EGYPT is one of the most ancient and memorable of all countries. It is about 480 miles long and 250 miles at its widest, and has ever been regarded as a great corn producing country; the cultivated area is about 16,000 square miles, and its population probably does not exceed 5,000,000. It has been the scene of some of the grandest facts wrought by Divine power, and is once again rapidly coming into prominence in the political and prophetic arena. Egypt's connection with Judea and the future generally, especially with Syria as in the past, is a point of growing interest to the student of the prophetic word. The power of Jehovah has been awfully witnessed in the land of Egypt, while the grace of Jehovah has been exhibited in the land of Palestine. The eloquent Dr. A. Thomson justly remarks: "All through the centuries of the Jewish church, and the period of the prophetic revelation, Egypt appears either as the tempter or as the persecutor of Israel, dividing the guilt in this respect with the Babylonian and Assyrian monarchies to the east of the sacred land."
Moses, Israel's deliverer and legislator, was eighty years old when first commissioned to effect the deliverance of Jehovah's people from Egyptian captivity (Acts 7:2323And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. (Acts 7:23), compare with verse 30). A second commission was given him in the land of Egypt, the first being in Midian. Exodus 31And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The Lord hath not appeared unto thee. (Exodus 4:1) and 4 records the history of the first charge, while Exodus 623And Aaron took him Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab, sister of Naashon, to wife; and she bare him Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. (Exodus 6:23) details the history of the second. The first demand upon Pharaoh was limited to a three days' departure from the land, that the people might sacrifice and worship (Ex. 5:33And they said, The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days' journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the Lord our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword. (Exodus 5:3)). This the king proudly and peremptorily refused, and, is an answer to Jehovah's intervention in behalf of His people, greatly increased their burdens, and urged the taskmasters to increased severity. But the haughty rejection of Jehovah and of His righteous claims only prepared the way for a commission to Moses, not now limited to a three days' departure for rest and worship in the wilderness, but one demanding the full and final deliverance of all the people. Jehovah's "I will," seven times repeated within the compass of three verses (Ex. 6:6-86Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments: 7And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 8And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the Lord. (Exodus 6:6‑8)), announced the calm, settled, and sovereign purpose of God respecting His people. Pharaoh—type of Satan's power and rigorous rule—disputes the rights of God, rejects His authority, and at once it ceased to be a question between the oppressor and the oppressed, between the Egyptians and the Hebrews. The ground is shifted, and it becomes an exceedingly solemn matter—one between the gods of Egypt and the only living and true God.
The signs of Ex. 44And the Lord said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand: 5That they may believe that the Lord God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee. 6And the Lord said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow. 7And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh. 8And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign. 9And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land. 10And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. (Exodus 4:4‑10) were for the accrediting of the Divine mission of Moses. Paul, the most eminent servant and brightest witness of grace in New Testament times, when questioned as to his apostleship, appealed to the "signs" he wrought (2 Cor. 12:1212Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. (2 Corinthians 12:12)), but ministerial service generally is best proved by the godly, practical life of the servant (2 Cor. 6:4-104But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 5In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings; 6By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, 7By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8By honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; 9As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; 10As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. (2 Corinthians 6:4‑10)). The first sign given to assure the heart of Moses and establish his soul in the confidence of his mission was the "rod"—emblem of authority—turned into a "serpent"—power of Satan—again becoming a "rod" in his hand (Ex. 4:2-42And the Lord said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. 3And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. 4And the Lord said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand: (Exodus 4:2‑4)). This would intimate the God-given power of Moses over all the power of the enemy, even though led on by Satan. The second reassuring sign to Moses and Israel was the hand of the deliverer put into his bosom, then withdrawn, and becoming "leprous as snow;" again the hand was put into his bosom, and, when withdrawn, "it was turned again as his other flesh" (Ex. 4:6, 76And the Lord said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow. 7And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh. (Exodus 4:6‑7)). Leprosy is the well-known type of sin in its defiling character, and the leprous hand in the bosom would aptly express that sin has its root in the heart of man; God's power over sin in man is the thought in this deeply-significant sign. The third proof or sign was one, if possible, more solemn than either of the two foregoing—water poured upon the dry land turned into blood (Ex. 4:99And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land. (Exodus 4:9)). The natural resources at man's disposal are turned into death. These signs set forth God's power over Satanic authority exercised in the world, sin in the flesh, and the varied resources of man; thus God would sanction the holy mission of Moses in effecting the deliverance of His people.
