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>. Note, The
great Sovereign of the world makes what use he pleases of the lives
and deaths of his creatures; and he that gives a being, to serve
one purpose, may, without wrong to his justice, call for it again
immediately, to serve another purpose.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.ix-p9">VI. What was the issue of this plague
(<scripRef id="Ex.ix-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.8.15" parsed="|Exod|8|15|0|0" passage="Ex 8:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>): <i>When
Pharaoh saw there was a respite,</i> without considering either
what he had lately felt or what he had reason to fear, he hardened
his heart. Note, 1. Till the heart is renewed by the grace of God,
the impressions made by the force of affliction do not abide; the
convictions wear off, and the promises that were extorted are
forgotten. Till the disposition of the air is changed, what thaws
in the sun will freeze again in the shade. 2. God's patience is
shamefully abused by impenitent sinners. The respite he gives them,
to lead them to repentance, they are hardened by; and while he
graciously allows them a truce, in order to the making of their
peace, they take that opportunity to rally again the baffled forces
of an obstinate infidelity. See <scripRef id="Ex.ix-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Eccl.8.11 Bible:Ps.78.34" parsed="|Eccl|8|11|0|0;|Ps|78|34|0|0" passage="Ec 8:11,Ps 78:34">Eccl. viii. 11; Ps. lxxviii. 34</scripRef>,
&amp;c.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ex.ix-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.8" parsed="|Exod|8|0|0|0" passage="Ex 8" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ex.ix-p9.4" osisRef="Bible:Exod.8.16-Exod.8.19" parsed="|Exod|8|16|8|19" passage="Ex 8:16-19" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Exod.8.16-Exod.8.19">
<p class="passage" id="Ex.ix-p10">16 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.ix-p10.1">Lord</span>
said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the
dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land
of Egypt.   17 And they did so; for Aaron stretched out his
hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and it became
lice in man, and in beast; all the dust of the land became lice
throughout all the land of Egypt.   18 And the magicians did
so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not:
so there were lice upon man, and upon beast.   19 Then the
magicians said unto Pharaoh, This <i>is</i> the finger of God: and
Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as
the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.ix-p10.2">Lord</span> had said.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.ix-p11">Here is a short account of the plague of
lice. It does not appear that any warning was given of it before.
Pharaoh's abuse of the respite granted to him might have been a
sufficient warning to him to expect another plague: for if the
removal of an affliction harden us, and so we lose the benefit of
it, we may conclude it goes away with a purpose to return or to
make room for a worse. Observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.ix-p12">I. How this plague of lice was inflicted on
the Egyptians, <scripRef id="Ex.ix-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.8.16-Exod.8.17" parsed="|Exod|8|16|8|17" passage="Ex 8:16,17"><i>v.</i> 16,
17</scripRef>. The frogs were produced out of the waters, but these
live out of <i>the dust of the earth;</i> for out of any part of
the creation God can fetch a scourge, with which to correct those
that rebel against him. He has many arrows in his quiver. Even the
dust of the earth obeys him. "<i>Fear not then, thou worm
Jacob,</i> for God can use thee as a threshing instrument, if he
please," <scripRef id="Ex.ix-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.41.14-Isa.41.15" parsed="|Isa|41|14|41|15" passage="Isa 41:14,15">Isa. xli. 14,
15</scripRef>. These lice, no doubt, were extremely vexatious, as
well as scandalous, to the Egyptians. Though they had respite, they
had respite but awhile, <scripRef id="Ex.ix-p12.3" osisRef="Bible:Rev.11.14" parsed="|Rev|11|14|0|0" passage="Re 11:14">Rev. xi.
