The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 1 — Section 196

ho converted into most terrific scourges. He has at command a literall.v exhaustless 11rray of woapons with which to assail us, if we provoke his chastisements; armies counUess in numbers, invisible iu form, unseen in their modes of attack, and against which no weapons can bo forged likely to secure safety. As knowledge advances, means are discovered for partially protecting ourselves against this or that disorder (Bllnitary scienco, vaccination, etc.); but just as, perhaps, we a.re beginning to think with the Egyptians that the evil day is past, some new plague develops itself (e.g. the potato murrain) of which formerly we had no conception. vVe a.re still in God's hands and as helpless as ever. The "last days" will probably be marked by a singular intensification of natural plagues (Luke xxi. 25; Rev. xvi. 1-12). III. THE POSSIBILITIES OF RESISTANCE TO GOD THAT LIE IN HUMAN NATURE. It might have been judged impossible that, after being convinced, as Pharaoh at an early stage in these proceedings must have been, of the reality and power of the Being with whom he was contending-that he was indeed Jehovah, the God of the whole earth- the monarch should still have persevered in his mad resistance. Twice, in the course of this chapter, he is brought to the point of acknowledging the futility of further opposi- tion; yet, immediately on the plague being removed, be reverts to the policy of non- submission. He must have known that he had nothing to gain by it. lf he was infatuated enough at first to think that the Almighty, having removed one plague, could not, or would not, send another, he must have been speedily disabused of that impres- sion. It was no longer a question of self-interest with him, for the loss and pa.in caused by these successive plagues more than counterbalanced any gain he could hope to derive from the retention of the Israelites. Neither had be on his side, in opposition to this co=and of the Hebrews' God, the least shadow of right or reason, with which to sustain himself. Yet without one conceivable motive save that furnished by his own pride and obstinacy, and by hatred of the Being who was thus coercing him, Pharaoh continued to resist. Conquered for the moment, he returned to his defiant attitude the instant pressure was removed. And this defiant attitude he maintained, with increasing hardness of heart till the very end. Here then we see the possibility of a being finally resisting grace. It appals us to think of the possibilities of resistance to the Almighty thus lying in the constitution of our wills, but the fact is not to be ignored. It is a proof of our original greatness. It reveals to us our i=orta.lity. It shows us the possibility of a final loss of the soul. If it be thought that Gospel influences are certain to accomplish that which could not be expected by terrors and jud,,,"Illents, and that changes may be wrought in eternity, which cannot be wrought in time, we have to remember that an even worse hardening is possible under the dispensation of the Sou and Spirit than was possible to Pharaoh, and that human nature in the future state is essentially the same as human nature now. No good reason can be shown why a will which resists all that God can do to subdue it here may not from the same motives resist all gracious influences brought to bear on it hereafter. No one, at least, looking to the possibilities of resistance manifested on earth, could guarantee that it will not do so. Tho tendency to a fixed state of the will in evil as in good, renders the possibility of an ultimate recovery of those who habitually resist light here extremely problematical, even on the grounds of philosophy. If we tum to Scripture, it is difficult to see what warrant we have to expect it. 'l'be dream of a future dispensation of grace, and of universal restoration, must find support somewhere else than in its statements. If we accept the plain teaching of Christ and the Apostles, there a.re those ·who will finally resist, and their number will not be few. The gift of will is a great, but it is also an infinitely perilous one. Even Dr. Farrar says, "I c:i.nnot tell whether some souls may not resist God for ever, and therefore may not be for ever shut out from his lJresence" (Mercy and Judgment, p. 485). IV. Gon's READINESS TO BE ENTREATED OF THE SINKER. Though Pharaoh bad hardened himself so obstinately, yet, on the first signs of his relenting, mercy was shown to him (ver. 9). There was on God's pa.rt, even a hastening to be gracious. Pharaoh .vas ta.ken at bis word. He was trusted. No guarantees were taken from him that be would fulfil his word, save his simple promise. God might have delayed the removal of the plague till tho actual order for Isrnel's departure from the land had been given. But the plague was removed at once, that Pharaoh might be left to his freedom, and that his heart might bo won by the exhibition of the divine goodness to him. And this  184 'l'HE DOOR OF EXODUS. [en. vm.1-Hl,