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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Exodus, Chapter IV].</TITLE>
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1></center>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC02003.HTM">Previous</A>]
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1706)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>E X O D U S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. IV.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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This chapter,
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I. Continues and concludes God's discourse with Moses at the bush
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concerning this great affair of bringing Israel out of Egypt.
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1. Moses objects the people's unbelief
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+4:1">ver. 1</A>),
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and God answers that objection by giving him a power to work miracles,
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(1.) To turn his rod into a serpent, and then into a rod again,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+4:2-5">ver. 2-5</A>.
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(2.) To make his hand leprous, and then whole again,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+4:6-8">ver. 6-8</A>.
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(3.) To turn the water into blood,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+4:9">ver. 9</A>.
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2. Moses objects his own slowness of speech
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+4:10">ver. 10</A>),
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and begs to be excused
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+4:13">ver. 13</A>);
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but God answers this objection,
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(1.) By promising him his presence,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+4:11,12">ver. 11, 12</A>.
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(2.) By joining Aaron in commission with him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+4:14-16">ver. 14-16</A>.
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(3.) By putting an honour upon the very staff in his hand,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+4:17">ver. 17</A>.
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II. It begins Moses's execution of his commission.
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1. He obtains leave of his father-in-law to return into Egypt,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+4:18">ver. 18</A>.
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2. He receives further instructions and encouragements from God,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+4:19,21-23">ver. 19, 21-23</A>.
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3. He hastens his departure, and takes his family with him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+4:20">ver. 20</A>.
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4. He meets with some difficulty in the way about the circumcising of
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his son,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+4:24-26">ver. 24-26</A>.
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5. He has the satisfaction of meeting his brother Aaron,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+4:27,28">ver. 27, 28</A>.
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6. He produces his commission before the elders of Israel, to their
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great joy,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+4:29-31">ver. 29-31</A>.
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And thus the wheels were set a going towards that great
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deliverance.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ex4_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex4_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex4_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex4_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex4_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex4_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex4_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex4_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex4_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Objections of Moses Overruled.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1491.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not
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believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The
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L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> hath not appeared unto thee.
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2 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> said unto him, What <I>is</I> that in thine hand? And
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he said, A rod.
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3 And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the
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ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.
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4 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take
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it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it
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became a rod in his hand:
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5 That they may believe that the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> God of their fathers, the
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God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath
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appeared unto thee.
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6 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand
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into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he
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took it out, behold, his hand <I>was</I> leprous as snow.
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7 And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put
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his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom,
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and, behold, it was turned again as his <I>other</I> flesh.
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8 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee,
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neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will
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believe the voice of the latter sign.
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9 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also
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these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt
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take of the water of the river, and pour <I>it</I> upon the dry
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<I>land:</I> and the water which thou takest out of the river shall
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become blood upon the dry <I>land.</I>
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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It was a very great honour that Moses was called to when God
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commissioned him to bring Israel out of Egypt; yet he is with
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difficulty persuaded to accept the commission, and does it at last with
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great reluctance, which we should rather impute to a humble diffidence
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of himself and his own sufficiency than to any unbelieving distrust of
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God and his word and power. Note, Those whom God designs for preferment
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he clothes with humility; the most fit for service are the least
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forward.</P>
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<P>
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I. Moses objects that in all probability the people would not
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<I>hearken to his voice</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+4:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>),
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that is, they would not take his bare word, unless he showed them some
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sign, which he had not been yet instructed to do. This objection cannot
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be justified, because it contradicts what God had said
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+3:18"><I>ch.</I> iii. 18</A>),
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<I>They shall hearken to thy voice.</I> If God says, <I>They will,</I>
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does it become Moses to say, <I>They will not?</I> Surely he means,
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"Perhaps they will not at first, or some of them will not." If there
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should be some gainsayers among them who would question his commission,
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how should he deal with them? And what course should he take to
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convince them? He remembered how they had once rejected him, and feared
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it would be so again. Note,
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1. Present discouragements often arise from former disappointments. 2.
