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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Exodus, Chapter VIII].</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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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. VIII.</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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Three more of the plagues of Egypt are related in this chapter,
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I. That of the frogs, which is,
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1. Threatened,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+8:1-4">ver. 1-4</A>.
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2. Inflicted,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+8:5,6">ver. 5, 6</A>.
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3. Mimicked by the magicians,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+8:7">ver. 7</A>.
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4. Removed, at the humble request of Pharaoh
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+8:8-14">ver. 8-14</A>),
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who yet hardens his heart, and, notwithstanding his promise while the plague was upon him
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+8:8">ver. 8</A>),
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refuses to let Israel go,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+8:15">ver. 15</A>.
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II. The plague of lice
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+8:16,17">ver. 16, 17</A>),
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by which,
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1. The magicians were baffled
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+8:18,19">ver. 18, 19</A>),
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and yet,
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2. Pharaoh was hardened,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+8:19">ver. 19</A>.
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III. That of flies.
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1. Pharaoh is warned of it before
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+8:20,21">ver. 20, 21</A>),
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and told that the land of Goshen should be exempt from this plague,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+8:22,23">ver. 22, 23</A>.
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2. The plague is brought,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+8:24">ver. 24</A>.
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3. Pharaoh treats with Moses about the release of Israel, and humbles
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himself,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+8:25-29">ver. 25-29</A>.
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4. The plague is thereupon removed
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+8:31">ver. 31</A>),
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and Pharaoh's heart hardened,
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<A
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HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+8:32">ver. 32</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ex8_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex8_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex8_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex8_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex8_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex8_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex8_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex8_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex8_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex8_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex8_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex8_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex8_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex8_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex8_15"> </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 Plagues of Egypt.</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 the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> spake unto Moses, Go unto Pharaoh, and say unto
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him, Thus saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, Let my people go, that they may serve
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me.
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2 And if thou refuse to let <I>them</I> go, behold, I will smite all
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thy borders with frogs:
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3 And the river shall bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall
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go up and come into thine house, and into thy bedchamber, and
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upon thy bed, and into the house of thy servants, and upon thy
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people, and into thine ovens, and into thy kneadingtroughs:
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4 And the frogs shall come up both on thee, and upon thy
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people, and upon all thy servants.
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5 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch forth
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thine hand with thy rod over the streams, over the rivers, and
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over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up upon the land of
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Egypt.
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6 And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt;
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and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt.
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7 And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought
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up frogs upon the land of Egypt.
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8 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Intreat
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the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, that he may take away the frogs from me, and from my
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people; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice
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unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
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9 And Moses said unto Pharaoh, Glory over me: when shall I
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intreat for thee, and for thy servants, and for thy people, to
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destroy the frogs from thee and thy houses, <I>that</I> they may
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remain in the river only?
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10 And he said, To morrow. And he said, <I>Be it</I> according to
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thy word: that thou mayest know that <I>there is</I> none like unto
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the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> our God.
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11 And the frogs shall depart from thee, and from thy houses,
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and from thy servants, and from thy people; they shall remain in
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the river only.
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12 And Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh: and Moses cried
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unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> because of the frogs which he had brought against
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Pharaoh.
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13 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> did according to the word of Moses; and the
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frogs died out of the houses, out of the villages, and out of the
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fields.
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14 And they gathered them together upon heaps: and the land
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stank.
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15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his
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heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> had said.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Pharaoh is here first threatened and then plagued with frogs, as
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afterwards, in this chapter, with lice and flies, little despicable
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inconsiderable animals, and yet by their vast numbers rendered sore
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plagues to the Egyptians. God could have plagued them with lions, or
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bears, or wolves, or with vultures or other birds of prey; but he chose
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to do it by these contemptible instruments.
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1. That he might magnify his own power. He is Lord of the hosts of the
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whole creation, has them all at his beck, and makes what use he pleases
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of them. Some have thought that the power of God is shown as much in
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the making of an ant as in the making of an elephant; so is his
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providence in serving his own purposes by the least creatures as
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effectually as by the strongest, that the excellency of the power, in
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judgment as well as mercy, may be of God, and not of the creature. See
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what reason we have to stand in awe of this God, who, when he pleases,
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can arm the smallest parts of the creation against us. If God be our
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enemy, all the creatures are at war with us.
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2. That he might humble Pharaoh's pride, and chastise his insolence.
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What a mortification must it needs be to this haughty monarch to see
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himself brought to his knees, and forced to submit, by such despicable
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means! Every child is, ordinarily, able to deal with those invaders,
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and can triumph over them; yet now so numerous were their troops, and
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so vigorous their assaults, that Pharaoh, with all his chariots and
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horsemen, could make no head against them. Thus he <I>poureth contempt
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upon princes</I> that offer contempt to him and his sovereignty, and
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makes those who will not own him above them to know that, when he
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pleases, he can make the meanest creature to insult them and trample
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upon them. As to the plague of frogs we may observe,</P>
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<P>
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I. How it was threatened. Moses, no doubt, attended the divine Majesty
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daily for fresh instructions, and (perhaps while the river was yet
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blood) he is here directed to give notice to Pharaoh of another
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judgment coming upon him, in case he continue obstinate: <I>If thou
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refuse to let them go,</I> it is at thy peril,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+8:1,2"><I>v.</I> 1, 2</A>.