The ten plagues were sternly-executed judgments upon Pharaoh, his people, land, and gods. Their prime object was to signalize the power of Jehovah, and to assert His rights in presence of the full power of Satan and man. Do the Hebrew people belong to God or Satan? Such, we believe, to have been the solemn issue raised in the execution of these Divine judgments (Ex. 7-12.). Before, however, the struggle really commenced, the vaunted wisdom of Egypt was put to the test, and utterly baffled in the immediate presence of the world's mighty monarch, who was thus left without excuse on the one hand, and the mission of Moses and Aaron amply vindicated on the other. "And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded; and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a serpent" (Ex. 4:7:10). The celebrated magicians of Egypt called in by the king did so by their "enchantments." How they performed this wonderful feat, we are not informed, nor are we curious to inquire, but the result proved that, "Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel What hath God wrought!" (Num. 23:2323Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought! (Numbers 23:23)). We read "Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods;" in this there could be no imitation, nor was it attempted. The miracle was complete, for the serpent became a rod again in the hands of Aaron. All this was contrary to nature. Who ever heard of serpents swallowing each other. They eat slowly at the best, and for one to swallow many, and then as before to become a staff was truly a miraculous sign and before which the wisdom of Egypt might well quail. This remarkable sign or rather miracle, however, only induced hardness of heart on the part of the monarch. It is true God hardened Pharaoh's heart but it was after his rejection of Divine testimony, miraculously and divinely attested. It is not said that God fitted the vessels of wrath to destruction, but it is said that He prepared afore the vessels of mercy unto glory (Rom. 9:22, 2322What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: 23And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, (Romans 9:22‑23)). God never prepares a soul for destruction, but He does fit it for glory.
Now the conflict begins, and plague after plague is sent, reaching to the very heart of the power, wisdom, and religion of the king and people.
FIRST PLAGUE.
THE WATERS OF THE NILE TURNED TO BLOOD.
The celebrated river of Egypt, the Nile, with its canals, streams, and various tributaries, was turned to blood and stank; the fish, too, with which the river abounded, died. This must have been exceedingly humbling to the pride of Egypt, as the Nile, its only river, and the only source of vegetation to the country by its annual overflow (as little or no rain falls), was regarded as a special deity and worshipped accordingly, and its waters for agricultural, domestic, and other purposes were, of course, indispensable. Formerly Osiris, the Egyptian sun-god, was believed to have been the source from whence the Nile descended and was worshipped accordingly, but in course of time that homage was transferred to the river. The sentence of death was thus written on the nation's pride and boast. "Blood," the distinct and solemn witness of death, overspread the whole land of Egypt (Ex. 7:2121And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt. (Exodus 7:21)). The magicians, we are told, did so by their enchantments, but as "all the waters" had been turned to blood, the surpassing greatness of the Divine judgment must have been apparent even to the infatuated monarch himself (Ex. 7:14-2514And the Lord said unto Moses, Pharaoh's heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go. 15Get thee unto Pharaoh in the morning; lo, he goeth out unto the water; and thou shalt stand by the river's brink against he come; and the rod which was turned to a serpent shalt thou take in thine hand. 16And thou shalt say unto him, The Lord God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness: and, behold, hitherto thou wouldest not hear. 17Thus saith the Lord, In this thou shalt know that I am the Lord: behold, I will smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood. 18And the fish that is in the river shall die, and the river shall stink; and the Egyptians shall lothe to drink of the water of the river. 19And the Lord spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone. 20And Moses and Aaron did so, as the Lord commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood. 21And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt. 22And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the Lord had said. 23And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he set his heart to this also. 24And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river. 25And seven days were fulfilled, after that the Lord had smitten the river. (Exodus 7:14‑25)).
SECOND PLAGUE.
FROGS UPON THE LAND AND PEOPLE.
