The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 1 — Section 227

it by punishment, well knowing, all the while, that punishment will increaso the obstinacy of the individual recipient. Finally, may have to ea:pel; yet, in justice to the rest, only finally, seeing that premature expulsion would but weaken his authority.] So God (1) spoke to Pharaoh by Moses (v. 1), then (2) punished him again and again (ix. 14), only (3) finally expelled him; foreseeing all the while that his treatment would but harden the offender, yet persisting in it for the good of others, to strengthen and maintain his own authority (ix. 16). 11. EFFECT ON PHARAOH OF GoD's DEALINGS WITH HIM. Keeping to illustration, the effect on Pharaoh was just what might have been, and was, anticipated. 1. Effect of speech. Warnings and threats alike disregarded. 'fhe man so full of his own importance that he would not listen; would not allow the existence of a superior; only irritated; made more obstinate (cf. chapter v.). 2. Effect of punishment. Pain inflicted proves power to inflict pain. Pain felt prompts to any action which may bring relief. Hence we find :-(1) Verbal confession, "1 have sinned" [just like boy, feeling punishment, ready to say anything which may remit the pain]. (2) A hardened heart. 'l'he dispositwn was not altered by the infliction. "I have sinned" only meant "1 have suffered." Once remove the suffering, and the sufferer showed himself more obdurate than ever. It would have been easy to remove Pharaoh at once; but he occupied an exemplary position, and must, for the sake of others, be treated in an exemplary manner. Expulsion came at last, but God retained him in his position so long as it was needful thereby to teach others his power (ix. 16). Perfectly just to all ; for even Pharaoh, though his conduct was foreseen, yet had it in his own power to alter it. Hardened like clay beneath the sun's heat, his own self-determination made him like the clay; it might have made him like the snow, in which case hi8 obduracy would have melt.ed. Apply. Many like Pharaoh, yet all do not act as he did under like treatment. (Of. Jonah iii.; Daniel iv. 31-34.) The same treatment may soften as well as harden. The heart, the self-will, the seat of the mischief----and there is a remedy for that (cf. Ezek. x:uvi.), but not whether we will or no (Heh. iii. 7, 8). Other ways in which hearts are hardened-Ph.a.raoh's by active resistance, others by persistent inattention. [ illustration-the disregarded alarum.J Bo Israel got used to God's dealing with them; so, too often we do (cf. Rom. ii. 4, 5; Ps. xcv. 8).-G. Vers. 17-35.-The seventh pT,a,g--the hail mingl,ed with fire. I. CoNBIDER THE PLAGUE ITSELF. 1. God has hi.s" to-morrow" (ver. 18) as well as Pharaoh (eh. viii.10). Only when Pharaoh's "to-morrow" comes, there comes with it the evidence that he means not what he says. But when God's" to-morrow" comes there is the evidence of his perfect stability, how he settles everything beforehand, even to the very hour. "To- morrow, about this time." A whole twenty-four hours then Pharaoh gets for considera- tion, although really he needs it not, and cannot be expected to profit by it. But as we see presently, it is serviceable to protect the right-minded among his people. Perhaps the very period of consideration would :ffiake Pharaoh even to despise the prediction. He would say to himself that a hailstorm, however severe, could be lived through, and the damage from it soon made right again. 2. This plague comes from a new direction. The heavens join the earth in serving God against Pharaoh. Uur minds are at once directed to the opening of the windows of heaven (Gen. vii. 11), and the raining upon Sodom and Gomorrah of brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven. But we see at once the great difference between these two visitations and this one. Terrible as it was, it was not destructive as they, nor was it meant to be. God never acts so that obliteration comes instead of chastisement, or chastisement instead of obliteration. He nicely graduates his agencies so as to attain the desired results. And yet, though this plague was not a Sodom experience, it was a sufficiently dreadful one. There was nothing in Egyptian a.nna.l.s to dwarf it. .A.ll the power which God has stored up in the atmosphere, and which, by its wide and minute diffusion, he makes such a blessing, is now cm.centrated so as to become correspondingly destructive. When man will not obey, God can show the rest of his creation in remarkable obedience. Man is seen becoming more and more repugnant to Divine control, while over against him other things are seen becoming more and more amenable. What an impressive reminder is thus given to us, concerning our departure from God, and the discord that departure has on. ix. 17-35.) THE BOOK OF EXODUS. 217