The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 1 — Section 188

HOMILIES IlY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vors. 14---25.-Tlie Nile turned into blood. The first of the series of plazues which foll on Egypt was of a truly terrific character. At the stretching out of tbc rod r,f Aaron, the broad, swift-flowing current of-the rising Nile suddenly assumed the hue and qualities of blood. The stroke fell also on the reservoirs, canals, and ponds. What- ever connection may be traced between this plague and natural phenomena. (see Heng- sten berg) it is plain that it stood on an entirely different footing from change3 pro- duced under purely natural conditions. 1. The water was rendered wholly unfit for use. 2. It became deadly in its properties (ver. 18). 3. The stroke was instantaneous. 4. It was pre-announced. 5. It descended on the river at the summons of Moses and Aaron. 6. It lasted exactly seven days (ver. 25). An event of this kind was palpably of supernatural origin. Contrast Moses with Christ, the one beginning the series of wonders by turning the river into blood; the other, in his first miracle, turning the water into wine (John ii. 1-12). The contrast of judgment and mercy, of law ar,d Gospel. Consider- I. THE DEMAND RENEWED WITH THE ACCOMPA:!'!IMENT OF 1'1lREAT ('7crs. 16-19). 1. The demand was that which Pharaoh had hitherto resisted. It was a. demand righteous and reasonable in itself-" Let my people go," etc. It had come to him, more- over, as the command of Jehovah, and proof had been given him that such was its character. Still he had resisted it. This, however, did not dispose of the demand, 'll'hich now confronts him again. 2. The demand which Pharaoh would not freely grant, he is now to be compelled to grant. If he will not bow to reason, to persuasion, to evidence, he must bow to power. An unprecedented calamity would overtake his land:" In this shalt thou know that I am the Lord; behold, I will smite with the rod," etc. (ver. 17). Note--(1) Reasonable means are exhausted with the sinner before compulsion is resorted to. God is unwilling to proceed to extremities. (2) Nevertheless, if gentler methods fail, means will be used which will compel submission. "As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall conf1JSs to God" (Rom. xiv. 11 ; Phil. ii. 10, 11). (3) Excuses are not admitted for wilful unbelief. Pharaoh would probably have pleaded 11.'l a ground for his refusal, that he did not believe that the co=and in question proceeded from Jehovah. No such plea will be admitted in the court of heaven. Every allowance will be made for involuntary ignorance, but none for wilful unbelief. What the sinner is asked to do is righteous and reasonable in itself; is made known to him as God's will ; and is evidenced to be such by many infallible proofs. Refusal to acknowledge the sufficiency of this evidence does not exculpate from the guilt of disobedience. The question is not-Does he, or will he, admit its sufficiency, but is it sufficient? Not, Does it convince him? but, Ought it to convince him? Our errors, follies, and mistakes will not hinder the Almighty from executing his purposes. If we·stand in the way of them, and will not bend, we must be crushed. II. THE PLAGUE AB A SIGN TO EGYPT. The smiting of the Nile was-1. A proof of the power of Jehovah (ver. 17). It showed him to be an actually existing Being, demonstrated his supremacy in nature, and ma.de manifest his determination to punish resistance to his will. 2. A blow at Egyptian idolatry. It turned the river Nile, which itself was worshipped as a divinity, into an object of loathsomeness and source of death to its worshippers. They were the chief gods of Egypt, too, who were supposed to be embodied in the river. How clear the proof of the vanity of the idols, and of the unchallengeable superiority of Jehovah ! Yet we do not learn that one idol the less was worshipped in Egypt as the result of it. 3. A warning of worse evil to come. The Nile was in a sense symbolical of Egypt, of whose prosperity it was the source. The turning of this river into blood was in fact a prophecy or threat of utter ruin to. the state. The succeeding plagues are merely the unfolding of the threat contained in this one. 4. 'l'he removal of the plague at the end of seven days betokened the unwillingness of God to proceed to extremities. It. is very noticeable that the plague was removed unasked, and while Pharaoh was still hardening his heart. So long-suffering is God that he will try all means with sinners before finally giving them up. 'l'he lessons for ourselves from this plague are these-(!) 'l'he certainty of God's threatenings being executed. (2) The terrible 1m.nfahments in reserve for disobedience. (3) The ea.,  1,4 THE BOOK OF EXODUS. [CR. VII, 14-25,