The continued hardening of Pharaoh's heart caused a second visitation of judgment worse, in some respects, than the previous one. By hard labor the people might procure sufficient water for drinking (Ex. 7:2424And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river. (Exodus 7:24)), but there was no such relief granted from the plague of " frogs" produced from the waters, and which covered the land, filling the houses, and coming up upon king and people alike. In the waters being turned to blood, we are not informed that the king personally suffered, but under this Divine infliction he suffers as the rest of his people (Ex. 8:4-84And the frogs shall come up both on thee, and upon thy people, and upon all thy servants. 5And the Lord spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch forth thine hand with thy rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up upon the land of Egypt. 6And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt. 7And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt. 8Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Entreat the Lord, that he may take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the Lord. (Exodus 8:4‑8)). This judgment must have been a terrible blow to the religious faith and feelings of the country, for the "frog" was worshipped and held in high honor. To such an extent was this carried that "frogs" have been found carefully preserved and embalmed in the tombs at Thebes. The magicians by their arts only increased the general misery by adding to the number, and they did so after the land was swarming with them. What a poor and miserable imitation of a truly miraculous act! In the first plague the waters stank (Ex. 7:2121And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt. (Exodus 7:21)); in the second the land stank (Ex. 8:1414And they gathered them together upon heaps: and the land stank. (Exodus 8:14)); surely, too, we can discern the haughty spirit of the monarch slightly broken, as in this judgment he personally appeals to Moses and Aaron for the removal of the "frogs" (Ex. 8:88Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Entreat the Lord, that he may take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the Lord. (Exodus 8:8)), whereas in the previous judgment he retired, evidently sullen and hardened, into his house (Ex. 7:2323And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he set his heart to this also. (Exodus 7:23)).
Details of the frog-judgment will be found in Ex. 8:1-151And the Lord spake unto Moses, Go unto Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Let my people go, that they may serve me. 2And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs: 3And the river shall bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall go up and come into thine house, and into thy bedchamber, and upon thy bed, and into the house of thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thine ovens, and into thy kneadingtroughs: 4And the frogs shall come up both on thee, and upon thy people, and upon all thy servants. 5And the Lord spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch forth thine hand with thy rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up upon the land of Egypt. 6And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt. 7And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt. 8Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Entreat the Lord, that he may take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the Lord. 9And Moses said unto Pharaoh, Glory over me: when shall I entreat for thee, and for thy servants, and for thy people, to destroy the frogs from thee and thy houses, that they may remain in the river only? 10And he said, To morrow. And he said, Be it according to thy word: that thou mayest know that there is none like unto the Lord our God. 11And the frogs shall depart from thee, and from thy houses, and from thy servants, and from thy people; they shall remain in the river only. 12And Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh: and Moses cried unto the Lord because of the frogs which he had brought against Pharaoh. 13And the Lord did according to the word of Moses; and the frogs died out of the houses, out of the villages, and out of the fields. 14And they gathered them together upon heaps: and the land stank. 15But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said. (Exodus 8:1‑15).
THIRD PLAGUE.
DUST OF THE LAND BECOMING LICE.
On the stretching forth of Aaron's rod, the dust of the land became energetic with life, and man and beast were covered with the loathsome and disgusting insects. This must have been a grievous and terrible infliction in a warm and sunny country like Egypt, where the clouds of dust almost darken the air, and for want of rain, cannot by any possibility be laid. The sufferings of the people must have been intense and almost intolerable, besides which personal cleanliness formed an integral part of Egyptian religious life. In the previous judgment we have life multiplied, the "frogs" swarmed out of the waters, their natural element; in this one, however, we have life created out of the dust of the ground. In this the powerlessness of man is evident. All the resources of the magicians were put in requisition and utter failure was the result (Ex. 8:1818And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: so there were lice upon man, and upon beast. (Exodus 8:18)); they retired from the contest vanquished and humbled, but not until they addressed the monarch in a brief and pregnant sentence: "This is the finger of God." After this acknowledgment of God we hear no more of the wise men and magicians. The creation of life is beyond the power and wisdom of man or Satan. No person was allowed under any consideration to enter any temple with vermin upon them, and their priests, we are told, on the authority of Herodotus, were shaved every three days, and both they and the people accustomed to continual ablutions in their persons and garments. What a terrible blow therefore to their religious life (Ex. 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)).
FOURTH PLAGUE.
SWARMS OF FLIES.