14</scripRef>. The second woe was past, but behold the third woe
came very quickly.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.ix-p13">II. How the magicians were baffled by it,
<scripRef id="Ex.ix-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.8.18" parsed="|Exod|8|18|0|0" passage="Ex 8:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>. They attempted
to imitate it, but they could not. When they failed in this, it
should seem they attempted to remove it; for it follows, <i>So
there were lice upon man and beast,</i> in spite of them. This
forced them to confess themselves overpowered: <i>This is the
finger of God</i> (<scripRef id="Ex.ix-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.8.19" parsed="|Exod|8|19|0|0" passage="Ex 8:19"><i>v.</i>
19</scripRef>); that is, "This check and restraint put upon us must
needs be from a divine power." Note, 1. God has the devil in a
chain, and limits him both as a deceiver and as a destroyer;
<i>hitherto he shall come, but no further.</i> The devil's agents
when God permitted them, could do great things; but when he laid an
embargo upon them, though but with his finger, they could do
nothing. The magicians' inability, in this less instance, showed
whence they had their ability in the former instances which seemed
greater, and that they had no power against Moses but what was
given them from above. 2. Sooner or later God will extort, even
from his enemies, an acknowledgment of his own sovereignty and
over-ruling power. It is certain they must all (as we say) knock
under at last, as Julian the apostate did, when his dying lips
confessed, <i>Thou hast overcome me, O thou Galilean!</i> God will
not only be too hard for all opposers, but will force them to own
it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.ix-p14">III. How Pharaoh, notwithstanding this, was
made more and more obstinate (<scripRef id="Ex.ix-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.8.19" parsed="|Exod|8|19|0|0" passage="Ex 8:19"><i>v.</i>
19</scripRef>); even those that had deceived him now said enough to
undeceive him, and yet he grew more and more obstinate. Even the
miracles and the judgments were to him a savour of death unto
death. Note, Those that are not made better by God's word and
providences are commonly made worse by them.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ex.ix-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.8.20-Exod.8.32" parsed="|Exod|8|20|8|32" passage="Ex 8:20-32" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Exod.8.20-Exod.8.32">
<p class="passage" id="Ex.ix-p15">20 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.ix-p15.1">Lord</span>
said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before
Pharaoh; lo, he cometh forth to the water; and say unto him, Thus
saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.ix-p15.2">Lord</span>, Let my people go,
that they may serve me.   21 Else, if thou wilt not let my
people go, behold, I will send swarms <i>of flies</i> upon thee,
and upon thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thy houses:
and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms <i>of
flies,</i> and also the ground whereon they <i>are.</i>   22
And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people
dwell, that no swarms <i>of flies</i> shall be there; to the end
thou mayest know that I <i>am</i> the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.ix-p15.3">Lord</span> in the midst of the earth.   23 And I
will put a division between my people and thy people: to morrow
shall this sign be.   24 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.ix-p15.4">Lord</span> did so; and there came a grievous swarm
<i>of flies</i> into the house of Pharaoh, and <i>into</i> his
servants' houses, and into all the land of Egypt: the land was
corrupted by reason of the swarm <i>of flies.</i>   25 And
Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron, and said, Go ye, sacrifice
to your God in the land.   26 And Moses said, It is not meet
so to do; for we shall sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians
to the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.ix-p15.5">Lord</span> our God: lo, shall we
sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, and
will they not stone us?   27 We will go three days' journey
into the wilderness, and sacrifice to the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.ix-p15.6">Lord</span> our God, as he shall command us.   28
And Pharaoh said, I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.ix-p15.7">Lord</span> your God in the wilderness;
only ye shall not go very far away: intreat for me.   29 And
Moses said, Behold, I go out from thee, and I will intreat the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.ix-p15.8">Lord</span> that the swarms <i>of flies</i>
may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, to
morrow: but let not Pharaoh deal deceitfully any more in not
letting the people go to sacrifice to the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.ix-p15.9">Lord</span>.   30 And Moses went out from Pharaoh,
and intreated the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.ix-p15.10">Lord</span>.   31
And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.ix-p15.11">Lord</span> did according to the
word of Moses; and he removed the swarms <i>of flies</i> from
Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; there remained not
one.   32 And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also,
neither would he let the people go.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.ix-p16">Here is the story of the plague of flies,
in which we are told,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.ix-p17">I. How it was threatened, like that of
frogs, before it was inflicted. Moses is directed (<scripRef id="Ex.ix-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.8.20" parsed="|Exod|8|20|0|0" passage="Ex 8:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>) to rise early in the
morning, to meet Pharaoh when he came forth to the water, and there
to repeat his demands. Note, 1. Those that would bring great things
to pass for God and their generation must rise early, and redeem
time in the morning. Pharaoh was early up at his superstitious
devotions to the river; and shall we be for more sleep and more
slumber when any service is to be done which would pass well in our
account in the great day? 2. Those that would approve themselves
God's faithful servants must not be afraid of the face of man.
Moses must <i>stand before Pharaoh,</i> proud as he was, and tell
him that which was in the highest degree humbling, must challenge
him (if he refused to release his captives) to engage with any army
of flies, which would obey God's orders of Pharaoh would not. See a
similar threatening, <scripRef id="Ex.ix-p17.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.7.18" parsed="|Isa|7|18|0|0" passage="Isa 7:18">Isa. vii.