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Wise and good men have sometimes a worse opinion of people than they
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deserve. Moses sad
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+4:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>),
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<I>They will not believe me;</I> and yet he was happily mistaken, for
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it is said
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+4:31"><I>v.</I> 31</A>),
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<I>The people believed;</I> but then the signs which God appointed in
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answer to this objection were first wrought in their sight.</P>
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<P>
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II. God empowers him to work miracles, directs him to three
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particularly, two of which were now immediately wrought for his own
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satisfaction. Note, True miracles are the most convincing external
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proofs of a divine mission attested by them. Therefore our Saviour
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often appealed to his works (as
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+5:36">John v. 36</A>),
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and Nicodemus owns himself convinced by them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+3:2">John iii. 2</A>.
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And here Moses, having a special commission given him as a judge and
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lawgiver to Israel, has this seal affixed to his commission, and comes
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supported by these credentials.</P>
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<P>
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1. The rod in his hand is made the subject of a miracle, a double
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miracle: it is but thrown out of his hand and it becomes a serpent; he
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resumes it and it becomes a rod again,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+4:2-4"><I>v.</I> 2-4</A>.
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Now,
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(1.) Here was a divine power manifested in the change itself, that a
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dry stick should be turned into a living serpent, a lively one, so
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formidable a one that Moses himself, on whom, it should seem, it turned
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in some threatening manner, <I>fled from before it,</I> though we may
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suppose, in that desert, serpents were no strange things to him; but
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what was produced miraculously was always the best and strongest of the
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kind, as the water turned to wine: and, then, that this living serpent
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should be turned into a dry stick again, this was the Lord's doing.
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(2.) Here was an honour put upon Moses, that this change was wrought
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upon his throwing it down and taking it up, without any spell, or
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charm, or incantation: his being empowered thus to act under God, out
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of the common course of nature and providence, was a demonstration of
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his authority, under God, to settle a new dispensation of the kingdom
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of grace. We cannot imagine that the God of truth would delegate such a
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power as this to an impostor.
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(3.) There was a significancy in the miracle itself. Pharaoh had turned
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the rod of Israel into a serpent, representing them as dangerous
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+1:10"><I>ch.</I> i. 10</A>),
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causing their belly to cleave to the dust, and seeking their ruin; but
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now they should be turned into a rod again: or, thus Pharaoh had turned
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the rod of government into the serpent of oppression, from which Moses
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had himself fled into Midian; but by the agency of Moses the scene was
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altered again.
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(4.) There was a direct tendency in it to convince the children of
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Israel that Moses was indeed sent of God to do what he did,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+4:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
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Miracles were for signs to those that believed not,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+14:22">1 Cor. xiv. 22</A>.</P>
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<P>
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2. His hand itself is next made the subject of a miracle. He puts it
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once into his bosom, and takes it out leprous; he puts it again into
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the same place, and takes it out well,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+4:6,7"><I>v.</I> 6, 7</A>.
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This signified,
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(1.) That Moses, by the power of God, should bring sore diseases upon
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Egypt, and that, at his prayer, they should be removed.
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(2.) That whereas the Israelites in Egypt had become leprous, polluted
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by sin, and almost consumed by oppression (a leper is <I>as one
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dead,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+12:12">Num. xii. 12</A>),
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by being taken into the bosom of Moses they should be cleansed and
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cured, and have all their grievances redressed.
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(3.) That Moses was not to work miracles by his own power, nor for his
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own praise, but by the power of God and for his glory; the leprous hand
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of Moses does forever exclude boasting. Now it was supposed that, if
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the former sign did not convince, this latter would. Note, God is
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willing more abundantly to show the truth of his word, and is not
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sparing in his proofs; the multitude and variety of the miracles
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corroborate the evidence.</P>
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<P>
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3. He is directed, when he shall come to Egypt, to turn some of the
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water of the river into blood,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+4:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
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This was done, at first, as a sign, but, not gaining due credit with
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Pharaoh, the whole river was afterwards turned into blood, and then it
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became a plague. He is ordered to work this miracle in case they would
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not be convinced by the other two. Note, Unbelief shall be left
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inexcusable, and convicted of a wilful obstinacy. As to the people of
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Israel, God had said
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+3:18"><I>ch.</I> iii. 18</A>),
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<I>They shall hearken;</I> yet he appoints these miracles to be wrought
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for their conviction, for he that has ordained the end has ordained the
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means.</P>
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<A NAME="Ex4_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex4_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex4_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex4_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex4_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex4_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex4_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex4_17"> </A>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>10 And Moses said unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, O my Lord, I <I>am</I> not
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eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy
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servant: but I <I>am</I> slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.