It will be observed that the words "of flies" are italicized, and occur seven times in the account given of the fourth plague; they are not found in the original. Whatever kind of insect is referred to, little matter, as the point is the effect produced and the result. The ground, houses, people and king were covered with the destroying creatures. In the first plague "the river stank," in the second "the land stank." Under this terrible visitation "the land was corrupted" or "destroyed." In a country like Egypt, where idolatry of the most debasing character was universally practiced, where certain kinds of insects as the beetle were adored and worshipped, this judgment must have produced dismay and terror amongst the Egyptians. God had already triumphed over the wise men and magicians, and that by their own confession (Ex 8:19), and now Jehovah is evidently dealing with their numerous deities, and evincing their utter worthlessness, and that in view of king, servants, priests and people. The dagons of Egypt, one after the other, fall before the Lord of Hosts. For the first time in these judgments Jehovah severs the land of Goshen, in which His people dwelt, and distinguishes between them and the Egyptians (Ex. 8:22, 2322And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth. 23And I will put a division between my people and thy people: to morrow shall this sign be. (Exodus 8:22‑23)). Pharaoh, awed by the severity of this dire calamity, "called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Go ye, sacrifice to your God in the land;" but no, the demands of Jehovah, the God of Israel, must be answered to the full; the wilderness had been ordained in the first instance, as the place of sacrifice (Ex. 3:1818And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The Lord God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God. (Exodus 3:18)), and so the unworthy compromise is firmly rejected, and Moses insists upon the first demand—a three day's journey into the wilderness, there to sacrifice, and faithfully warns the monarch against further trifling with the unanswered claims of Jehovah (Ex. 8:20-3220And the Lord said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh; lo, he cometh forth to the water; and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Let my people go, that they may serve me. 21Else, if thou wilt not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies upon thee, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thy houses: and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground whereon they are. 22And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth. 23And I will put a division between my people and thy people: to morrow shall this sign be. 24And the Lord did so; and there came a grievous swarm of flies into the house of Pharaoh, and into his servants' houses, and into all the land of Egypt: the land was corrupted by reason of the swarm of flies. 25And Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron, and said, Go ye, sacrifice to your God in the land. 26And Moses said, It is not meet so to do; for we shall sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to the Lord our God: lo, shall we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, and will they not stone us? 27We will go three days' journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to the Lord our God, as he shall command us. 28And Pharaoh said, I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness; only ye shall not go very far away: entreat for me. 29And Moses said, Behold, I go out from thee, and I will entreat the Lord that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, to morrow: but let not Pharaoh deal deceitfully any more in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the Lord. 30And Moses went out from Pharaoh, and entreated the Lord. 31And the Lord did according to the word of Moses; and he removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; there remained not one. 32And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither would he let the people go. (Exodus 8:20‑32)).
FIFTH PLAGUE.
DEATH UPON THE CATTLE.
The severity of the judgments increase, and the calls of Jehovah for the final release of His people more peremptory. "A very grievous murrain," or death, as the word signifies, specially and directly inflicted by "the hand of the LORD," fell upon all the Egyptian cattle. Horses, asses, camels, oxen, and sheep—source of the domestic and commercial business life of the country—being destroyed, must have seriously crippled their resources for trade and commerce; while the death of their sacred animals, the goat, cow, and especially the great god Apis, the "Bull"—who was so venerated, that on a certain occasion the whole nation went into mourning on his death—must have been a sad and terrible blow to the religious faith and feelings of the people. "All the cattle of Egypt died; but of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one" (Ex. 9:66And the Lord did that thing on the morrow, and all the cattle of Egypt died: but of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one. (Exodus 9:6)). This second preservation of Israel from judgment seems to have been a matter of surprise and inquiry to Pharaoh (Ex. 9:77And Pharaoh sent, and, behold, there was not one of the cattle of the Israelites dead. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go. (Exodus 9:7)); but, alas, without the least softening of heart or slightest exercise of conscience (Ex. 9:1-71Then the Lord said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh, and tell him, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me. 2For if thou refuse to let them go, and wilt hold them still, 3Behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thy cattle which is in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep: there shall be a very grievous murrain. 4And the Lord shall sever between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt: and there shall nothing die of all that is the children's of Israel. 5And the Lord appointed a set time, saying, To morrow the Lord shall do this thing in the land. 6And the Lord did that thing on the morrow, and all the cattle of Egypt died: but of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one. 7And Pharaoh sent, and, behold, there was not one of the cattle of the Israelites dead. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go. (Exodus 9:1‑7)).
SIXTH PLAGUE.
BOILS AND BI.AINS UPON MAN AND BEAST.
Hitherto the various judgments had but touched the Egyptians in their circumstances and surroundings, but now the people themselves suffer. Moses sprinkled ashes of the furnace toward heaven in the sight of Pharaoh. This significant action was the invocation of Divine judgment, and is a very ancient custom, being still practiced in certain parts of the east. Most painful ulcerous sores broke out upon the people, the magicians, and beasts. This truly dreadful judgment was not confined to a special class or limited sphere (save, as before, Goshen and its dwellers), but "all the Egyptians" suffered throughout "all the land of Egypt." The wise men specially smarted under this Divine infliction (Ex. 9:1111And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boil was upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians. (Exodus 9:11)); but the obdurate heart of the king still remained untouched (Ex. 9:8-128And the Lord said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh. 9And it shall become small dust in all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast, throughout all the land of Egypt. 10And they took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven; and it became a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast. 11And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boil was upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians. 12And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had spoken unto Moses. (Exodus 9:8‑12)).
