The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 1 — Section 207

WBB not already, irrecovomblc. God had trusted him a second time, and this was tho rosuH. Obstinacy was passing into obduracy.-J. U. Vera. 20-32.-The fourth plague,-the flies: the irMnunities of Goshen. The more change from one chastising agent to another is not e. matter to be dwelt on in consider• ing this plague. We note that God makes the change from goats to flies, and that Pharaoh, who was obdurate before the gnats, is so far affected before the flies as to make an offer of submission; but it is obviously impossible for us to see why the flies shouhl be more efficacious than the goats. The important thing is, not the gradation from goats to files, but the way in which Goshen was protected by Jehovah, and thereby pro- claimed as under his favour. As in the third plague we are to notice the discomfiture of the magicians, rather than the goats themselves, so in the fourth plague we are to notice the immunities that were secured to Goshen, rather than the files. Thus we mark how majestically and how worthily of himself Jehovah moves on from point to point towards the climax: of his visitations on Pharaoh. To say that these plagues increased in severity is not to say much. Their succession in this respect is not so traceable as the succession of the events which happened in connection with them. In considering these events in their succession, we see more clearly how far this narrative of the plagues is from being the construction of a. mere story-teller. There is a. certain Divine art as to what is inserted a.nd what omitted; but of this we may be sure, that nothing is invented. Under- neath the condensed a.nd pregnant record there is a tremendous and bitter reality. Con- sider then- I. 'l'His PROTECTION OF GosHEN, I. Note what this protection did for the Israelites. Had they then up to this time been sharers in the inconveniences and perils of the first three plagues? We must conclude that they had been; and that Jehovah only now deemed it fitting to extend special exemption to them. It was well for them to share somewhat of the sufferings of the Egyptians. (And we must bear in mind that however much they shared of these sufferings, yet afterwards, in the wilderness, the recollection of the comforts and delicacies of Egypt rose above all the recollection of the sufferings. Oh. xvi. 3; Nu.m. xi. 4-6.) But now, with the fourth pla..:,crue, the time has come to make a. perceptible difference between Israelite a.nd Egyptian. True, the contest is advancing, but there is still much to be done ; and it is well to give Israel timely encouragements. They must wait a. while to be liberated from Phara.oh's thraldom, yet surely it mus& rejoice and comfort their hearts to see themselves, even though in bondage, free from the afflictions which are coming ever more thickly upon Egypt. Though they have not all they want, it is something to have such a clear sign that God has marked them for his own. Even in this world, with all his sufferings, temporal disadvantages, and opportunities of gain missed, because he is a. Christian, the Christian has that which makes the world to envy a.nd to fear. For a while we must share in the world's sufferings, but the world c:J.n.Dot share in our joys. Israel has to suffer with Pharaoh in the beginning, but presently it escapes ; whereas Pharaoh cannot by any plan extend Goshen among the habitations of his own people. If we would have the comforts of Goshen we must go there, fraternise with them that dwell there, and join ourselves on to them. 2. Note what this protection =y have done/or the Egyptians. It may have done much in the way of revelation as to the cause of their troubles. Up to this point, most of them, even while they experienced great sufferings, ha.d no knowledge of what ea.used the sufferings. It is very improbable that the demands of Moses had become known to the great bulk of the people. To national troubles they were doubtless used at times-such troubles as had come to their ancestors in the seven years of famine-but these pla..:,crues were altogether beyond precedent, a.nd must have provoked much active enquiry as to what possible cause could produce them. And now when. this sharp division. is ma.de between Egypt and Goshen, this line evidently not of man's making, the_ Egyptian people cannot but feel at once that there must be some connection between tneir sufferings and the state of the Israelites. Hence-::!. It is possible that hero we have the real reason why Pharaoh is now driven again into a sort of submission. What if he were more concerned at the absence of the files from Goshen than a.t the presence of them among his own people! Might not this extra.ordinary exemption set his own pe<'ple thinking too much, a.nd cause his bouse to be divided against itself? • IL His PI\Ol'OSITIONS TO MosEs OF C0.111PBOMlllE. Pharaoh, oa the occaaion of his former o2 196 THE BOOK OF EXODUS. [ CH. VIII. 20-32,