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11 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or
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who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have
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not I the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>?
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12 Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach
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thee what thou shalt say.
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13 And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand <I>of
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him whom</I> thou wilt send.
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14 And the anger of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> was kindled against Moses, and he
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said, <I>Is</I> not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can
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speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and
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when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.
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15 And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth:
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and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach
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you what ye shall do.
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16 And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall
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be, <I>even</I> he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt
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be to him instead of God.
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17 And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou
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shalt do signs.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Moses still continues backward to the service for which God had
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designed him, even to a fault; for now we can no longer impute it to
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his humility and modesty, but must own that here was too much of
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cowardice, slothfulness, and unbelief in it. Observe here,</P>
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<P>
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I. How Moses endeavours to excuse himself from the work.</P>
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<P>
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1. He pleads that he was no good spokesman: <I>O my Lord! I am not
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eloquent,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+4:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
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He was a great philosopher, statesman, and divine, and yet no orator; a
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man of a clear head, great thought, and solid judgment, but had not a
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voluble tongue, or ready utterance, and therefore he thought himself
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unfit to speak before great men about great affairs, and in danger of
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being run down by the Egyptians. Observe,
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(1.) We must not judge of men by the readiness and fluency of their
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discourse. Moses was <I>mighty in word</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+7:22">Acts vii. 22</A>),
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and yet not eloquent: what he said was strong and nervous, and to the
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purpose, and distilled as the dew
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+32:2">Deut. xxxii. 2</A>),
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though he did not deliver himself with that readiness, ease, and
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elegance, that some do, who have not the tenth part of his sense. St.
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Paul's speech was contemptible,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+10:10">2 Cor. x. 10</A>.
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A great deal of wisdom and true worth is concealed by a slow
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tongue.
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(2.) God is pleased sometimes to make choice of those as his messengers
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who have fewest of the advantages of art or nature, that his grace in
|
|
them may appear the more glorious. Christ's disciples were no orators,
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till the Spirit made them such.</P>
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<P>
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2. When this plea was overruled, and all his excuses were answered, he
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begged that God would send somebody else on this errand and leave him
|
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to keep sheep in Midian
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+4:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>):
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"Send by any hand but mine; thou canst certainly find one much more
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fit." Note, An unwilling mind will take up with a sorry excuse rather
|
|
than none, and is willing to devolve those services upon others that
|
|
have any thing of difficulty or danger in them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. How God condescends to answer all his excuses. Though <I>the anger
|
|
of the Lord was kindled against him</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+4:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>),
|
|
|
|
yet he continued to reason with him, till he had overcome him. Note,
|
|
Even self-diffidence, when it grows into an extreme--when it either
|
|
hinders us from duty or clogs us in duty, or when it discourages our
|
|
dependence upon the grace of God--is very displeasing to him. God
|
|
justly resents our backwardness to serve him, and has reason to take it
|
|
ill; for he is such a benefactor as is before-hand with us, and such a
|
|
rewarder as will not be behind-hand with us. Note further, God is
|
|
justly displeased with those whom yet he does not reject: he vouchsafes
|
|
to reason the case even with his froward children, and overcomes them,
|
|
as he did Moses here, with grace and kindness.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. To balance the weakness of Moses, he here reminds him of his own
|
|
power,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+4:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
(1.) His power in that concerning which Moses made the objection:
|
|
<I>Who has made man's mouth? Have not I the Lord?</I> Moses knew that
|
|
God made man, but he must be reminded now that God made man's mouth. An
|
|
eye to God as Creator would help us over a great many of the
|
|
difficulties which lie in the way of our duty,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+124:8">Ps. cxxiv. 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
God, as the author of nature, has given us the power and faculty of
|
|
speaking; and from him, as the fountain of gifts and graces, comes the
|
|
faculty of speaking well, the <I>mouth and wisdom</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+21:15">Luke xxi. 15</A>),
|
|
|
|
the <I>tongue of the learned</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+50:4">Isa. l. 4</A>);
|
|
|
|
he <I>pours grace into the lips,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+45:2">Ps. xlv. 2</A>.