SEVENTH PLAGUE.
AWFUL STORM OF HAIL.
In this judgment there is great circumstantiality of detail. Such a storm of hail, thunder, and fire never before visited Egypt since her formation as a kingdom (Ex. 9:1818Behold, to morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now. (Exodus 9:18)) nor since. That peculiarly rich and fertile country is one exempted from storms, and one in which rain almost never falls; little wonder, then, that the haughty king was thoroughly terrified and forced to confess it too; for here were combined the elements of nature, which descended with such terrific force that all in the fields or outside, whether man or beast, were destroyed: the trees were broken, and the low-lying plants were smitten. Such a hurricane never was seen or felt by Egypt before or since. But our God delights in mercy, while judgment is His strange work; and so the total extinction of all agriculture in the country (Goshen as before excepted) must have been the result had not the wheat and the rye, then but in germ, been preserved (Ex. 9:3232But the wheat and the rie were not smitten: for they were not grown up. (Exodus 9:32)). No doubt some of the servants or people of Pharaoh believed in the word of Jehovah, and thus preserved life in obedience to that word (Ex. 9:19, 2019Send therefore now, and gather thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field; for upon every man and beast which shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die. 20He that feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses: (Exodus 9:19‑20)). For the first time in those judgments Pharaoh, through terror, no doubt, confesses the sin of himself and people, and justifies God in their infliction; but, as before, on the removal of the judgment, he hardened his heart, and, it is added, "his servants'." If it be asked, Why those awful judgments? increasing in severity as they succeed each other, the answer is at hand:- Jehovah's power must be shown, and Jehovah's name declared throughout all the earth (Ex. 9:1616And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to show in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth. (Exodus 9:16)). These glorious results have been accomplished through Jehovah's doings in the land of Ham (Ex. 9:13-3513And the Lord said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me. 14For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth. 15For now I will stretch out my hand, that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence; and thou shalt be cut off from the earth. 16And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to show in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth. 17As yet exaltest thou thyself against my people, that thou wilt not let them go? 18Behold, to morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now. 19Send therefore now, and gather thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field; for upon every man and beast which shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die. 20He that feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses: 21And he that regarded not the word of the Lord left his servants and his cattle in the field. 22And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch forth thine hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, upon man, and upon beast, and upon every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt. 23And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the Lord rained hail upon the land of Egypt. 24So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. 25And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail smote every herb of the field, and brake every tree of the field. 26Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail. 27And 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. 28Entreat the Lord (for it is enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer. 29And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the Lord; and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth is the Lord's. 30But as for thee and thy servants, I know that ye will not yet fear the Lord God. 31And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled. 32But the wheat and the rie were not smitten: for they were not grown up. 33And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread abroad his hands unto the Lord: and the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured upon the earth. 34And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants. 35And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither would he let the children of Israel go; as the Lord had spoken by Moses. (Exodus 9:13‑35)).
EIGHTH PLAGUE.
THE LAND COVERED WITH DEVOURING SWARMS OF LOCUSTS.