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Note, God does not punish men for sin unless they persist in it. <I>If
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he turn not, he will whet his sword</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+7:12">Ps. vii. 12</A>),
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which implies favour <I>if he turn.</I> So here, <I>If thou refuse, I
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will smite thy borders,</I> intimating that if Pharaoh complied the
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controversy should immediately be dropped. The plague threatened, in
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case of refusal, was formidably extensive. Frogs were to make such an
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inroad upon them as should make them uneasy in their houses, in their
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beds, and at their tables; they should not be able to eat, nor drink,
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nor sleep in quietness, but, wherever they were, should be infested by
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them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+8:3,4"><I>v.</I> 3, 4</A>.
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Note,
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1. God's curse upon a man will pursue him wherever he goes, and lie
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heavily upon him whatever he does. See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+28:16">Deut. xxviii. 16</A>,
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&c.
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2. There is no avoiding divine judgments when they invade with
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commission.</P>
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<P>
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II. How it was inflicted. Pharaoh not regarding the alarm, nor being at
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all inclined to yield to the summons, Aaron is ordered to draw out the
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forces, and with his outstretched arm and rod to give the signal of
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battle. <I>Dictum factum--No sooner said then done;</I> the host is
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mustered, and, under the direction and command of an invisible power,
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shoals of frogs invade the land, and the Egyptians, with all their art
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and all their might, cannot check their progress, nor so much as give
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them a diversion. Compare this with that prophecy of an army of
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locusts and caterpillars,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joe+2:2">Joel ii. 2</A>,
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&c.; and see
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+34:16,17">Isa. xxxiv. 16, 17</A>.
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Frogs came up, at the divine call, and <I>covered the land.</I> Note,
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God has many ways of disquieting those that live at ease.</P>
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<P>
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III. How the magicians were permitted to imitate it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+8:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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They also brought up frogs, but could not remove those that God sent.
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The unclean spirits which came <I>out of the mouth of the dragon</I>
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are said to be like frogs, which go forth to the kings of the earth, to
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deceive them
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+16:13">Rev. xvi. 13</A>),
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which probably alludes to these frogs, for it follows the account of
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the turning of the waters into blood. The dragon, like the magicians,
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intended by them to deceive, but God intended by them to destroy those
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that would be deceived.</P>
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<P>
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IV. How Pharaoh relented under this plague: it was the first time he
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did so,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+8:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
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He begs of Moses to intercede for the removal of the frogs, and
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promises fair that he will let the people go. He that a little while
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ago had spoken with the utmost disdain both of God and Moses is now
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glad to be beholden to the mercy of God and the prayers of Moses. Note,
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Those that bid defiance to God and prayer in a day of extremity will,
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first or last, be made to see their need of both, and will cry,
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<I>Lord, Lord,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+7:22">Matt. vii. 22</A>.
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Those that have bantered prayer have been brought to beg it, as the
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rich man that had scorned Lazarus courted him for a drop of water.</P>
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<P>
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V. How Moses fixes the time with Pharaoh, and then prevails with God by
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prayer for the removal of the frogs. Moses, to show that his
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performances had no dependence upon the conjunctions or oppositions of
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the planets, or the luckiness of any one hour more than another, bids
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Pharaoh name his time. <I>Nellum occurrit tempus regi--No time fixed on
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by the king shall be objected to,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+8:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
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<I>Have thou this honour over me,</I> tell me <I>against when I shall
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entreat for thee.</I> This was designed for Pharaoh's conviction, that,
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if his eyes were not opened by the plague, they might by the removal of
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it. So various are the methods God takes to bring men to repentance.
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Pharaoh sets the time for <I>to-morrow,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+8:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
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And why not immediately? Was he so fond of his guests that he would
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have them stay another night with him? No, but probably he hoped that
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they would go away of themselves, and then he should get clear of the
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plague without being obliged either to God or Moses. However, Moses
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joins issue with him upon it: "<I>Be it according to thy word,</I> it
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shall be done just when thou wouldst have it done, <I>that thou mayest
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know that,</I> whatever the magicians pretend to, <I>there is none like
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unto the Lord our God.</I> None has such a command as he has over all
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the creatures, nor is any one so ready to forgive those that humble
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themselves before him." Note, The great design both of judgments and
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mercies is to convince us that there is none like the Lord our God,
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none so wise, so mighty, so good, no enemy so formidable, no friend so
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desirable, so valuable. Moses, hereupon, applies to God, prays
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earnestly to him, to remand the frogs,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+8:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>.