|
|
|
|
(2.) His power in general over the other faculties. Who but God
|
|
<I>makes the dumb and the deaf, the seeing and the blind?</I>
|
|
|
|
[1.] The perfections of our faculties are his work, he makes the
|
|
<I>seeing;</I> he formed the eye
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+94:9">Ps. xciv. 9</A>);
|
|
|
|
he opens the understanding, the eye of the mind,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+24:45">Luke xxiv. 45</A>.
|
|
|
|
[2.] Their imperfections are from him too; he make the <I>dumb,</I> and
|
|
<I>deaf,</I> and <I>blind.</I> Is there any evil of this kind, and the
|
|
Lord has not done it? No doubt he has, and always in wisdom and
|
|
righteousness, and for his own glory,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+9:3">John ix. 3</A>.
|
|
|
|
Pharaoh and the Egyptians were made deaf and blind spiritually, as
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+6:9,10">Isa. vi. 9, 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
But God knew how to manage them, and get himself honour upon them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. To encourage him in this great undertaking, he repeats the promise
|
|
of his presence, not only in general, <I>I will be with thee</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+3:12"><I>ch.</I> iii. 12</A>),
|
|
|
|
but in particular, "<I>I will be with thy mouth,</I> so that the
|
|
imperfection in thy speech shall be no prejudice to thy message." It
|
|
does not appear that God did immediately remove the infirmity, whatever
|
|
it was; but he did that which was equivalent, he taught him what to
|
|
say, and then let the matter recommend itself: if others spoke more
|
|
gracefully, none spoke more powerfully. Note, Those whom God employs to
|
|
speak for him ought to depend upon him for instructions, and <I>it
|
|
shall be given them what they shall speak,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+10:19">Matt. x. 19</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. He joins Aaron in commission with him. He promises that Aaron shall
|
|
meet him opportunely, and that he will be glad to see him, they having
|
|
not seen one another (it is likely) for many years,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+4:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
He directs him to make use of Aaron as his spokesman,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+4:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
God might have laid Moses wholly aside, for his backwardness to be
|
|
employed; but he considered his frame, and ordered him an assistant.
|
|
Observe,
|
|
|
|
(1.) Two are better than one,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+4:9">Eccl. iv. 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
God will have his two witnesses
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+11:3">Rev. xi. 3</A>),
|
|
|
|
that out of their mouths every word may be established.
|
|
|
|
(2.) Aaron was the brother of Moses, divine wisdom so ordering it, that
|
|
their natural affection one to another might strengthen their union in
|
|
the joint execution of their commission. Christ sent his disciples two
|
|
and two, and some of the couples were brothers.
|
|
|
|
(3.) Aaron was the elder brother, and yet he was willing to be employed
|
|
under Moses in this affair, because God would have it so.
|
|
|
|
(4.) Aaron could speak well, and yet was far inferior to Moses in
|
|
wisdom. God dispenses his gifts variously to the children of men, that
|
|
we may see our need one of another, and each may contribute something
|
|
to the good of the body,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+12:21">1 Cor. xii. 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
The tongue of Aaron, with the head and heart of Moses, would make one
|
|
completely fit for this embassy.
|
|
|
|
(5.) God promises, <I>I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth.</I>
|
|
Even Aaron, that could speak well, yet could not speak to purpose
|
|
unless God was with his mouth; without the constant aids of divine
|
|
grace the best gifts will fail.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
4. He bids him take the rod with him in his hand
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+4:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>),
|
|
|
|
to intimate that he must bring about his undertaking rather by acting
|
|
than by speaking; the signs he should work with this rod might
|
|
abundantly supply the want of eloquence; one miracle would do him
|
|
better service than all the rhetoric in the world. <I>Take this
|
|
rod,</I> the rod he carried as a shepherd, that he might not be ashamed
|
|
of that mean condition out of which God called him. This rod must be
|
|
his staff of authority, and must be to him in stead both of sword and
|
|
sceptre.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ex4_18"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ex4_19"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ex4_20"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ex4_21"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ex4_22"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ex4_23"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Moses Returns in Egypt.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1491.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>18 And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father in law, and
|
|
said unto him, Let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my
|
|
brethren which <I>are</I> in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive.
