The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 1 — Section 138

prince of this world; no doubt as-to·the strength ·or the~latter-is it. possible for his 11poil~ to be wrested from him? The strong man armed hM thus far kept his pa.lace (Luke xi. 21), and his goods (cf. Rev. xviii. 13) have been in peace, so far 11.S outward a.i~turbe.nce is concerned, Now comes one who claims to be the stronger, What may be expected to.happen? I. THE CHALLENGE DELIVERED. 1. Tl1e tyrant. Picture the king. Wholly self- satisfied, worshipped as a god, absolute ruler over the lives of thousands. Surrounded by obsequious serrnnts-none to contradict him, none to disobey. Enthroned in pa.lace. Enter-2. The envoys. Two men--one grown old in slavery, one for forty years a shepherd, looking now at all this pomp as a man who dimly recalls some dream. Does he think of what might have been, perhaps he himself seated upon the throne (cf. Heb. xi. 24)? Greater honour to be the unknown envoy of Jehovah than to be the Pharaoh who receives his message. 3. The message. Strange words for such a king to hear (1) a command, not a request. The sender of the message speaks as to a ser"ant. (2) The slaves of Pharaoh claimed as the people of Jehovah; his right denied to the possession of his goods. 4. The reply. The demand met by a. contemptuous refusal, Who is Jehovah? I know not Jehovah l" If the message is authoritative, yet the envoys.are sufficiently humble-they even plead with him that, for the sake of the people, he will grant them permission and opportunity to sacrifice (ver. 3). All to no purpose ; the strong man is secure in his posi;essions and means to''.keep them in his grasp. II. HOSTILITIES OOMMENCED. Pharaoh.was not quite so indifferent as he seemed. If there is to be war, he will ga.in such advantage as may be gained by making the first hostile movement. His slaves at any rate shall be taught that rebellion-is not likely to be successful. Effect of his policy :-1. On people.· So long as he had been undisturbed his goods were in peace ; now that he is disturbed the miserable peace of his chattels is disturbed too. [Man in prison, treated with greater rigour on the rumour of an attempted rescue.] Early spring, just after the corn has been cut; chopped straw needed to mix with the clay in brickma.king; let these discontented rebels gather their own. Israelites obliged to scatter themselves over the country; all complaint~ stifled with blows. Result, vers. 20, 21, great discouragement and distrust of Moses and Aaron. "This comes of interfering." Six months' worse tyranny than ever. 2. On himseJf. Six months to realise the success of his policy ; feels more secure than ·enr ; heart is harder ; pride greater ( cf. Rom. ii 4, 5). 3. On Moses. •Vers. 22, 23. Disheartened, but only for a little; repulsed by Pharaoh, suspected. by the people, he is driven back on God; like the giant who gained strength each time he clasped the ground, so becoming more invincible with ea.eh new overthrow, finds God his ref,tge and his strength also. God is pledged to secure final victory. The slaves must be freed; Dot because they can win freedom, but because God has promised to free them. .Apply, from our Lord's parable, Luke ::ri. 21, 22. Satan the strong man who has many slaves, His power seems at first to increase when moved by the rumour of redemption wti attempt to follow the dictates of our Deliverer (cf. Rom. vii. 9-11). Content with slavery, there is quietude; trying after freedom we find trouble and affliction. rlllustr. A habit, not hard to endure, but hard to break. The chain of sin is easy to wear; they only know how fast it holds who try to, struggle free of it.] Cf. again Rom. vii. with St. Paul_ as with Israel ; the bondage seemed worse than ever when the hope of freedom was the most alluring. In either case the ground of hope, not in the sufferer, but a.way outside him. God prompts to the struggle against the oppressor, but he does not let victory depend on us; that rests with him. The promise to deliver is contained in the call to freedom. It is not, "I will help you when you are strong," nothing said about our strength at all; confidence rests on the fa.et that God is Jehovah, the changeless One ( cf. Ex. vi 2 ; MaL iii 6). Let Israel obey Moses, and God must redeem them from Pharaoh. Let us obey Christ, and God must redeem us from the power of Satan.-G. Vers. 1-4.-.Afirst interview. Accompanied by Aaron, Moses passes a.ga.in•through the halls of the Pharaohs from which he has been so long a stranger. Kings, courtien1, and people are different; _but all else-gates and pillars, courts, corridors, and reception- rooms-how UI1changed llWCe first he knew them l The feelings of the guondam prince 0B, V. 1--4.] 'l'HE BOOK OF EXODUB. 121