Egypt was beginning to shake and tremble under the powerful hand of Jehovah, and either the haughty spirit of the monarch must be broken, or he perish by these judgments. A mighty swarm of "locusts" was threatened, so numerous that the face of the ground could not be seen (Ex. 10:55And they shall cover the face of the earth, that one cannot be able to see the earth: and they shall eat the residue of that which is escaped, which remaineth unto you from the hail, and shall eat every tree which groweth for you out of the field: (Exodus 10:5)). Vegetation would be utterly destroyed, and the whole country turned into a desert; what had escaped the ravages of the "hail" would be consumed by the devouring swarms of "locusts;" the houses too would be filled with them, and nothing eatable escape. The result would be that the land would be visited with famine, mourning, and death. The servants of Pharaoh were thoroughly alarmed; the appalling nature of the calamity, they sought to avert by appealing to the king, adding, "Knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed?" (Ex. 10:77And Pharaoh's servants said unto him, How long shall this man be a snare unto us? let the men go, that they may serve the Lord their God: knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed? (Exodus 10:7)). The monarch yielded so far to the remonstrances of his ministers, as to call for the Hebrew leaders and grant liberty to depart, reserving, however, the women, children, and flocks; but Moses rejected the base compromise, insisting upon a full surrender of all belonging to Jehovah: "And Moses said, we will go with our young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds will we go, for we must hold a feast unto the LORD" (Ex. 10:99And Moses said, We will go with our young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds will we go; for we must hold a feast unto the Lord. (Exodus 10:9)). In anger the Hebrew brothers were driven from the presence of the king, and the threatened judgment came. The ruin and devastation that ensued is vividly described in Ex. 10:1515For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left: and there remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt. (Exodus 10:15). Now the proud king quailed and hastily calling for Moses and Aaron, he once more confessed that he had "sinned against the LORD your God," further adding, "and against you." Earnestly he begged forgiveness, and entreated for the removal of the plague. This dreadful incursion of locusts, the like of which for number and kind had never before been witnessed, and used by the LORD in the infliction of judgment upon the oppressors of His people, then in captivity, are also employed (symbolically of course) by Satan, in judgment upon Israel in apostacy from God and truth, in the last days (Rev. 9:1-111And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. 2And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. 3And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. 5And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. 6And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them. 7And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men. 8And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions. 9And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle. 10And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months. 11And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon. (Revelation 9:1‑11)). The continued hardening of Pharaoh's heart led to still further and even more glorious displays of Jehovah's power and name (Ex. 10:1-201And the Lord said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might show these my signs before him: 2And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son's son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I am the Lord. 3And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? let my people go, that they may serve me. 4Else, if thou refuse to let my people go, behold, to morrow will I bring the locusts into thy coast: 5And they shall cover the face of the earth, that one cannot be able to see the earth: and they shall eat the residue of that which is escaped, which remaineth unto you from the hail, and shall eat every tree which groweth for you out of the field: 6And they shall fill thy houses, and the houses of all thy servants, and the houses of all the Egyptians; which neither thy fathers, nor thy fathers' fathers have seen, since the day that they were upon the earth unto this day. And he turned himself, and went out from Pharaoh. 7And Pharaoh's servants said unto him, How long shall this man be a snare unto us? let the men go, that they may serve the Lord their God: knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed? 8And Moses and Aaron were brought again unto Pharaoh: and he said unto them, Go, serve the Lord your God: but who are they that shall go? 9And Moses said, We will go with our young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds will we go; for we must hold a feast unto the Lord. 10And he said unto them, Let the Lord be so with you, as I will let you go, and your little ones: look to it; for evil is before you. 11Not so: go now ye that are men, and serve the Lord; for that ye did desire. And they were driven out from Pharaoh's presence. 12And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up upon the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land, even all that the hail hath left. 13And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the Lord brought an east wind upon the land all that day, and all that night; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts. 14And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the coasts of Egypt: very grievous were they; before them there were no such locusts as they, neither after them shall be such. 15For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left: and there remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt. 16Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste; and he said, I have sinned against the Lord your God, and against you. 17Now therefore forgive, I pray thee, my sin only this once, and entreat the Lord your God, that he may take away from me this death only. 18And he went out from Pharaoh, and entreated the Lord. 19And the Lord turned a mighty strong west wind, which took away the locusts, and cast them into the Red sea; there remained not one locust in all the coasts of Egypt. 20But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go. (Exodus 10:1‑20)).
NINTH PLAGUE.
THE LAND THREE DAYS SHROUDED IN THICK DARKNESS.
We could scarcely conceive of a judgment more appalling than that with which God now visited Egypt, "one of the sunniest lands of the world." The thick darkness which overspread the whole land, save the favored spot where the Israelites were located, was so dense as to be "felt" (Ex. 10:2121And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt. (Exodus 10:21)). The people could neither see nor move about for three days (Ex. 10:2323They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings. (Exodus 10:23)). This scene of horror, if prolonged, must have resulted in either death or insanity. But God graciously limited its duration to three days. In order that the awful character of this severest of any of the judgments which had yet fallen upon Egypt be understood, it must be borne in mind that the worship of the sun was common there, as in eastern lands generally. One of the principal cities, called ON, signifying house of the sun, was the seat of this idolatrous form of worship. Thus blow after blow had been dealt at the wisdom and religion of Egypt. Its power had yet to be crushed, and that would be by one grand decisive act, reserved for that magnificent action at the Red Sea, when God accomplished in glory the deliverance of His people, and sunk the chivalry and power of the enemy as lead in the depths of the sea. The terrible contest is drawing to a close. Their gods, one after the other, instead of being a source of help, have become plagues which they long to get rid of, and the source of misery to king and people, and one of their principal and all-powerful deities has forsaken them, the darkness being as great as it was in the chaotic period, before God said, "Let there be light." The darkness of the ninth plague has the same word in the original to express it as in Gen. 1:22And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:2).