|
|
And Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace.
|
|
19 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into
|
|
Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life.
|
|
20 And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an
|
|
ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod
|
|
of God in his hand.
|
|
21 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into
|
|
Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I
|
|
have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he
|
|
shall not let the people go.
|
|
22 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, Israel
|
|
<I>is</I> my son, <I>even</I> my firstborn:
|
|
23 And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me:
|
|
and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son,
|
|
<I>even</I> thy firstborn.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here,
|
|
|
|
I. Moses obtains leave of his father-in-law to return into Egypt,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+4:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
His father-in-law had been kind to him when he was a stranger, and
|
|
therefore he would not be so uncivil as to leave his family, nor so
|
|
unjust as to leave his service, without giving him notice. Note, The
|
|
honour of being admitted into communion with God, and of being employed
|
|
for him, does not exempt us from the duties of our relations and
|
|
callings in this world. Moses said nothing to his father-in-law (for
|
|
aught that appears) of the glorious manifestation of God to him; such
|
|
favours we are to be thankful for to God, but not to boast of before
|
|
men.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. He receives from God further encouragements and directions in his
|
|
work. After God had appeared to him in the bush to settle a
|
|
correspondence, it should seem, he often spoke to him, as there was
|
|
occasion, with less overwhelming solemnity. And,
|
|
|
|
1. He assures Moses that the coasts were clear. Whatever new enemies
|
|
he might make by his undertaking, his old enemies were <I>all dead, all
|
|
that sought his life,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+4:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
Perhaps some secret fear of falling into their hands was at the bottom
|
|
of Moses's backwardness to go to Egypt, though he was not willing to
|
|
own it, but pleaded unworthiness, insufficiency, want of elocution, &c.
|
|
Note, God knows all the temptations his people lie under, and how to
|
|
arm them against their secret fears,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+142:3">Ps. cxlii. 3</A>.
|
|
|
|
2. He orders him to do the miracles, not only before the elders of
|
|
Israel, but before Pharaoh,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+4:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
There were some alive perhaps in the court of Pharaoh who remembered
|
|
Moses when he was the son of Pharaoh's daughter, and had many a time
|
|
called him a fool for deserting the honours of that relation; but he is
|
|
now sent back to court, clad with greater powers than Pharaoh's
|
|
daughter could have advanced him to, so that it might appear he was no
|
|
loser by his choice: this wonder-working rod did more adorn the hand of
|
|
Moses than the sceptre of Egypt could have done. Note, Those that look
|
|
with contempt upon worldly honours shall be recompensed with the honour
|
|
that cometh from God, which is the true honour.
|
|
|
|
3. That Pharaoh's obstinacy might be no surprise nor discouragement to
|
|
him, God tells him before that he would <I>harden his heart.</I>
|
|
Pharaoh had hardened his own heart against the groans and cries of the
|
|
oppressed Israelites, and shut up the bowels of his compassion from
|
|
them; and now God, in a way of righteous judgment, hardens his heart
|
|
against the conviction of the miracles, and the terror of the plagues.
|
|
Note, Ministers must expect with many to labour in vain: we must not
|
|
think it strange if we meet with those who will not be wrought upon by
|
|
the strongest arguments and fairest reasonings; yet our judgment is
|
|
with the Lord.
|
|
|
|
4. Words are put into his mouth with which to address Pharaoh,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+4:22,23"><I>v.</I> 22, 23</A>.
|
|
|
|
God had promised him
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+4:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>I will teach thee what thou shalt say;</I> and here he does teach
|
|
him.
|
|
|
|
(1.) He must deliver his message in the name of the great Jehovah:
|
|
<I>Thus saith the Lord;</I> this is the first time <I>that</I> preface
|
|
is used by any man which afterwards is used so frequently by all the
|
|
prophets: whether Pharaoh will hear, or whether he will forbear, Moses
|
|
must tell him, <I>Thus saith the Lord.</I>
|
|
|
|
(2.) He must let Pharaoh know Israel's relation to God, and God's
|
|
concern for Israel. <I>Is Israel a servant? is he a home-born
|
|
slave?</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+2:14">Jer. ii. 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
"No, <I>Israel is my son, my firstborn, precious in my sight,
|
|
honourable,</I> and dear to me, not to be thus insulted and abused."
