The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 1 — Section 206

obey orders, and go through wonderful evolutions. Man's power of control over the11e minute creatures is but a feeble image of the 110wer exercised over them by God. lie enrols them among bis battalions, and uses them to execute his co=issions. III. A 1'"EW SIGN IS THIS TIME GIVEN-THE SEVERANCE OF THE LAND OF GosnEN FROM THE REST OF EGYPT (vers. 22, 23). The Israelites had probably belln made fellow-sufferers with the Egyptian~, at least i°: part, in the inconvenience experienced from the first three plagues. This was permitted, at once as a chastisement for their unbelief and murmurings, and as a purifying discipline. Nothing has been said as to the effect produced upon their minds by the outbreak of these terrific plagues• but they must have s?own the lsraeli~es t)ie folly of their recent conduct, and wrought them up to a high pitch of expectat10n rn the confidence that the day of their redemption was drawing near. With the production of this change of mind in the dwellers in Goshen, the need for further inflictions upon them ceased, and a difference was thereafter put between them and the Egyptians. This astonishing separation was a.s clear a proof as could ha,e been given of Jehovah's absoluteness in the government of the creatures of the extent of _his rule, and of_ the care he exercised over his chosen people. Possibly, Pharaoh had hitherto been takmg encouragement from the fact that Israel was involved in the calamities. ~e may have _been led to question: 1. God's power, seeing that he could not protect his own worshippers. It may have suggested itself to him that Jeho,ah's power was limited, and therefore might successfully be braved. 2. God's love for lsrael. For if he loved them so much, why did he allow them to suffer? .And if his interest in them was as weak as facts seemed to show, it was not impossible, if resist- ance was continued, that he might abandon them altogether. 3. The likelihood of God's proceeding to extr_emities. God, Pharaoh ~y haye tho~ht, must stop SOil;ewhere, else his own people will be destroyed together with mme. 'Ihe need of protectmg them is a safeguard against his proceeding to extremes with me. The severance now effected between Goshen a.nd the rest of Egypt was a cruel blow to all such hopes. Thence- forward it was plain that God did care for Israel, that his power was as great as his love, and that whatever happened to Egypt, Israel was as safe as the pavilion of the Divine protection could make it. The fact is not without significance to ourselves. It teaches us that a. deep and broad line of demarcation is really being put in God's thoughts beween his own people and the rest of mankind, and that, whatever be the nature of his outward providence, he has their interests and well-being continually a.t heart. Those who encourage themselves in sin because they see that the righteous suffer with the wicked, a.nd judge that this proves an absence of interest or care on the part of God, must submit to a great undeceiving. The last judgment will make a final separation (Matt. :u:v. 31-35). IV. THE FOURTH PLAGUE BROUGHT PHARAOH A SECOND TIME TO THE POINT OF 1nramssroN TO GoD's COMMANDS. The separation of the territory of Israel seems greatly to have startled him, and he sent anew for Moses. The unwillingness of his mind to grant the required consent to the departure of the people is apparent from the interview. 1. Pharaoh proposes a compromise (v. 25). This is a. common expedient with those who arc hard pushed with questions of religion. It is, however, only a. veil for the spirit of disobedience working underneath. The compromise proposed was unhesitatingly rejected by Moses. £e had no authority to accept it. It was in its own nature an untenable one (ver. 26i- Nothing was to be gained by accepting it. By standing firm to his demand, he was et:rtain to get the whcl,e of what he wanted (ver. 28), why then take a part? Had he accepted the compromise, it would probably only have emboldened Pharaoh to further resistance. God's servants will do well to imitate Moses in this distrust of compromises. Little good ever comes of them. Principle, not expediency, should rule the Christian's conduct. The intrusion of expediency into matters ecclesiastical has been a grievous source of weakness, of scandal, and of loss of spiritual power. 2. _He ultimately yulds. He concedes, th~ who~e demand; quali~ed ~nly by the injunct10n not t-0 go far away (ver. 28). 'lhe mterv1ew leaves on ones mmd the impression of sincerity-of a real relenting, of however short a duration, on the part of Pharaoh. Just so much the more fatal to his spiritual life was the subsequent hardening. V. THOUGH WAR~'"ED BY MosEB OF THE PERIL OF ACTI~G DECEITFULLY, PHARAOH .11~Ew H.AJlllENED ms HEART (ver. 32). Hardening, after the experience just de- w.:ribed, may be regarded as almost settling Pha.raoh's dooIIl. He would soon be, if he OH, VIII, 20-32.) TilE DOOK OF EXODUS. 195