°®°®Ð¡ËµÍø > ÆäËûµç×ÓÊé > patriarchs and prophets >

µÚ47ÕÂ

patriarchs and prophets-µÚ47ÕÂ

С˵£º patriarchs and prophets ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ3500×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
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and¡¡they¡¡spoke¡¡in¡¡His¡¡name£º¡¡¡¨Thus¡¡saith¡¡Jehovah£»¡¡God¡¡of¡¡Israel£»¡¡Let¡¡My
people¡¡go£»¡¡that¡¡they¡¡may¡¡hold¡¡a¡¡feast¡¡unto¡¡Me¡¡in¡¡the¡¡wilderness¡£¡¨

¡¨Who¡¡is¡¡Jehovah£»¡¡that¡¡I¡¡should¡¡obey¡¡His¡¡voice¡¡to¡¡let¡¡Israel¡¡go£¿¡¨¡¡demanded
the¡¡monarch£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡know¡¡not¡¡Jehovah£»¡¡neither¡¡will¡¡I¡¡let¡¡Israel¡¡go¡£¡¨

Their¡¡answer¡¡was£»¡¡¡¨The¡¡God¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Hebrews¡¡hath¡¡met¡¡with¡¡us£º¡¡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¡£¡¨

Tidings¡¡of¡¡them¡¡and¡¡of¡¡the¡¡interest¡¡they¡¡were¡¡exciting¡¡among¡¡the¡¡people¡¡had
already¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡king¡£¡¡His¡¡anger¡¡was¡¡kindled¡£¡¡¡¨Wherefore¡¡do¡¡ye£»¡¡Moses¡¡and
Aaron£»¡¡let¡¡£§hinder£§¡¡the¡¡people¡¡from¡¡their¡¡works£¿¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨Get¡¡you¡¡unto
your¡¡burdens¡£¡¨¡¡Already¡¡the¡¡kingdom¡¡had¡¡suffered¡¡loss¡¡by¡¡the¡¡interference¡¡of
these¡¡strangers¡£¡¡At¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡this¡¡he¡¡added£»¡¡¡¨Behold£»¡¡the¡¡people¡¡of¡¡the

258

land¡¡now¡¡are¡¡many£»¡¡and¡¡ye¡¡make¡¡them¡¡rest¡¡from¡¡their¡¡burdens¡£¡¨

In¡¡their¡¡bondage¡¡the¡¡Israelites¡¡had¡¡to¡¡some¡¡extent¡¡lost¡¡the¡¡knowledge¡¡of
God's¡¡law£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡had¡¡departed¡¡from¡¡its¡¡precepts¡£¡¡The¡¡Sabbath¡¡had¡¡been
generally¡¡disregarded£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡exactions¡¡of¡¡their¡¡taskmasters¡¡made¡¡its
observance¡¡apparently¡¡impossible¡£¡¡But¡¡Moses¡¡had¡¡shown¡¡his¡¡people¡¡that
obedience¡¡to¡¡God¡¡was¡¡the¡¡first¡¡condition¡¡of¡¡deliverance£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡efforts
made¡¡to¡¡restore¡¡the¡¡observance¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Sabbath¡¡had¡¡come¡¡to¡¡the¡¡notice¡¡of
their¡¡oppressors¡££§*¡¡SEE¡¡APPENDIX£»¡¡NOTE¡¡1¡££§

The¡¡king£»¡¡thoroughly¡¡roused£»¡¡suspected¡¡the¡¡Israelites¡¡of¡¡a¡¡design¡¡to¡¡revolt
from¡¡his¡¡service¡£¡¡Disaffection¡¡was¡¡the¡¡result¡¡of¡¡idleness£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡see¡¡that
no¡¡time¡¡was¡¡left¡¡them¡¡for¡¡dangerous¡¡scheming¡£¡¡And¡¡he¡¡at¡¡once¡¡adopted
measures¡¡to¡¡tighten¡¡their¡¡bonds¡¡and¡¡crush¡¡out¡¡their¡¡independent¡¡spirit¡£¡¡The
same¡¡day¡¡orders¡¡were¡¡issued¡¡that¡¡rendered¡¡their¡¡labor¡¡still¡¡more¡¡cruel¡¡and
oppressive¡£¡¡The¡¡most¡¡common¡¡building¡¡material¡¡of¡¡that¡¡country¡¡was¡¡sun¡­dried
brick£»¡¡the¡¡walls¡¡of¡¡the¡¡finest¡¡edifices¡¡were¡¡made¡¡of¡¡this£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡faced
with¡¡stone£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡manufacture¡¡of¡¡brick¡¡employed¡¡great¡¡numbers¡¡of¡¡the
bondmen¡£¡¡Cut¡¡straw¡¡being¡¡intermixed¡¡with¡¡the¡¡clay£»¡¡to¡¡hold¡¡it¡¡together£»
large¡¡quantities¡¡of¡¡straw¡¡were¡¡required¡¡for¡¡the¡¡work£»¡¡the¡¡king¡¡now¡¡directed
that¡¡no¡¡more¡¡straw¡¡be¡¡furnished£»¡¡the¡¡laborers¡¡must¡¡find¡¡it¡¡for¡¡themselves£»
while¡¡the¡¡same¡¡amount¡¡of¡¡brick¡¡should¡¡be¡¡exacted¡£