|
|
|
|
(3.) He must demand a discharge for them: "<I>Let my son go;</I> not
|
|
only my servant whom thou hast no right to detain, but my son whose
|
|
liberty and honour I am very jealous for. It is my son, my son that
|
|
serves me, and therefore must be spared, must be pleaded for,"
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mal+3:17">Mal. iii. 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
(4.) He must threaten Pharaoh with the death of the first-born of
|
|
Egypt, in case of a refusal: <I>I will slay thy son, even thy
|
|
firstborn.</I> As men deal with God's people, let them expect to be
|
|
themselves dealt with; with the froward he will wrestle.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. Moses addresses himself to this expedition. When God had assured
|
|
him
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+4:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>)
|
|
|
|
that the men were dead who sought his life, immediately it follows
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+4:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>he took his wife, and his sons,</I> and set out for Egypt. Note,
|
|
Though corruption may object much against the services God calls us to,
|
|
yet grace will get the upper hand, and will be obedient to the heavenly
|
|
vision.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ex4_24"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ex4_25"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ex4_26"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ex4_27"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ex4_28"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ex4_29"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ex4_30"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ex4_31"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Circumcision of the Son of Moses.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1491.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>24 And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> met
|
|
him, and sought to kill him.
|
|
25 Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin
|
|
of her son, and cast <I>it</I> at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody
|
|
husband <I>art</I> thou to me.
|
|
26 So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband <I>thou
|
|
art,</I> because of the circumcision.
|
|
27 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet
|
|
Moses. And he went, and met him in the mount of God, and kissed
|
|
him.
|
|
28 And Moses told Aaron all the words of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> who had sent
|
|
him, and all the signs which he had commanded him.
|
|
29 And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the
|
|
elders of the children of Israel:
|
|
30 And Aaron spake all the words which the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> had spoken unto
|
|
Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people.
|
|
31 And the people believed: and when they heard that the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>
|
|
had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon
|
|
their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Moses is here going to Egypt, and we are told,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. How God met him in anger,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+4:24-26"><I>v.</I> 24-26</A>.
|
|
|
|
This is a very difficult passage of story; much has been written, and
|
|
excellently written, to make it intelligible; we will try to make it
|
|
improving. Here is,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. The sin of Moses, which was neglecting to circumcise his son. This
|
|
was probably the effect of his being unequally yoked with a Midianite,
|
|
who was too indulgent of her child, while Moses was too indulgent of
|
|
her. Note,
|
|
|
|
(1.) We have need to watch carefully over our own hearts, lest fondness
|
|
for any relation prevail above our love to God, and take us off from
|
|
our duty to him. It is charged upon Eli that he <I>honoured his sons
|
|
more than God</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+2:29">1 Sam. ii. 29</A>);
|
|
|
|
and see
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+10:37">Matt. x. 37</A>.
|
|
|
|
(2.) Even good men are apt to cool in their zeal for God and duty when
|
|
they have long been deprived of the society of the faithful: solitude
|
|
has its advantages, but they seldom counterbalance the loss of
|
|
Christian communion.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. God's displeasure against him. He met him, and, probably by a sword
|
|
in an angel's hand, sought to kill him. This was a great change; very
|
|
lately God was conversing with him, and lodging a trust in him, as a
|
|
friend; and now he is coming forth against him as an enemy. Note,
|
|
|
|
(1.) Omissions are sins, and must come into judgment, and particularly
|
|
the contempt and neglect of the seals of the covenant; for it is a sign
|
|
that we undervalue the promises of the covenant, and are displeased
|
|
with the conditions of it. He that has made a bargain, and is not
|
|
willing to seal and ratify it, one may justly suspect, neither likes it
|
|
nor designs to stand to it.