Awed by the terrible severity of this judgment, Pharaoh again sought to qualify the demands of Jehovah by retaining the flocks and herds; but, no, Jehovah will allow of no compromise; and "there shall not an hoof be left behind" was the stern and unyielding reply of the Hebrew prophet and deliverer. Pharaoh, incensed at the boldness of Moses, replied, "Get thee from me; take heed to thyself; see my face no more: for in that day that thou seest my face thou shalt die." Thus the infatuated monarch sealed his own doom. This we learn in the calm and dignified reply of Moses, "Thou hast spoken well: I will see thy face again no more" (Ex. 10:21-2921And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt. 22And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days: 23They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings. 24And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said, Go ye, serve the Lord; only let your flocks and your herds be stayed: let your little ones also go with you. 25And Moses said, Thou must give us also sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice unto the Lord our God. 26Our cattle also shall go with us; there shall not an hoof be left behind; for thereof must we take to serve the Lord our God; and we know not with what we must serve the Lord, until we come thither. 27But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let them go. 28And Pharaoh said unto him, Get thee from me, take heed to thyself, see my face no more; for in that day thou seest my face thou shalt die. 29And Moses said, Thou hast spoken well, I will see thy face again no more. (Exodus 10:21‑29)).
TENTH PLAGUE.
DEATH OF THE FIRSTBORN OF MAN AND BEAST.
There is a peculiar air of solemnity about this last plague, not merely in the awful nature of the judgment, but also in its attendant circumstances. One feels treading on holy ground. This midnight visitation of sharp and sudden judgment, death, upon the firstborn—the pride, the glory, the strength of Egypt—sent a bitter wail of anguish throughout the whole land. From it none could escape; it could not be foreseen nor averted in any wise. It embraced in its range the monarch on the throne to the maid-slave at the mill. The princes, people, cattle, and beasts all came in as sharers in this terrible judgment. "And it came to pass that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle." Not a household but was visited in judgment. Such a cry never before was heard in Egypt, and never will—although that land is yet to be visited by judgments which will desolate it, and its people oppressed even as they oppressed Israel (Isa. 19). The terror and dismay of the people is general; and, now, instead of seeking to detain the Hebrews, their little ones, or flocks, "the Egyptians were urgent upon the people that they might send them out of the land in haste: for, they said, we be all dead men."
Preparatory to their departure it is said the Hebrews " borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment." The wealth and riches of Egypt were lavished in profusion and abundance upon the departing people, who "spoiled the Egyptians." The word "borrowed" need present no difficulty to the reader, as the Hebrew word simply means to demand or ask, and surely the right to do so was unquestionable after such a lengthy period of servitude—their only wages being the cruel lash of the taskmasters. The conduct of the people in this needs no defense or apology, as their claim was a just one, and God caused it to be respected (Ex. 12:3636And the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians. (Exodus 12:36)).
But a much more serious question than the unqualified release of Israel from the iron rule of Egypt was raised in the infliction of these judgments, especially of the last. Righteousness displayed in judgment, as also exhibited in salvation, was the great moral question of that day, even as of this. Both the judgment and the salvation were temporal, but surely they speak of themes infinitely glorious, and instruct in truths of everlasting importance.
In this awful judgment, therefore, all were equally involved, from it there could be no exemption. All stood before God on one common ground, for all had sinned. The oppressor and the oppressed, the master and the slave, the proud Egyptian and the Hebrew servant, stood before God on the platform of a ruined humanity. The sword of judgment would search the land of Goshen equally with the palace of Pharaoh. But, blessed be God! He who bore the sword on that dark midnight, and entered the unsprinkled dwellings, had before appointed a righteous ground and means of deliverance. The lamb slain instead of the Israelite told out impressively that the only way of escape from coming wrath is by another bearing the judgment. The glorious truth of substitution and its application to the believer as before God, is the grand teaching of Ex. 127And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. (Exodus 12:7) "Christ our passover is sacrificed for us" (1 Cor. 5:77Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: (1 Corinthians 5:7)), is the Holy Ghost's commentary on this first and significant of all the feasts of Jehovah. We doubt if in the volume of inspiration, a passage could be produced to excel Exodus 127And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. (Exodus 12:7): "And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I (Jehovah) SEE THE BLOOD, I WILL PASS OVER YOU." What a resting place for the wretched heart and struggling conscience of man; yea, a Divine resting place for weary souls (Ex. 117But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the Lord doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel. (Exodus 11:7), 12).
