The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 1 — Section 243

egregiously wrona. These are matters in which God has not given opportunity for knowledge; the depths of Pharaoh's personality are concealed from us. There is true and important knowledge to be gained, but it is in another direction. The marvellous, cxhaustless power of God is to be more prominent in our thoughts than the erratic and violent plunging of Pharaoh from one extreme to another. Amid all that is dark, densely dark, one thing is clear-and clear because God meant it to be clear, and took care to make it so-namely, that all this conduct of Pharaoh was the occasion for unmistakable and multiplied signs of the power of God. One is here reminded of the question of the disciples to Jesus (John ix. 2), "Who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?" 'l'o this question more answers than one were possible; but Jesus gave the answer that was appropriate to the occasion. The man was born blind, that the works of God should be made manifest in him. So not only was Pharaoh's heart hardened, but God himself hardened that heart, in order that these signs might be shown before him. Then, in the second place, these signs being wrought before Pharaoh, became also matters for consideration, recollection, and tradition to the Israelites themselves. Moses, taken as the representative of Israel, is to tell to his son, and to his son's son, what things God had done in Egypt. Here is ample occasion given for the observant and devout in Israel to note the doings ot Jehovah and communicate them with all earnestness and reverence from ugc to age. Surely it was worth a little waiting, a little temporal suffering, to have such chaptern written as these which record Israel's experiences in Egypt! \Vhat are the sufferings, merely in body and in circumstances, of one generation, compared with the ennobling thoughts of God, and the consequent inspiration and comfort which may through these very sufferings be transmitted to many generations following! Why it is even a great privilege for one generation to be poor, that through its poverty many generations may become rich. I!. CONSIDER HOW THE TERRIBLE MAGNITUDE OF THE LOCUST-PLAGUE IS SHO~ BY THE EFFECTS FOLLOWING ON THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF IT. 1. There are the expostula- tions r:f Pooraoh's servants with him (ver. 7). They, at all events, are not disposed to wait for the coming of the locusts. '!'hat the locust-pla,,aue was a very dreadful one, we may partly gather from other intimations in the Scriptures with respect to these voracious insects, advancing in their innumerable hosts (Deut. xxviii. 38, 42 : 1 Kings viii. 37; 2 Chron. vii.13; Joel i. 4; Nah. iii. 15). The experiences of modem travellers in the East are also such as to assure us that the expectation of a visit from the locust is enough to excite the most alarming thoughts (see in particular Dr. Thomson's obser- vations on the locust in The Land and the Book). But in truth we hardly need to go beyond the conduct of -Pharaoh's servants themselves. The very name locust was enough to startle them into precautionary activity; they did not wait for the reality. Some of them, indeed, had anticipated the destructive effect of the hail, and taken suitable precautions; but others felt there was room for question whether, after all, the hail would be so pernicious. In their presumption they guessed that a. hailstorm could inflict only a slight and reparable damage. But what could escape the locusts ~ Every green thing was well known to perish before their voracity. Even what might be called an ordinary visitation from them would be no trifle ; how much more such a visitation as Pharaoh's servants had now every reason to believe would come upon them! For the time was long past when they doubted concerning the power of Moses to bring what he threatened. It is no longer a question of the power of Moses, but of the endurance of Egypt. In all likelihood the thought now prevailing in the minds of Pharaoh's servants-possib·y in Pharaoh's own mind-was that this run of calamity would presently come to an end, if only it was patiently endured. For in ancient Egypt there was doubtless some such proverb as might be Englished into our common saying, "It is e. long lane that has no turning." Egypt has known the long lane of seven plagues; surely it cannot be much longer. .And yet it may easily be long; enouah to destroy them before they get out of it. Locusts to come, when Moses speaks a.bout them, may be reckoned as good as come, if something be not done promptly to avert their approach; and once come, then how long will the food of Egypt remain, either for man or beast! No wonder, then, that Pharaoh's servants turned upon him with such warm-one may almost say threatening-expostulations. The prospect cf e.n immediate and almost instantaneous stoppage of supplies was enough to bring them  234 THE BOOK OF EXODUS. [cu. x. 1-20.