|
|
|
|
(2.) God takes notice of, and is much displeased with, the sins of his
|
|
own people. If they neglect their duty, let them expect to hear of it
|
|
by their consciences, and perhaps to feel from it by cross providences:
|
|
for this cause many are sick and weak, as some think Moses was
|
|
here.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. The speedy performance of the duty for the neglect of which God had
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now a controversy with him. His son must be circumcised; Moses is
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unable to circumcise him; therefore, in this case of necessity,
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Zipporah does it, whether with passionate words (expressing her dislike
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|
of the ordinance itself, or at least the administration of it to so
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young a child, and in a journey), as to me it seems, or with proper
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words--solemnly expressing the espousal of the child to God by the
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covenant of circumcision (as some read it) or her thankfulness to God
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for sparing her husband, giving him a new life, and thereby giving her,
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as it were, a new marriage to him, upon her circumcising her son (as
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others read it)--I cannot determine: but we learn,
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(1.) That when God discovers to us what is amiss in our lives we must
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give all diligence to amend it speedily, and particularly return to the
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duties we have neglected.
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(2.) The putting away of our sins is indispensably necessary to the
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|
removal of God's judgements. This is the voice of every rod, it calls
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to us to return to him that smites us.</P>
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<P>
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4. The release of Moses thereupon: <I>So he let him go;</I> the
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|
distemper went off, the destroying angel withdrew, and all was well:
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|
only Zipporah cannot forget the fright she was in, but will
|
|
unreasonably call Moses <I>a bloody husband,</I> because he obliged her
|
|
to circumcise the child; and, upon this occasion (it is probable), he
|
|
sent them back to his father-in-law, that they might not create him any
|
|
further uneasiness. Note,
|
|
|
|
(1.) When we return to God in a way of duty he will return to us in a
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|
way of mercy; take away the cause, and the effect will cease.
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(2.) We must resolve to bear it patiently, if our zeal for God and his
|
|
institutions be misinterpreted and discouraged by some that should
|
|
understand themselves, and us, and their duty, better, as David's zeal
|
|
was misinterpreted by Michal; but if this be to be vile, if this be to
|
|
be bloody, we must be yet more so.
|
|
|
|
(3.) When we have any special service to do for God we should remove as
|
|
far from us as we can that which is likely to be our hindrance. <I>Let
|
|
the dead bury their dead, but follow thou me.</I></P>
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|
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<P>
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|
II. How Aaron met him in love,
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+4:27,28"><I>v.</I> 27, 28</A>.
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1. God sent Aaron to meet him, and directed him where to find him, in
|
|
the wilderness that lay towards Midian. Note, The providence of God is
|
|
to be acknowledged in the comfortable meeting of relations and friends.
|
|
|
|
2. Aaron made so much haste, in obedience to his God, and in love to
|
|
his brother, that he met him <I>in the mount of God,</I> the place
|
|
where God had met with him.
|
|
|
|
3. They embraced one another with mutual endearments. The more they saw
|
|
of God's immediate direction in bringing them together the more
|
|
pleasant their interview was: they <I>kissed,</I> not only in token of
|
|
brotherly affection, and in remembrance of ancient acquaintance, but as
|
|
a pledge of their hearty concurrence in the work to which they were
|
|
jointly called.
|
|
|
|
4. Moses informed his brother of the commission he had received, with
|
|
all the instructions and credentials affixed to it,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+4:28"><I>v.</I> 28</A>.
|
|
|
|
Note, What we know of God we should communicate for the benefit of
|
|
others; and those that are fellow-servants to God in the same work
|
|
should use a mutual freedom, and endeavour rightly and fully to
|
|
understand one another.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. How the elders of Israel met him in faith and obedience. When
|
|
Moses and Aaron first opened their commission in Egypt, said what they
|
|
were ordered to say, and, to confirm it, did what they were ordered to
|
|
do, they met with a better reception than they promised themselves,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+4:29-31"><I>v.</I> 29-31</A>.
|
|
|
|
1. The Israelites gave credit to them: <I>The people believed,</I> as
|
|
God had foretold
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+3:18"><I>ch.</I> iii. 18</A>),
|
|
|
|
knowing that no man could do those works that they did, unless God were
|
|
with him. They gave glory to God: <I>They bowed their heads and
|
|
worshipped,</I> therein expressing not only their humble thankfulness
|
|
to God, who had raised them up and sent them a deliverer, but also
|
|
their cheerful readiness to observe orders, and pursue the methods of
|
|
their deliverance.</P>
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