This¡¡order¡¡produced¡¡great¡¡distress¡¡among¡¡the¡¡Israelites¡¡throughout¡¡the¡¡land¡£
The¡¡Egyptian¡¡taskmasters¡¡had¡¡appointed¡¡Hebrew¡¡officers¡¡to¡¡oversee¡¡the¡¡work
of¡¡the¡¡people£»¡¡and¡¡these¡¡officers¡¡were¡¡responsible¡¡for¡¡the¡¡labor¡¡performed
by¡¡those¡¡under¡¡their¡¡charge¡£¡¡When¡¡the¡¡requirement¡¡of¡¡the¡¡king¡¡was¡¡put¡¡in
force£»¡¡the¡¡people¡¡scattered¡¡themselves¡¡throughout¡¡the¡¡land£»¡¡to¡¡gather
stubble¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡straw£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡found¡¡it¡¡impossible¡¡to¡¡accomplish¡¡the
usual¡¡amount¡¡of¡¡labor¡£¡¡For¡¡this¡¡failure¡¡the¡¡Hebrew¡¡officers¡¡were¡¡cruelly
beaten¡£

These¡¡officers¡¡supposed¡¡that¡¡their¡¡oppression¡¡came¡¡from¡¡their¡¡taskmasters£»
and¡¡not¡¡from¡¡the¡¡king¡¡himself£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡went¡¡to¡¡him¡¡with¡¡their¡¡grievances¡£
Their¡¡remonstrance¡¡was¡¡met¡¡by¡¡Pharaoh¡¡with¡¡a¡¡taunt£º¡¡¡¨Ye¡¡are¡¡idle£»¡¡ye¡¡are
idle£º¡¡therefore¡¡ye¡¡say£»¡¡Let¡¡us¡¡go¡¡and¡¡do¡¡sacrifice¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Lord¡£¡¨¡¡They¡¡were
ordered¡¡back¡¡to¡¡their¡¡work£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡declaration¡¡that¡¡their¡¡burdens¡¡were¡¡in
no¡¡case¡¡to¡¡be¡¡lightened¡£¡¡Returning£»¡¡they¡¡met¡¡Moses¡¡and¡¡Aaron£»¡¡and¡¡cried¡¡out
to¡¡them£»¡¡¡¨The¡¡Lord¡¡look¡¡upon¡¡you£»¡¡and¡¡judge£»¡¡because¡¡ye¡¡have¡¡made¡¡our¡¡savor
to¡¡be¡¡abhorred¡¡in¡¡the¡¡eyes¡¡of¡¡Pharaoh£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡the¡¡eyes¡¡of¡¡his¡¡servants£»¡¡to
put¡¡a¡¡sword¡¡in¡¡their¡¡hand¡¡to¡¡slay¡¡us¡£¡¨

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡259


As¡¡Moses¡¡listened¡¡to¡¡these¡¡reproaches¡¡he¡¡was¡¡greatly¡¡distressed¡£¡¡The
sufferings¡¡of¡¡the¡¡people¡¡had¡¡been¡¡much¡¡increased¡£¡¡All¡¡over¡¡the¡¡land¡¡a¡¡cry¡¡of
despair¡¡went¡¡up¡¡from¡¡old¡¡and¡¡young£»¡¡and¡¡all¡¡united¡¡in¡¡charging¡¡upon¡¡him¡¡the
disastrous¡¡change¡¡in¡¡their¡¡condition¡£¡¡In¡¡bitterness¡¡of¡¡soul¡¡he¡¡went¡¡before
God£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡cry£»¡¡¡¨Lord£»¡¡wherefore¡¡hast¡¡Thou¡¡so¡¡evil¡¡entreated¡¡this¡¡people£¿
why¡¡is¡¡it¡¡that¡¡Thou¡¡hast¡¡sent¡¡me£¿¡¡For¡¡since¡¡I¡¡came¡¡to¡¡Pharaoh¡¡to¡¡speak¡¡in
Thy¡¡name£»¡¡he¡¡hath¡¡done¡¡evil¡¡to¡¡this¡¡people£»¡¡neither¡¡hast¡¡Thou¡¡delivered¡¡Thy
people¡¡at¡¡all¡£¡¨¡¡The¡¡answer¡¡was£»¡¡¡¨Now¡¡shalt¡¡thou¡¡see¡¡what¡¡I¡¡will¡¡do¡¡to
Pharaoh£º¡¡for¡¡with¡¡a¡¡strong¡¡hand¡¡shall¡¡he¡¡let¡¡them¡¡go£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡a¡¡strong¡¡hand
shall¡¡he¡¡drive¡¡them¡¡out¡¡of¡¡his¡¡land¡£¡¨¡¡Again¡¡he¡¡was¡¡pointed¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the
covenant¡¡which¡¡God¡¡had¡¡made¡¡with¡¡the¡¡fathers£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡assured¡¡that¡¡it¡¡would
be¡¡fulfilled¡£