18</scripRef>, <i>The Lord will hiss</i> (or whistle) <i>for the
fly and the bee,</i> to come and serve his purposes.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.ix-p18">II. How the Egyptians and the Hebrews were
to be remarkably distinguished in this plague, <scripRef id="Ex.ix-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.8.22-Exod.8.23" parsed="|Exod|8|22|8|23" passage="Ex 8:22,23"><i>v.</i> 22, 23</scripRef>. It is probable that this
distinction had not been so manifest and observable in any of the
foregoing plagues as it was to be in this. Thus, as the plague of
lice was made more convincing than any before it, by its running
the magicians aground, so was this, by the distinction made between
the Egyptians and the Hebrews. Pharaoh must be made to know that
<i>God is the Lord in the midst of the earth;</i> and by this it
will be known beyond dispute. 1. Swarms of flies, which seem to us
to fly at random, shall be manifestly under the conduct of an
intelligent mind, while they are above the direction of any man.
"Hither they shall go," says Moses, "and thither they shall not
come;" and the performance is punctually according to this
appointment, and both, compared, amount to a demonstration that he
that said it and he that did it was the same, even a Being of
infinite power and wisdom. 2. The servants and worshippers of the
great Jehovah shall be preserved from sharing in the common
calamities of the place they live in, so that the plague which
annoys all their neighbours shall not approach them; and this shall
be an incontestable proof that God is <i>the Lord in the midst of
the earth.</i> Put both these together, and it appears that <i>the
eyes of the Lord run to and fro through the earth,</i> and through
the air too, to direct that which to us seems most casual, to serve
some great designed end, that he may <i>show himself strong on the
behalf of those whose hearts are upright with him,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.ix-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.16.9" parsed="|2Chr|16|9|0|0" passage="2Ch 16:9">2 Chron. xvi. 9</scripRef>. Observe how it is
repeated: <i>I will put a division between my people and thy
people</i> <scripRef id="Ex.ix-p18.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.8.23" parsed="|Exod|8|23|0|0" passage="Ex 8:23"><i>v.</i> 23</scripRef>.
Note, The Lord knows those that are his, and will make it appear,
perhaps in this world, certainly in the other, that he has set them
apart for himself. A day will come when you shall <i>return and
discern between the righteous and the wicked</i> (<scripRef id="Ex.ix-p18.4" osisRef="Bible:Mal.3.18" parsed="|Mal|3|18|0|0" passage="Mal 3:18">Mal. iii. 18</scripRef>), <i>the sheep and the
goats</i> (<scripRef id="Ex.ix-p18.5" osisRef="Bible:Matt.25.32 Bible:Ezek.34.17" parsed="|Matt|25|32|0|0;|Ezek|34|17|0|0" passage="Mt 25:32,Eze 34:17">Matt. xxv. 32;
Ezek. xxxiv. 17</scripRef>), though now intermixed.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.ix-p19">III. How it was inflicted, the day after it
was threatened: <i>There came a grievous swarm of flies</i>
(<scripRef id="Ex.ix-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.8.24" parsed="|Exod|8|24|0|0" passage="Ex 8:24"><i>v.</i> 24</scripRef>), flies of
divers sorts, and such as devoured them, <scripRef id="Ex.ix-p19.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.78.45" parsed="|Ps|78|45|0|0" passage="Ps 78:45">Ps. lxxviii. 45</scripRef>. The prince of the power of
the air has gloried in being <i>Beelzebub—the god of flies;</i>
but here it is proved that even in <i>that</i> he is a pretender
and a usurper, for even with swarms of flies God fights against his
kingdom and prevails.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.ix-p20">IV. How Pharaoh, upon this attack, sounded
a parley, and entered into a treaty with Moses and Aaron about a
surrender of his captives: but observe with what reluctance he
yields.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.ix-p21">1. He is content they should sacrifice to
their God, provided they would do it in the land of Egypt,
<scripRef id="Ex.ix-p21.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.8.25" parsed="|Exod|8|25|0|0" passage="Ex 8:25"><i>v.</i> 25</scripRef>. Note, God can
extort a toleration of his worship, even from those that are really
enemies to it. Pharaoh, under the smart of the rod, is content they
should do sacrifice, and will allow liberty of conscience to God's
Israel, even in his own land. But Moses will not accept his
concession; he cannot do it, <scripRef id="Ex.ix-p21.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.8.26" parsed="|Exod|8|26|0|0" passage="Ex 8:26"><i>v.</i>
26</scripRef>. It would be an abomination to God should they offer
the Egyptian sacrifices, and an abomination to the Egyptians should
they offer to God their own sacrifices, as they ought; so that they
could not sacrifice in the land without incurring the displeasure
either of their God or of their task-masters; therefore he insists:
<i>We will go three days' journey into the wilderness,</i>
<scripRef id="Ex.ix-p21.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.8.27" parsed="|Exod|8|27|0|0" passage="Ex 8:27"><i>v.</i> 27</scripRef>. Note, Those
that would offer an acceptable sacrifice to God must, (1.) Separate
themselves from the wicked and profane; for we cannot have
fellowship both with the Father of lights and with the works of
darkness, both with Christ and with Belial, <scripRef id="Ex.ix-p21.4" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.6.14 Bible:Ps.26.4 Bible:Ps.26.6" parsed="|2Cor|6|14|0|0;|Ps|26|4|0|0;|Ps|26|6|0|0" passage="2Co 6:14,Ps 26:4,6">2 Cor. vi. 14, &amp;c.; Ps. xxvi. 4,
6</scripRef>. (2.) They must retire from the distractions of the
world, and get as far as may be from the noise of it. Israel cannot
keep the feast of the Lord either among the brick-kilns or among
the flesh-pots of Egypt; no, <i>We will go into the wilderness,</i>
<scripRef id="Ex.ix-p21.5" osisRef="Bible:Hos.2.14 Bible:Song.7.11" parsed="|Hos|2|14|0|0;|Song|7|11|0|0" passage="Ho 2:14,So 7:11">Hos. ii. 14; Cant. vii.
