patriarchs and prophets-第66章
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appear to be the result of human skill and power。 In many minds he thus
destroys faith in Christ as the Son of God； and leads them to reject the
gracious offers of mercy through the plan of redemption。
Moses and Aaron were directed to visit the riverside next morning； where the
king was accustomed to repair。 The overflowing of the Nile being the source
of food and wealth for all Egypt； the river was worshiped as a god； and the
monarch came thither daily to pay his devotions。 Here the two brothers again
repeated the message to him； and then they stretched out the rod and smote
upon the water。 The sacred stream ran blood； the fish died； and the river
became offensive to the smell。 The water in the houses； the supply preserved
in cisterns； was likewise changed to blood。 But 〃the magicians of Egypt did
so with their enchantments；〃 and 〃Pharaoh turned and went into his house；
neither did he set his heart to this also。〃 For seven days the plague
continued； but without effect。
Again the rod was stretched out over the waters； and frogs came up from the
river and spread over the land。 They overran the houses； took possession of
the bed chambers； and even the ovens and kneading troughs。 The frog was
regarded as sacred by the Egyptians； and they would not destroy it； but the
slimy pests had now become intolerable。 They swarmed even in the palace of
the Pharaohs； and the king was impatient to have them removed。 The magicians
had appeared to produce frogs； but they could not remove them。 Upon seeing
this； Pharaoh was somewhat humbled。 He sent for Moses and Aaron； and said；
〃Entreat the Lord； that He may take away the frogs from me； and from my
people； and I will let the people go； that they may do sacrifice unto the
Lord。〃 After reminding the king of his former boasting； they requested him
to appoint a time when they should pray for the removal of the plague。 He
set the next day； secretly hoping that in the interval the frogs might
disappear of themselves； and
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thus save him from the bitter humiliation of submitting to the God of
Israel。 The plague； however； continued till the time specified； when
throughout all Egypt the frogs died； but their putrid bodies； which
remained； polluted the atmosphere。
The Lord could have caused them to return to dust in a moment； but He did
not do this lest after their removal the king and his people should
pronounce it the result of sorcery or enchantment； like the work of the
magicians。 The frogs died； and were then gathered together in heaps。 Here
the king and all Egypt had evidence which their vain philosophy could not
gainsay； that this work was not accomplished by magic； but was a judgment
from the God of heaven。
〃When Pharaoh saw that there was respite； he hardened his heart。〃 At the
command of God； Aaron stretched out his hand； and the dust of the earth
became lice throughout all the land of Egypt。 Pharaoh called upon the
magicians to do the same； but they could not。 The work of God was thus shown
to be superior to that of Satan。 The magicians themselves acknowledged；
〃This is the finger of God。〃 But the king was still unmoved。
Appeal and warning were ineffectual； and another judgment was inflicted。 The
time of its occurrence was foretold； that it might not be said to have come
by chance。 Flies filled the houses and swarmed upon the ground； so that 〃the
land was corrupted by reason of the swarms of flies。〃 These flies were large
and venomous； and their bite was extremely painful to man and beast。 As had
been foretold； this visitation did not extend to the land of Goshen。
Pharaoh now offered the Israelites permission to sacrifice in Egypt； but
they refused to accept such conditions。 〃It is not meet；〃 said Moses； 〃lo；
shall we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes； and
will they not stone us？〃 The animals which the Hebrews would be required to
sacrifice were among those regarded as sacred by the Egyptians； and such was
the reverence in which these creatures were held； that to slay one； even
accidentally； was a crime punishable with death。 It would be impossible for
the Hebrews to worship in Egypt without giving offense to their masters。
Moses again proposed to go three days' journey into the wilderness。 The
monarch consented； and begged the servants of God to entreat that the plague
might be removed。 They promised to do this； but warned him against
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dealing deceitfully with them。 The plague was stayed； but the king's heart
had become hardened by persistent rebellion； and he still refused to yield。
A more terrible stroke followedmurrain upon all the Egyptian cattle that
were in the field。 Both the sacred animals and the beasts of burdenkine
and oxen and sheep； horses and camels and asseswere destroyed。 It had been
distinctly stated that the Hebrews were to be exempt； and Pharaoh； on
sending messengers to the home of the Israelites； proved the truth of this
declaration of Moses。 〃Of the cattle of the children of Israel died not
one。〃 Still the king was obstinate。
Moses was next directed to take ashes of the furnace； and 〃sprinkle it
toward heaven in the sight of Pharaoh。〃 This act was deeply significant。
Four hundred years before； God had shown to Abraham the future oppression of
His people； under the figure of a smoking furnace and a burning lamp。 He had
declared that He would visit judgments upon their oppressors； and would
bring forth the captives with great substance。 In Egypt； Israel had long
languished in the furnace of affliction。 This act of Moses was an assurance
to them that God was mindful of His covenant； and that the time for their
deliverance had come。
As the ashes were sprinkled toward heaven； the fine particles spread over
all the land of Egypt； and wherever they settled； produced boils 〃breaking
forth with blains upon man； and upon beast。〃 The priests and magicians had
hitherto encouraged Pharaoh in his stubbornness； but now a judgment had come
that reached even them。 Smitten with a loathsome and painful disease； their
vaunted power only making them contemptible； they were no longer able to
contend against the God of Israel。 The whole nation was made to see the
folly of trusting in the magicians； when they were not able to protect even
their own persons。
Still the heart of Pharaoh grew harder。 And now the Lord sent a message to
him； declaring； 〃I will at this time send all My plagues upon thy heart； and
upon thy servants； and upon thy people； that thou mayest know that there is
none like Me in all the earth。 。 。 。 And in very deed for this cause have I
raised thee up； for to show in thee My power。〃 Not that God had given him an
existence for this purpose； but His providence had overruled events to place
him upon the throne at the very time appointed for Israel's deliverance。
Though this haughty tyrant had by his
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crimes forfeited the mercy of God； yet his life had been preserved that
through his stubbornness the Lord might manifest His wonders in the land of
Egypt。 The disposing of events is of God's providence。 He could have placed
upon the throne a more merciful king； who would not have dared to withstand
the mighty manifestations of divine power。 But in that case the Lord's
purposes would not have been accomplished。 His people were permitted to
experience the grinding cruelty of the Egyptians； that they might not be
deceived concerning the debasing influence of idolatry。 In His dealing with
Pharaoh； the Lord manifested His hatred of idolatry and His determination to
punish cruelty and oppression。
God had declared concerning Pharaoh； 〃I will harden his heart； that he shall
not let the people go。〃 Exodus 4：21。 There was no exercise of supernatural
power to harden the heart of the king。 God gave to Pharaoh the most striking
evidence of divine power； but the monarch stubbornly refused to heed the
light。 Every display of infinite power rejected by him； rendered him the
more determined in his rebellion。 The seeds of rebellion that he sowed when
he rejected the first miracle； produced their harvest。 As he continued to
venture on in his own course； goin