During¡¡all¡¡the¡¡years¡¡of¡¡servitude¡¡in¡¡Egypt¡¡there¡¡had¡¡been¡¡among¡¡the
Israelites¡¡some¡¡who¡¡adhered¡¡to¡¡the¡¡worship¡¡of¡¡Jehovah¡£¡¡These¡¡were¡¡solely
troubled¡¡as¡¡they¡¡saw¡¡their¡¡children¡¡daily¡¡witnessing¡¡the¡¡abominations¡¡of¡¡the
heathen£»¡¡and¡¡even¡¡bowing¡¡down¡¡to¡¡their¡¡false¡¡gods¡£¡¡In¡¡their¡¡distress¡¡they
cried¡¡unto¡¡the¡¡Lord¡¡for¡¡deliverance¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Egyptian¡¡yoke£»¡¡that¡¡they¡¡might
be¡¡freed¡¡from¡¡the¡¡corrupting¡¡influence¡¡of¡¡idolatry¡£¡¡They¡¡did¡¡not¡¡conceal
their¡¡faith£»¡¡but¡¡declared¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Egyptians¡¡that¡¡the¡¡object¡¡of¡¡their¡¡worship
was¡¡the¡¡Maker¡¡of¡¡heaven¡¡and¡¡earth£»¡¡the¡¡only¡¡true¡¡and¡¡living¡¡God¡£¡¡They
rehearsed¡¡the¡¡evidences¡¡of¡¡His¡¡existence¡¡and¡¡power£»¡¡from¡¡creation¡¡down¡¡to
the¡¡days¡¡of¡¡Jacob¡£¡¡The¡¡Egyptians¡¡thus¡¡had¡¡an¡¡opportunity¡¡to¡¡become
acquainted¡¡with¡¡the¡¡religion¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Hebrews£»¡¡but¡¡disdaining¡¡to¡¡be¡¡instructed
by¡¡their¡¡slaves£»¡¡they¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡seduce¡¡the¡¡worshipers¡¡of¡¡God¡¡by¡¡promises¡¡of
reward£»¡¡and£»¡¡this¡¡failing£»¡¡by¡¡threats¡¡and¡¡cruelty¡£

The¡¡elders¡¡of¡¡Israel¡¡endeavored¡¡to¡¡sustain¡¡the¡¡sinking¡¡faith¡¡of¡¡their
brethren¡¡by¡¡repeating¡¡the¡¡promises¡¡made¡¡to¡¡their¡¡fathers£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡prophetic
words¡¡of¡¡Joseph¡¡before¡¡his¡¡death£»¡¡foretelling¡¡their¡¡deliverance¡¡from¡¡Egypt¡£
Some¡¡would¡¡listen¡¡and¡¡believe¡£¡¡Others£»¡¡looking¡¡at¡¡the¡¡circumstances¡¡that
surrounded¡¡them£»¡¡refused¡¡to¡¡hope¡£¡¡The¡¡Egyptians£»¡¡being¡¡informed¡¡of¡¡what¡¡was
reported¡¡among¡¡their¡¡bondmen£»¡¡derided¡¡their¡¡expectations¡¡and¡¡scornfully
denied¡¡the¡¡power¡¡of¡¡their¡¡God¡£¡¡They¡¡pointed¡¡to¡¡their¡¡situation¡¡as¡¡a¡¡nation
of¡¡slaves£»¡¡and¡¡tauntingly¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨If¡¡your¡¡God¡¡is¡¡just¡¡and¡¡merciful£»¡¡and
possesses¡¡power¡¡above¡¡that¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Egyptian¡¡gods£»¡¡why¡¡does¡¡He¡¡not¡¡make¡¡you¡¡a
free¡¡people£¿¡¨¡¡They¡¡called¡¡attention¡¡to¡¡their¡¡own¡¡condition¡£¡¡They¡¡worshiped
deities

