But the LORD will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that no animal belonging to the Israelites will die.'" Sermons I. THE ALTERNATIVE AGAIN (vers. 1, 2). Surely Pharaoh was well warned. The analogy of the third plague would have led us to expect that on this occasion - after a second and glaring breach of faith - there would have been no warning. Yet mercy waits upon him. Faithless though he had been, if even yet he will let the people go, all will be forgiven. If not - then judgments. Mark how sacredly, in all this, the freedom of Pharaoh is respected. "He was not put on the actual rack or held over a slow fire till his cruel hand relaxed, and let the Hebrew bondmen go. The appeal was loud, and each time it was repeated he and his people were shaken more severely than before; but after every demand there was a respite, a pause, an opportunity to ponder, and either yield the point or recall a past concession." (Hamilton.) II. A MURRAIN OF CATTLE (vers. 3-7). This was the form assumed by the fifth plague. It is to be viewed, 1. As a new blow at Egyptian idolatry. The sacredness of the cow and ox are hinted at in Exodus 8:26. It may well have been that the sacred beasts themselves, the bull Apis, the calf Mnevis, and the rest, were smitten by the pestilence. 2. As a fresh illustration of the manifold resources of Jehovah. The mortality which came upon the cattle was universal in its sweep, carrying off, not only sheep and oxen, but horses, asses, and camels; destructive in its effects, the greater proportion of the cattle of each class falling victims to it; yet carefully discriminative, attacking the cattle of the Egyptians, but leaving unharmed those of the Israelites (ver. 6). 3. As a plague of increased severity. The loss sustained by the Egyptians in this mowing down of their cattle was the greatest they had yet experienced. Cattle constitute a large part of the wealth of every nation. They are of importance for food, for burden, and for the produce of the dairy. What a loss it would be to our own nation were our sheep, cows, oxen, horses, and asses, all suddenly destroyed! In the East the oxen were employed for draught, and in the operations of agriculture. Yet the plague was but the intensification of a natural calamity - one with the effects of which we are not wholly unfamiliar. It may seem "advanced to scoff at the agency of God in cattle-plague visitations, but the truer philosophy will reverently recognise the fact of such agency, and will not regard it as in the least incompatible with any secondary causes which may be shown to be involved in the production and spread of the disorder. God has this weapon equally with others at his command for chastening a disobedient people. Our wisdom, surely, is to be at peace with him. 4. As a forewarning of greater judgment. As yet the persons of the Egyptians had escaped. The plagues, however, were coming nearer and nearer them. Their cattle had been smitten, and what could the next stroke be, but an infliction upon themselves? III. THIS PLAGUE ALSO INEFFECTUAL (ver. 7). Pharaoh sent to see if any of the cattle of the children of Israel had died. The connection seems to indicate that his hardening was partly the result of the news that they had all escaped. This, instead of softening, maddened and embittered him. Hitherto Pharaoh has been seen hardening himself in spite of the influences brought to bear on him. The fact is to be noted that the plagues here begin to produce a positively evil effect. That which ought to have softened and converted, now only enrages, and confirms in the bad resolution. - J.O.
He sinned yet more. 1. Sense of judgment and mercy without faith worketh more evil in sinners against God.2. Mercies may prove occasions of hardening unto wicked souls; but no causes of their sin. 3. Wicked powers by unbelief harden themselves and others (ver. 34). 4. God sets on hardening when sinners choose to be stubborn against God. 5. Breach of promise with God is nothing with sinners. 6. God's foretelling of sinners ways aggravates that sin abundantly (ver. 35). (G. Hughes, B. D.) II. PHARAOH'S CONDUCT REVEALS THAT HIS HEART HAD BEEN UNCHANGED. Afflictions do change some sinners into saints. They have come out of the storm new men. But it often produces no radical change. It does not change the heart. Love only awakens permanent resistance to sin. III. PHARAOH'S CONDUCT MANIFESTED THE BASEST INGRATITUDE. Sin is always lamentable, but more so in the face of Divine mercy. Such insensibility to mercy is sure to bring another judgment. IV. PHARAOH'S CONDUCT WAS MOST PEESUMPTUOUS. V. PHARAOH'S CONDUCT SHOWS THE AMOUNT OF DEPRAVITY THAT MAY LURK IN A HUMAN HEART. Our only safety is in humiliating ourselves before the Lord, and seeking for His grace to overcome our own stubbornness and sins. (W. Lilley.) 2. When mercy bestowed. 3. When gratitude expected. (J. S. Exell, M. A.) One day, visiting a prison chaplain, the Rev. W. Harness asked him whether his ministry had been attended with success. "With very little, I grieve to say," was the reply. "A short time since I thought I had brought to a better state of mind a man who had attempted to murder a woman and had been condemned to death, he showed great signs of contrition after the sentence was passed upon him, and I thought I could observe the dawnings of grace upon the soul. I gave him a Bible, and he was most assiduous in the study of it, frequently quoting passages from it which he said convinced him of the heinousness of his offence. The man gave altogether such a promise of reformation, and of a change of heart and life, that I exerted myself to the utmost, and obtained for him such a commutation of his sentence as would enable him soon to begin the world again, and, as I hoped, with a happier result. I called to inform him of my success. His gratitude knew no bounds; he said I was his preserver — his deliverer. 'And here,' he added, as he grasped my hand in parting, 'here is your Bible; I may as well return it to you, for I hope I shall never want it again.'".People Aaron, Egyptians, Israelites, Moses, PharaohPlaces Egypt, GoshenTopics Animal, Belongeth, Belonging, Belongs, Cattle, Children's, Die, Distinction, Distinguish, Division, Egypt, Israelites, Israel's, Livestock, Loss, Nothing, Separated, Sever, SonsOutline 1. The plague on livestock8. The plague of boils 13. The message of Moses about the hail, 22. The plague of hail 27. Pharaoh pleads with Moses, but yet is hardened Dictionary of Bible Themes Exodus 9:4Library Confession of Sin --A Sermon with Seven TextsThe Hardened Sinner. PHARAOH--"I have sinned."--Exodus 9:27. I. The first case I shall bring before you is that of the HARDENED SINNER, who, when under terror, says, "I have sinned." And you will find the text in the book of Exodus, the 9th chap. and 27th verse: "And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the Lord is righteous, and I and my people are wicked." But why this confession from the lips of the haughty tyrant? He was not often wont to … Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 3: 1857 The God of the Old Testament is the God of the New The Plagues of Egypt Sign Seekers, and the Enthusiast Reproved. The Hardening in the Sacred Scripture. The Sovereignty of God in Reprobation Man's Misery by the Fall Opposition to Messiah Ruinous Exposition of Chap. Iii. (ii. 28-32. ) Exodus Links Exodus 9:4 NIVExodus 9:4 NLT Exodus 9:4 ESV Exodus 9:4 NASB Exodus 9:4 KJV Exodus 9:4 Bible Apps Exodus 9:4 Parallel Exodus 9:4 Biblia Paralela Exodus 9:4 Chinese Bible Exodus 9:4 French Bible Exodus 9:4 German Bible Exodus 9:4 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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