patriarchs and prophets-第67章
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he rejected the first miracle； produced their harvest。 As he continued to
venture on in his own course； going from one degree of stubbornness to
another； his heart became more and more hardened； until he was called to
look upon the cold； dead faces of the first…born。
God speaks to men through His servants； giving cautions and warnings； and
rebuking sin。 He gives to each an opportunity to correct his errors before
they become fixed in the character； but if one refuses to be corrected；
divine power does not interpose to counteract the tendency of his own
action。 He finds it more easy to repeat the same course。 He is hardening the
heart against the influence of the Holy Spirit。 A further rejection of light
places him where a far stronger influence will be ineffectual to make an
abiding impression。
He who has once yielded to temptation will yield more readily the second
time。 Every repetition of the sin lessens his power of resistance； blinds
his eyes； and stifles conviction。 Every seed of indulgence sown will bear
fruit。 God works no miracle to prevent the harvest。 〃Whatsoever a man
soweth； that shall he also reap。〃 Galatians 6：7。 He who manifests an infidel
hardihood； a stolid indifference to divine truth； is but reaping the harvest
of
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that which he has himself sown。 It is thus that multitudes come to listen
with stoical indifference to the truths that once stirred their very souls。
They sowed neglect and resistance to the truth； and such is the harvest
which they reap。
Those who are quieting a guilty conscience with the thought that they can
change a course of evil when they choose； that they can trifle with the
invitations of mercy； and yet be again and again impressed； take this course
at their peril。 They think that after casting all their influence on the
side of the great rebel； in a moment of utmost extremity； when danger
compasses them about； they will change leaders。 But this is not so easily
done。 The experience； the education； the discipline of a life of sinful
indulgence； has so thoroughly molded the character that they cannot then
receive the image of Jesus。 Had no light shone upon their pathway； the case
would have been different。 Mercy might interpose； and give them an
opportunity to accept her overtures； but after light has been long rejected
and despised； it will be finally withdrawn。
A plague of hail was next threatened upon Pharaoh； with the warning； 〃Send
therefore now； and gather thy cattle； and all that thou hast in the field；
for upon every man and beast which shall be found in the field； and shall
not be brought home； the hail shall come down upon them； and they shall
die。〃 Rain or hail was unusual in Egypt； and such a storm as was foretold
had never been witnessed。 The report spread rapidly； and all who believed
the word of the Lord gathered in their cattle； while those who despised the
warning left them in the field。 Thus in the midst of judgment the mercy of
God was displayed； the people were tested； and it was shown how many had
been led to fear God by the manifestation of His power。
The storm came as predictedthunder and hail； and fire mingled with it；
〃very grievous； such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt
since it became a nation。 And the hail smote throughout all the land of
Egypt all that was in the field； both man and beast； and the hail smote
every herb of the field； and brake every tree of the field。〃 Ruin and
desolation marked the path of the destroying angel。 The land of Goshen alone
was spared。 It was demonstrated to the Egyptians that the earth is under the
control of the living God； that the elements obey His voice； and that the
only safety is in obedience to Him。
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All Egypt trembled before the awful outpouring of divine judgment。 Pharaoh
hastily sent for the two brothers； and cried out； 〃I have sinned this time：
the Lord is righteous； and I and my people are wicked。 Entreat the Lord （for
it is enough） that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail； and I will
let you go； and ye shall stay no longer。〃 The answer was； 〃As soon as I am
gone out of the city； I will spread abroad my hands unto the Lord； and the
thunder shall cease； neither shall there be any more hail； that thou mayest
know how that the earth is the Lord's。 But as for thee and thy servants； I
know that ye will not yet fear the Lord God。〃
Moses knew that the contest was not ended。 Pharaoh's confessions and
promises were not the effect of any radical change in his mind or heart； but
were wrung from him by terror and anguish。 Moses promised； however； to grant
his request； for he would give him no occasion for further stubbornness。 The
prophet went forth； unheeding the fury of the tempest； and Pharaoh and all
his host were witnesses to the power of Jehovah to preserve His messenger。
Having passed without the city； Moses 〃spread abroad his hands unto the
Lord： and the thunders and hail ceased； and the rain was not poured upon the
earth。〃 But no sooner had the king recovered from his fears than his heart
returned to its perversity。
Then the Lord said unto Moses； 〃Go in unto Pharaoh： for I have hardened his
heart； and the heart of his servants； that I might show these My signs
before him； and that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son； and of thy
son's son； what things I have wrought in Egypt； and My signs which I have
done among them； that ye may know how that I am Jehovah。〃 The Lord was
manifesting His power； to confirm the faith of Israel in Him as the only
true and living God。 He would give unmistakable evidence of the difference
He placed between them and the Egyptians； and would cause all nations to
know that the Hebrews； whom they had despised and oppressed； were under the
protection of the God of heaven。
Moses warned the monarch that if he still remained obstinate； a plague of
locusts would be sent； which would cover the face of The earth and eat up
every green thing that remained； they would fill the houses； even the palace
itself； such a scourge； he said； as 〃neither thy fathers； nor thy fathers'
fathers have seen； since the day that they were upon the earth unto this
day。〃
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The counselors of Pharaoh stood aghast。 The nation had sustained great loss
in the death of their cattle。 Many of the people had been killed by the
hail。 The forests were broken down and the crops destroyed。 They were fast
losing all that had been gained by the labor of the Hebrews。 The whole land
was threatened with starvation。 Princes and courtiers pressed about the king
and angrily demanded； 〃How long shall this man be a snare unto us？ let the
men go； that they may serve the Lord their God： knowest thou not yet that
Egypt is destroyed？〃
Moses and Aaron were again summoned； and the monarch said to them； 〃Go；
serve the Lord your God： but who are they that shall go？〃
The answer was； 〃We will go with our young and with our old； with our sons
and with our daughters； with our flocks and with our herds will we go； for
we must hold a feast unto the Lord。〃
The king was filled with rage。 〃Let the Lord be so with you；〃 he cried； 〃as
I will let you go； and your little ones： look to it； for evil is before you。
Not so： go now ye that are men； and serve the Lord； for that ye did desire。
And they were driven out from Pharaoh's presence。〃 Pharaoh had endeavored to
destroy the Israelites by hard labor； but he now pretended to have a deep
interest in their welfare and a tender care for their little ones。 His real
object was to keep the women and children as surety for the return of the
men。
Moses now stretched forth his rod over the land； and an east wind blew； and
brought locusts。 〃Very grievous were they； before them there were no such
locusts as they； neither after them shall be such。〃 They filled the sky till
the land was darkened； and devoured every green thing remaining。 Pharaoh
sent for the prophets in haste； and said； 〃I have sinned against the Lord
your God； and against you。 Now therefore； forgive； I pray thee； my sin only
this once； and entre
