Exodus 7:14-25 And the LORD said to Moses, Pharaoh's heart is hardened, he refuses to let the people go.… I. THAT DIVINE RETRIBUTIONS ARE SENT WHEN OTHER AND MERCIFUL MEASURES HAVE FAILED TO ACCOMPLISH THE PURPOSE OF GOD IN MAN. II. DIVINE RETRIBUTIONS OFTEN CONSIST IN MAKING THE SOURCE OF MAN'S TRUEST PLEASURE THE CAUSE OF HIS GREATEST MISERY. 1. Sometimes the religious notions of men are made the medium of retributive pain. 2. Sometimes the commercial enterprises of men are made the medium of retributive pain. He who might have been prosperous, had he obeyed the behest of God, is ruined by his folly. 3. Sometimes all the spheres of a man's life are made the medium of retributive pain. If a man gets wrong with God, it affects the entirety of his life. Moral questions penetrate into every realm and department of being, and affect the whole of them, either gladly or wofully, all being dependant upon the attitude of the soul toward the Eternal. Hence it is wise for men to obey the command of God if they would be prosperous. 4. Thus we see how easily and completely God can make human life a retribution to the evil doer. He can turn our glory into shame. III. THAT THE DIVINE RETRIBUTIONS ARE EXTENSIVE IN THEIR EFFECT, AND ARE OPERATIVE BEFORE THE IMPOTENT PRESENCE OF THE SOCIALLY GREAT. "And Moses and Aaron did," etc. 1. This Divine retribution extended throughout all the land of Egypt. 2. This Divine retribution, in the act of infliction, was witnessed by Pharaoh, and he was unable to prevent it. IV. THAT THE DIVINE RETRIBUTIONS ARE NOT ALWAYS EFFECTUAL TO THE SUBJUGATION OF THE WICKED HEART. "And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments," etc. "And Pharaoh turned," etc. 1. The hardihood of a.disobedient soul. 2. The resistance of a tyrannic will. 3. The effort of men to mitigate the retribution of God. "All the Egyptians digged," etc. Vain effort. V. THAT THE DIVINE RETRIBUTION SOMETIMES EVOKES PRESUMPTIVE CONDUCT ON THE PART OF THE WICKED. Lessons: 1. That Divine retributions are often merited by men. 2. That God can soon turn our joy into pain. 3. That obedience is the wisdom of man. (J. S. Exell, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh's heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go.WEB: Yahweh said to Moses, "Pharaoh's heart is stubborn. He refuses to let the people go. |
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