THE RED SEA JUDGMENT.
After the solemn midnight judgment of the first-born of Egypt, and the due observance of the passover by Israel, the people leave the land of their captivity, laden with wealth, but trammeled with a mixed multitude, which afterward became a snare to them (Num. 11:44And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? (Numbers 11:4)). They might easily have entered the great Arabian desert, the scene of their wanderings, without crossing the Red Sea at all. Had they rounded the Red Sea at any point above Suez they would have found no canal or passage to intercept their progress as now. But that would not have accomplished the counsels of God's love towards His people. The power of Jehovah over His and His people's enemies had to be displayed, and the Salvation of God enjoyed, so the people were directed to retrace their steps, and march southward towards the Red Sea, where they encamped at a point some miles below Suez (Ex. 14:22Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baal-zephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea. (Exodus 14:2)). They could not have selected a spot more hopeless of escape. The sea barred their progress in front, while on their right and left precipitous rocks and mountains of considerable height effectually hindered retreat. It is true that the passage through which they had entered was free, but the power of the enemy would soon occupy that only avenue of escape, and then death by the sword of the Egyptians, or a captivity more cruel than that from which they had just escaped, or death in the Red Sea were the dread alternatives. But Jehovah led His people thither, and that surely was enough for faith. It thus became a question between God and the enemy. Would Satan dispute God's right to bless His own—a people already His by the blood of the lamb (Ex. 122This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. (Exodus 12:2))? Would Satan dare to frustrate the counsels of Divine love and power? If God be for us, who can be against us? was gloriously answered on that ever memorable night. No doubt Pharaoh anticibated that God had now forsaken His people, and that his gods would yet triumph, for "Pharaoh will say of the Children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in."
To all appearance the doom of the people was settled, as the only way of escape was the valley through which they had passed, and that was now being rapidly occupied with the chosen chariots of Egypt, probably the king's own bodyguards, and all the chariots of Egypt. God would teach His people the meaning and reality of that precious word "salvation," for the first time expounded in the Word of God; moreover, it was to be "the salvation of Jehovah." It was God acting on behalf of His people, bringing them to Himself. The word, therefore, of God to His people was "go forward," and as by faith (Heb. 11:2929By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. (Hebrews 11:29)) they pass on the sea divides and recedes on either side. No wonder that the majesty of this event is again and again referred to in illustration of the mighty power of God (Psa. 66:5-75Come and see the works of God: he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men. 6He turned the sea into dry land: they went through the flood on foot: there did we rejoice in him. 7He ruleth by his power for ever; his eyes behold the nations: let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah. (Psalm 66:5‑7); Isa. 10:2626And the Lord of hosts shall stir up a scourge for him according to the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb: and as his rod was upon the sea, so shall he lift it up after the manner of Egypt. (Isaiah 10:26)). Think of a sea, at its deepest soundings fully 6000 feet, and miles broad at its narrowest parts, dividing in two, and leaving its bed as "firm" and "dry" as any ground ever trod upon, and its waters rising up on either side, forming perpendicular walls of great height. We are not astonished to find that the fame of this mighty act of Divine power preceded the people in their march through the desert to Canaan and filled their enemies with fear, as the harlot of Jericho lets us know, "For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when ye came out of Egypt... our hearts did melt" (Josh. 2:10, 1110For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. 11And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the Lord your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath. (Joshua 2:10‑11)).
The deliverance of the people is complete, the judgment of Egypt as thorough. Now Israel gathers on the eastern side of the Red Sea, standing every one in the full accomplished salvation of God; their enemies are gone forever, "there remained not so much as one of them "—"Jehovah hath triumphed, His people are free." The song of Moses celebrates in magnificent strains Jehovah's victory, besides telling of wilderness grace and Canaan glory; while Miriam's refrain, "Sing ye to the Lord, for He hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath He thrown into the sea" (Ex. 15), makes up a scene of triumph rarely equaled, and certainly never excelled, in the blessed volume of inspiration itself.
It is ours, beloved Christian reader, to look back in adoring praise upon the cross and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ as that by which we have been brought in peace to God, and eternally delivered from the power of Satan and the world. Our Red Sea is Rom. 4:24, 2524But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:24‑25), and our celebration of deliverance Rom. 5:1-111Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 6For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. (Romans 5:1‑11).