The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 1 — Section 224

real e.nd honest feeling. Sees the sin of the people as well as his own. Confesses. But the confession was not followed up. V. PROMISE-VIOLATION. After second (viii. 8---15), fourth (viii. 28---32), and seventh (ix. 28-36) plagues. A very common thing with sinners under Divine discipline-- promises of amendment-but the sweep onward of the bias toward iniquity is like that of e. mighty river, e.nd carries the most earnest vows into the gulf of oblivion. VI. DISPOSITION TO COMPROMISE. See viii. 25---28, x. 8---11, x. 24. Such penitence as Pharaoh had we.s one of conditions and compromise. Israel's festival must be " in the land ; " then not "far away;" then only the men should go ; then all might go, but the cattle must stay behind. So "We will give up sin, but only part of it. We will yield ninety-nine points, not the hundredth. We will give up what we do not care for so much, but keep what we peculiarly like. We will keep all the co=andments, but not give up our money. • • We will gain the credit and reputation of religion, but shun the pa.in and denial of it." (See on " Pharaoh," in Munro's "Sermons on Characters of the Old Testament," vol. i. ser. xv.) VII. INDIFFERENCE. Stolidity in matters of such high import as religion is a very dangerous condition. Pharaoh assumed after fifth and sixth visitations an attitude of hardened indifference (ix. 7-12). VIII. HARDNESS OF HEART. Except in the objective announcement made to Moses at the first, there is no statement that God hardened Pharaoh's heart till after the sixth plague (ix. 12). Up to that time Pharaoh hardened his own heart, or the fact simply is stated, that his heart was hardened.. In this matter man acts first sinfully, then God judicially. IX. RESISTANCE TO APPEAL OF OTHERS. See ix. 20, and x. 7. X. RUIN.-R. Vers. 13-16.-The earth is the Lora's and thefulness of it. In this comprehensive message from Jehovah, standing as it does about midway in the course of his judgments upon Pharaoh, we have a peculiar and impressive application of the foregoing word of the Psalmist (Ps. x.xiv. 1). 'l'he word "earth," it will be noticed, stands in a very prominent position in each of the verses 14, 15, 16. Evidently, then, we should give the word an equally prominent position in our thoughts, and connect with it the truths to be drawn out of this message. It will then be seen that Jehovah has many ways of showing that the earth is his and the fulness of it. It is all his; not Pharaoh's, not any other potentate's, not even Israel'-xcept as Israel is chosen by Jehovah, duly trained and prepared by him, subjected and obedient to him. We have to consider this message, then, under three heads, as suggested by the occurrence of the word "earth" in these three verses. Note, however, first, the way in which Moses approaches Pharaoh on this occasion. In eh. vii. 15, he is told to get to Pharaoh in tbe morning and meet him by the river's brink; thus there is a general indication of time and e. particular indication of place. In eh. viii. 20, he is told to go early in the morning, as Pharaoh comes forth to the water; thus there is a more particular indication of time. Now, in eh. ix. 13, there is the same particular indication of time, but no reference to place. 'l'hus it seems as if we got a gradation, a sign of increasing pressure and urgency upon Pharaoh. Moses has to be ready for Pharaoh at the very beginning of the day, and then, whenever and wherever he may meet with him, he can deliver his message at once. Pharaoh had the whole day to consider as to the things which were a.bout to happen on the morrow. And now- I. THERE IS NO ONE LIKE JEHOVAH IN THE WHOLE EARTH, AND PHARAOH IS TO BE MADE TO KNOW THIS. Such is the statement of ver. 14; and of course the wholo gist of it lies in the bringing of Pharaoh to a clear and unmistakable knowledge of the supremacy of God over all terrestrial powers. '!'hat there is none like God in all the earth may be true, but the thing wanted is to bring that truth distinctly e.nd practically before our minds, and if profitably for us also, then so much the better. This end had to be achieved in the instance of Pharaoh by persistent attacks of Jehovah upon ·him, attacks ever increasing in effecti\'e force, till at last they proved irresistible. It was not enough for others to be assured by Pharaoh's doom that there was nono like God in all the earth. Pharaoh must know it for himself, and confess it, not by the ambiguous channel of speech, but by a most decisive act, the co=ittal of  214 THE BOOK OF EXODUS. (en. 1x. 13-16.