11</scripRef>. (3.) They must observe the divine appointment: "We
will sacrifice as God shall command us, and not otherwise." Though
they were in the utmost degree of slavery to Pharaoh, yet in the
worship of God, they must observe his commands and not
Pharaoh's.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.ix-p22">2. When this proposal is rejected, he
consents for them to go into the wilderness, provided they do not
go <i>very far away,</i> not so far but that he might fetch them
back again, <scripRef id="Ex.ix-p22.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.8.28" parsed="|Exod|8|28|0|0" passage="Ex 8:28"><i>v.</i> 28</scripRef>. It
is probable he had heard of their design upon Canaan, and suspected
that if once they left Egypt they would never come back again; and
therefore, when he is forced to consent that they shall go (the
swarms of flies buzzing the necessity in his ears), yet he is not
willing that they should go out of his reach. Thus some sinners
who, in a pang of conviction, part with their sins, yet are loth
they should go very far away; for, when the fright is over, they
will return to them again. We observe here a struggle between
Pharaoh's convictions and his corruptions; his convictions said,
"Let them go;" his corruptions said, "Yet not very far away:" but
he sided with his corruptions against his convictions, and this was
his ruin. This proposal Moses so far accepted as that he promised
the removal of this plague upon it, <scripRef id="Ex.ix-p22.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.8.29" parsed="|Exod|8|29|0|0" passage="Ex 8:29"><i>v.</i> 29</scripRef>. See here, (1.) How ready God is
to accept sinners' submissions. Pharaoh does but say, <i>Entreat
for me</i> (though it is with regret that he humbles so far), and
Moses promises immediately, <i>I will entreat the Lord for
thee,</i> that Pharaoh might see what the design of the plague was,
not to bring him to ruin, but to bring him to repentance. With what
pleasure did God say (<scripRef id="Ex.ix-p22.3" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.21.29" parsed="|1Kgs|21|29|0|0" passage="1Ki 21:29">1 Kings xxi.
29</scripRef>), <i>Seest thou how Ahab humbles himself?</i> (2.)
What need we have to be admonished that we be sincere in our
submission: <i>But let not Pharaoh deal deceitfully any more.</i>
Those that deal deceitfully are justly suspected, and must be
cautioned not to return again to folly, after God has once more
spoken peace. <i>Be not deceived, God is not mocked;</i> if we
think to put a cheat upon God by a counterfeit repentance, and a
fraudulent surrender of ourselves to him, we shall prove, in the
end, to have put a fatal cheat upon our own souls.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.ix-p23"><i>Lastly,</i> The issue of all was that
God graciously removed the plague (<scripRef id="Ex.ix-p23.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.8.30-Exod.8.31" parsed="|Exod|8|30|8|31" passage="Ex 8:30,31"><i>v.</i> 30, 31</scripRef>), but Pharaoh perfidiously
returned to his hardness, and <i>would not let the people go,</i>
<scripRef id="Ex.ix-p23.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.8.32" parsed="|Exod|8|32|0|0" passage="Ex 8:32"><i>v.</i> 32</scripRef>. His pride
would not let him part with such a flower of his crown as his
dominion over Israel was, nor his covetousness with such a branch
of his revenue as their labours were. Note, Reigning lusts break
through the strongest bounds, and make men impudently presumptuous
and scandalously perfidious. Let not sin therefore reign; for, if
it do, it will betray and hurry us to the grossest absurdities.</p>
</div></div2>