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Note, We must pray for our enemies and persecutors, even the worst as
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Christ did. In answer to the prayer of Moses, the frogs that came up
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one day perished the next, or the next but one. They all died
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+8:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>),
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and, that it might appear that they were real frogs, their dead bodies
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were left to be raked together in heaps, so that the smell of them
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became offensive,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+8:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
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Note, The great Sovereign of the world makes what use he pleases of the
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lives and deaths of his creatures; and he that gives a being, to serve
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one purpose, may, without wrong to his justice, call for it again
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immediately, to serve another purpose.</P>
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<P>
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VI. What was the issue of this plague
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+8:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>):
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<I>When Pharaoh saw there was a respite,</I> without considering either
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what he had lately felt or what he had reason to fear, he hardened his
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heart. Note,
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1. Till the heart is renewed by the grace of God, the impressions made
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by the force of affliction do not abide; the convictions wear off, and
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the promises that were extorted are forgotten. Till the disposition of
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the air is changed, what thaws in the sun will freeze again in the
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shade.
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2. God's patience is shamefully abused by impenitent sinners. The
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respite he gives them, to lead them to repentance, they are hardened
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by; and while he graciously allows them a truce, in order to the making
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of their peace, they take that opportunity to rally again the baffled
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forces of an obstinate infidelity. See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+8:11,Ps+78:34">Eccl. viii. 11; Ps. lxxviii. 34</A>,
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&c.</P>
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<A NAME="Ex8_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex8_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex8_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex8_19"> </A>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>16 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out
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thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice
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throughout all the land of Egypt.
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17 And they did so; for Aaron stretched out his hand with his
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rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and it became lice in man,
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and in beast; all the dust of the land became lice throughout all
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the land of Egypt.
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18 And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring
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forth lice, but they could not: so there were lice upon man, and
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upon beast.
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19 Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This <I>is</I> the finger
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|
of God: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not
|
|
unto them; as the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> had said.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
I. How this plague of lice was inflicted on the Egyptians,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+8:16,17"><I>v.</I> 16, 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
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,"
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+41:14,15">Isa. xli. 14, 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
These lice, no doubt, were extremely vexatious, as well as scandalous,
|
|
to the Egyptians. Though they had respite, they had respite but awhile,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+11:14">Rev. xi. 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
The second woe was past, but behold the third woe came very
|
|
quickly.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. How the magicians were baffled by it,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+8:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+8:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>);
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
III. How Pharaoh, notwithstanding this, was made more and more
|
|
obstinate
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+8:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>);
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ex8_20"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ex8_21"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ex8_22"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ex8_23"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ex8_24"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ex8_25"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ex8_26"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ex8_27"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ex8_28"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ex8_29"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ex8_30"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ex8_31"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ex8_32"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>20 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> 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 L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, 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 L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> 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 L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> 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 L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> 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 L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> our God, as he shall command us.
|
|
28 And Pharaoh said, I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice
|
|
to the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> 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 L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> 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 L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
|
|
30 And Moses went out from Pharaoh, and intreated the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
|
|
31 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> 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.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is the story of the plague of flies, in which we are told,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. How it was threatened, like that of frogs, before it was inflicted.
|
|
Moses is directed
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+8:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>)
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+7:18">Isa. vii. 18</A>,
|
|
|
|
<I>The Lord will hiss</I> (or whistle) <I>for the fly and the bee,</I>
|
|
to come and serve his purposes.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. How the Egyptians and the Hebrews were to be remarkably
|
|
distinguished in this plague,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+8:22,23"><I>v.</I> 22, 23</A>.
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+16:9">2 Chron. xvi. 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
Observe how it is repeated: <I>I will put a division between my people
|
|
and thy people</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+8:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>.
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mal+3:18">Mal. iii. 18</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>the sheep and the goats</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+25:32,Eze+34:17">Matt. xxv. 32; Ezek. xxxiv. 17</A>),
|
|
|
|
though now intermixed.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. How it was inflicted, the day after it was threatened: <I>There
|
|
came a grievous swarm of flies</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+8:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>),
|
|
|
|
flies of divers sorts, and such as devoured them,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+78:45">Ps. lxxviii. 45</A>.
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
1. He is content they should sacrifice to their God, provided they
|
|
would do it in the land of Egypt,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+8:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>.
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+8:26"><I>v.</I> 26</A>.
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+8:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>.
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+6:14,Ps+26:4,6">2 Cor. vi. 14, &c.; Ps. xxvi. 4, 6</A>.
|
|
|
|
(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>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+2:14,So+7:11">Hos. ii. 14; Cant. vii. 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
(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>
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+8:28"><I>v.</I> 28</A>.
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+8:29"><I>v.</I> 29</A>.
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+21:29">1 Kings xxi. 29</A>),
|
|
|
|
<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>
|
|
|
|
<I>Lastly,</I> The issue of all was that God graciously removed the
|
|
plague
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+8:30,31"><I>v.</I> 30, 31</A>),
|
|
|
|
but Pharaoh perfidiously returned to his hardness, and <I>would not let
|
|
the people go,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+8:32"><I>v.</I> 32</A>.
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
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