Exodus 8:16-1916And the Lord said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt. 17And they did so; for Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and it became lice in man, and in beast; all the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt. 18And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: so there were lice upon man, and upon beast. 19Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said. (Exodus 8:16‑19)
No warning was given Pharaoh as the third plague was about to overtake the land of Egypt. This next blow was of a different kind, aimed more at the persons of the Egyptians. “And the LORD said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.” verse 16.
Immediately there came forth lice that infested both man and beast. The swarms of frogs had been horrible indeed, but they at least could be seen and dealt with in some measure, but the lice presented a far greater evil problem to them. The Egyptians were known for their scrupulous cleanliness; small and easily concealed upon the bodies and in the hair of men and beasts alike, the presence of the lice was a constant source of terrible irritation, and there was scant means of providing a moment’s relief.
God called for these lice to spring from the dust, and they remind us that from the dust of this sin-cursed earth (Gen. 3:1717And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; (Genesis 3:17)) evil in its most persistent and vile forms will continually spring forth. Satan seeks to conceal or gloss over the evil, but man is nonetheless aware of his sins and his inability to rid himself of them or get rid of their consequences. He knows not how to cope with this great affliction and is unsuccessful in attempted reforms, resolutions and good intentions. He is in dreadful bondage to a terrible master who will give him no peace or way of escape.
“Oh wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me?” is the cry of an exercised heart. The answer comes clear and true to all who will hearken: “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 7:24,2524O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. (Romans 7:24‑25). If the reader is yet a servant to sit and tasting its bitter fruit, as typified in these abhorrent types, there is deliverance for you if you will but come to God according to His word. Seek no longer to improve the old nature, but turn in faith to Christ, for, “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7). “By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: It is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8,98For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8‑9).
“And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not:... Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God. vv.18,19. The magicians could not imitate Moses in this; they could not produce life. Men can make wonderful inventions, but they cannot produce life. God has told us that life is in the blood (Lev. 17:1111For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. (Leviticus 17:11)), but still men cannot discover the secret, and they never will. If truthful, men will always have to admit, like the magicians of Egypt, “This is the finger of God.”
Again, “Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them.” 10:18,19. Man left to himself invariably refuses the testimony of God. He knows it is God; he has the consciousness that he is doing wrong in refusing it. Yet he does refuse because he does not like and dare not trust God, whose word interferes with everything he likes. Thus he gives himself up to unbelief. It is never God who makes man an unbeliever. Hardening is a judgment from God which comes when man persists in unbelief in the face of distinct and repeated testimony from Him.
ML 10/20/1968