Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc09/v09650

Text File | 1994-03-01 | 8KB | 134 lines

09651
 #8-13 What men dislike, because it opposes their pride and
 lusts, they will not be convinced of; but it is easy to cause
 them to believe things they wish to be true. God always sends
 with his word full proofs of its Divine authority; but when men
 are bent to disobey, and willing to object, he often permits a
 snare to be laid wherein they are entangled. The magicians were
 cheats, trying to copy the real miracles of Moses by secret
 sleights or jugglings, which to a small extent they succeeded in
 doing, so as to deceive the bystanders, but they were at length
 obliged to confess they could not any longer imitate the effects
 of Divine power. None assist more in the destruction of sinners,
 than such as resist the truth by amusing men with a counterfeit
 resemblance of it. Satan is most to be dreaded when transformed
 into an angel of light.

09657
 #14-25 Here is the first of the ten plagues, the turning of the
 water into blood. It was a dreadful plague. The sight of such
 vast rolling streams of blood could not but strike horror.
 Nothing is more common than water: so wisely has Providence
 ordered it, and so kindly, that what is so needful and
 serviceable to the comfort of human life, should be cheap and
 almost every where to be had; but now the Egyptians must either
 drink blood, or die for thirst. Egypt was a pleasant land, but
 the dead fish and blood now rendered it very unpleasant. It was
 a righteous plague, and justly sent upon the Egyptians; for
 Nile, the river of Egypt, was their idol. That creature which we
 idolize, God justly takes from us, or makes bitter to us. They
 had stained the river with the blood of the Hebrews' children,
 and now God made that river all blood. Never any thirsted after
 blood, but sooner or later they had enough of it. It was a
 significant plague; Egypt had great dependence upon their river,
 #Zec 14:18|; so that in smiting the river, they were warned of
 the destruction of all the produce of their country. The love of
 Christ to his disciples changes all their common mercies into
 spiritual blessings; the anger of God towards his enemies,
 renders their most valued advantages a curse and a misery to
 them. Aaron is to summon the plague by smiting the river with
 his rod. It was done in the sight of Pharaoh and his attendants,
 for God's true miracles were not performed as Satan's lying
 wonders; truth seeks no corners. See the almighty power of God.
 Every creature is that to us which he makes it to be water or
 blood. See what changes we may meet with in the things of this
 world; what is always vain, may soon become vexatious. See what
 mischievous work sin makes. If the things that have been our
 comforts prove our crosses, we must thank ourselves. It is sin
 that turns our waters into blood. The plague continued seven
 days; and in all that time Pharaoh's proud heart would not let
 him desire Moses to pray for the removal of it. Thus the
 hypocrites in heart heap up wrath. No wonder that God's anger is
 not turned away, but that his hand is stretched out still.
09669
 * The plague of frogs. (1-15) The plague of lice. (16-19) The
 plague of flies. (20-32)

 #1-15 Pharaoh is plagued with frogs; their vast numbers made
 them sore plagues to the Egyptians. God could have plagued Egypt
 with lions, or bears, or wolves, or with birds of prey, but he
 chose to do it by these despicable creatures. God, when he
 pleases, can arm the smallest parts of the creation against us.
 He thereby humbled Pharaoh. They should neither eat, nor drink,
 nor sleep in quiet; but wherever they were, they should be
 troubled by the frogs. God's curse upon a man will pursue him
 wherever he goes, and lie heavy upon him whatever he does.
 Pharaoh gave way under this plague. He promises that he will let
 the people go. Those who bid defiance to God and prayer, first
 or last, will be made to see their need of both. But when
 Pharaoh saw there was respite, he hardened his heart. Till the
 heart is renewed by the grace of God, the thoughts made by
 affliction do not abide; the convictions wear off, and the
 promises that were given are forgotten. Till the state of the
 air is changed, what thaws in the sun will freeze again in the
 shade.

09684
 #16-19 These lice were produced out of the dust of the earth;
 out of any part of the creation God can fetch a scourge, with
 which to correct those who rebel against him. Even the dust of
 the earth obeys him. These lice were very troublesome, as well
 as disgraceful to the Egyptians, whose priests were obliged to
 take much pains that no vermin ever should be found about them.
 All the plagues inflicted on the Egyptians, had reference to
 their national crimes, or were rendered particularly severe by
 their customs. The magicians attempted to imitate it, but they
 could not. It forced them to confess, This is the finger of God!
 The check and restraint put upon us, must needs be from a Divine
 power. Sooner or later God will force even his enemies to
 acknowledge his own power. Pharaoh, notwithstanding this, was
 more and more obstinate.

09688
 #20-32 Pharaoh was early at his false devotions to the river;
 and shall we be for more sleep and more slumber, when any
 service to the Lord is to be done? The Egyptians and the Hebrews
 were to be marked in the plague of flies. The Lord knows them
 that are his, and will make it appear, perhaps in this world,
 certainly in the other, that he has set them apart for himself.
 Pharaoh unwillingly entered into a treaty with Moses and Aaron.
 He is content they should sacrifice to their God, provided they
 would do it in the land of Egypt. But it would be an abomination
 to God, should they offer the Egyptian sacrifices; and it would
 be an abomination to the Egyptians, should they offer to God the
 objects of the worship of the Egyptians, namely, their calves or
 oxen. Those who would offer acceptable sacrifice to God, must
 separate themselves from the wicked and profane. They must also
 retire from the world. Israel cannot keep the feast of the Lord,
 either among the brick-kilns or among the flesh-pots of Egypt.
 And they must sacrifice as God shall command, not otherwise.
 Though they were in slavery to Pharaoh, yet they must obey God's
 commands. Pharaoh consents for them to go into the wilderness,
 provided they do not go so far but that he might fetch them back
 again. Thus, some sinners, in a pang of conviction, part with
 their sins, yet are loath they should go very far away; for when
 the fright is over, they will turn to them again. Moses promised
 the removal of this plague. But let not Pharaoh deal deceitfully
 any more. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: if we think to
 cheat God by a sham repentance and a false surrender of
 ourselves to him, we shall put a fatal cheat upon our own souls.
 Pharaoh returned to his hardness. Reigning lusts break through
 the strongest bonds, and make men presume and go from their
 word. Many seem in earnest, but there is some reserve, some
 beloved, secret sin. They are unwilling to look upon themselves
 as in danger of everlasting misery. They will refrain from other
 sins; they do much, give much, and even punish themselves much.
 They will leave it off sometimes, and, as it were, let their sin
 depart a little way; but will not make up their minds to part
 with all and follow Christ, bearing the cross. Rather than that,
 they venture all. They are sorrowful, but depart from Christ,
 determined to keep the world at present, and they hope for some
 future season, when salvation may be had without such costly
 sacrifices; but, at length, the poor sinner is driven away in
 his wickedness, and left without hope to lament his folly.