WHO is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go" (Ex. 5:22And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go. (Exodus 5:2)). Bold words these, proud Pharaoh! It may be quite true that you “know not the Lord," and that you" will not obey his voice," but you will find that neither of your boasts will hold good. You shall certainly know the Lord as a God of such judgment, as shall make your land a desolate wilderness, and your throne void of its heir-apparent; whilst, perforce, you shall obey His voice to the letter, and permit His people to quit your borders like a conquering host.
“The weaker must go to the wall," and if words fail of their object, force must be employed. Better far to hear the words of mercy, than feel the rod of judgment. Now, we are prone to look upon this Pharaoh as a notorious sinner—obdurate of heart beyond all—on a moral par with such as Judas Iscariot or Saul of Tarsus; that he was raised up to be a witness of the severity of God's judgment on a proud, impenitent, and hardened heart, a worldwide illustration of what God can do in the way of judgment on one who dares to say, " Who is the Lord? I know not the Lord, neither will I obey his voice." And quite rightly. Pharaoh was all this indeed, the severer the strokes, in that awfully rapid succession of plagues, he became the harder and more self-willed. He would not learn. What a curse is a will opposed to that of God! He could behold his land impoverished, his river poisoned, his people scourged, and yet resist the Hand that smote "I will not obey," said he,! And so, judgment must proceed. Nine times had he refused—a tenth plague falls. Ah! see the beauty of Egypt laid low,—those forms, yesterday full of manly vigor and healthy bloom, cold and rigid in death to-day. Yes, this plague forced the tyrant of man, the opponent of God, to yield,— reluctantly, indeed, yet, fearing other evils, he wisely gave in to the loud, persistent call of God to let His people go. Was Pharaoh not often reproved? and did he not harden his neck? then, was he not suddenly cut off without remedy? He was. Ah reader, heed these oft reprovings of God in your own case. You know them. Pharaoh had ten. How many have you had? He hardened his neck. Have you? He was cut off suddenly —a hard-hearted, rebellious sinner, who knew not the Lord nor obeyed His voice. Oh, what a history! How far-reaching the ill effects of this despot's wickedness!
Now, what was Pharaoh in the scientific language of our day? He was what is called an "Agnostic.” Our scientists tell us, that as science cannot reveal God to them, therefore He is "unknowable." They repudiate the despised Book that does make Him known, and then appeal to science, knowledge, but without result. And for this reason science does not profess to lead the thought beyond the range of "things seen," or that come within the senses.
It stops there. How can the mind of man go beyond itself unless revelation carry it? But revelation is refused, and as it alone makes God known, it is no wonder that its rejectors say that God cannot be known.
No thanks to science for any light on this all important matter. World-wisdom never knew God, nor can, but thanks, deep, eternal, to that gospel which does make Him known. “Him declare I unto you," said its chief ambassador, as he stood amid scientific Athens, in view of an altar whose inscription witnessed the ignorance of its worshippers. They had many altars and many gods, but there was an unknown God—One whom their learning had not discovered—Him truly they ignorantly worshipped. They, too, knew not the Lord, but they heard the gospel from the lips of Paul. Did they all obey? Nay, a few did, but "some mocked," others said, “We will hear thee again,"—treating God's imperative call to repentance with procrastination. The Athenian leaders of thought were nothing in advance of Pharaoh, though a period of some fifteen hundred years divided them.
But, since their day, another period of eighteen hundred years has run its course, and during that time the gospel has spread far and wide,—not converting the world, indeed, but, as purposed of God, calling out of the nations a people for His Name, bearing testimony to His grace, and sweetly saying, " Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely;" saving individuals, of a truth, and making God fully known to such in all that He is, so that, having obeyed the gospel, they know Him in power; and that knowledge speaks in their martyr-lives, and martyr-deaths, be they never so ignorant of that science which professes not to teach God.
“The gospel not convert the world!" says some reader. No, friend. “Preach the gospel to every creature," said the Lord; but, evangelizing the world, and converting it, are very different things.
“Then we are not to look for a converted world?” No, not yet. “The knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth, as the waters cover the sea," but not till after those who obey the gospel now shall have been caught up “to meet the Lord in the air," and ever be with Him (1 Thess. 4), and then judgment shall fit the earth for the kingdom, —the reign of Christ.
“Then there must be people surrounded by gospel privileges who are totally ignorant of its spirit and object “Yes. What is to become of them? Read 2 Thess. 1:7, 8,7And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: (2 Thessalonians 1:7‑8) “The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Judgment befell Pharaoh, who knew not the Lord, nor obeyed His voice; judgment will befall those in favored Christendom, who know not God nor obey the gospel. Ah proud disputers of this world, spurn not that gospel which can and does lead those who believe into the sure and blessed knowledge of God,—delivering them from the judgment of their sins in the lake of fire, because another bore that fearful judgment for them, washed them in His blood, brought them to God in righteousness, whose Spirit now dwells in them, as the earnest, in conscious realization, of the glory to come. Disobey not this gospel, I pray you, for that long delayed vengeance is daily nearing. Take timely warning. J. W. S.