260

termed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Israelites¡¡false¡¡gods£»¡¡yet¡¡they¡¡were¡¡a¡¡rich¡¡and¡¡powerful
nation¡£¡¡They¡¡declared¡¡that¡¡their¡¡gods¡¡had¡¡blessed¡¡them¡¡with¡¡prosperity£»¡¡and
had¡¡given¡¡them¡¡the¡¡Israelites¡¡as¡¡servants£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡gloried¡¡in¡¡their¡¡power
to¡¡oppress¡¡and¡¡destroy¡¡the¡¡worshipers¡¡of¡¡Jehovah¡£¡¡Pharaoh¡¡himself¡¡boasted
that¡¡the¡¡God¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Hebrews¡¡could¡¡not¡¡deliver¡¡them¡¡from¡¡his¡¡hand¡£

Words¡¡like¡¡these¡¡destroyed¡¡the¡¡hopes¡¡of¡¡many¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Israelites¡£¡¡The¡¡case
appeared¡¡to¡¡them¡¡very¡¡much¡¡as¡¡the¡¡Egyptians¡¡had¡¡represented¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡true
that¡¡they¡¡were¡¡slaves£»¡¡and¡¡must¡¡endure¡¡whatever¡¡their¡¡cruel¡¡taskmasters
might¡¡choose¡¡to¡¡inflict¡£¡¡Their¡¡children¡¡had¡¡been¡¡hunted¡¡and¡¡slain£»¡¡and¡¡their
own¡¡lives¡¡were¡¡a¡¡burden¡£¡¡Yet¡¡they¡¡were¡¡worshiping¡¡the¡¡God¡¡of¡¡heaven¡£¡¡If
Jehovah¡¡were¡¡indeed¡¡above¡¡all¡¡gods£»¡¡surely¡¡He¡¡would¡¡not¡¡thus¡¡leave¡¡them¡¡in
bondage¡¡to¡¡idolaters¡£¡¡But¡¡those¡¡who¡¡were¡¡true¡¡to¡¡God¡¡understood¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was
because¡¡of¡¡Israel's¡¡departure¡¡from¡¡Himbecause¡¡of¡¡their¡¡disposition¡¡to
marry¡¡with¡¡heathen¡¡nations£»¡¡thus¡¡being¡¡led¡¡into¡¡idolatrythat¡¡the¡¡Lord¡¡had
permitted¡¡them¡¡to¡¡become¡¡bondmen£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡confidently¡¡assured¡¡their
brethren¡¡that¡¡He¡¡would¡¡soon¡¡break¡¡the¡¡yoke¡¡of¡¡the¡¡oppressor¡£

The¡¡Hebrews¡¡had¡¡expected¡¡to¡¡obtain¡¡their¡¡freedom¡¡without¡¡any¡¡special¡¡trial
of¡¡their¡¡faith¡¡or¡¡any¡¡real¡¡suffering¡¡or¡¡hardship¡£¡¡But¡¡they¡¡were¡¡not¡¡yet
prepared¡¡for¡¡deliverance¡£¡¡They¡¡had¡¡little¡¡faith¡¡in¡¡God£»¡¡and¡¡were¡¡unwilling
patiently¡¡to¡¡endure¡¡their¡¡afflictions¡¡until¡¡He¡¡should¡¡see¡¡fit¡¡to¡¡work¡¡for
them¡£¡¡Many¡¡were¡¡content¡¡to¡¡remain¡¡in¡¡bondage¡¡rather¡¡than¡¡meet¡¡the
difficulties¡¡attending¡¡removal¡¡to¡¡a¡¡strange¡¡land£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡habits¡¡of¡¡some¡¡had
become¡¡so¡¡much¡¡like¡¡those¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Egyptians¡¡that¡¡they¡¡preferred¡¡to¡¡dwell¡¡in
Egypt¡£¡¡Therefore¡¡the¡¡Lord¡¡did¡¡not¡¡deliver¡¡them¡¡by¡¡the¡¡first¡¡manifestation¡¡of
His¡¡power¡¡before¡¡Pharaoh¡£¡¡He¡¡overruled¡¡events¡¡more¡¡fully¡¡to¡¡develop¡¡the
tyrannical¡¡spirit¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Egyptian¡¡king¡¡and¡¡also¡¡to¡¡reveal¡¡Himself¡¡to¡¡His
people¡£¡¡Beholding¡¡His¡¡justice£»¡¡His¡¡power£»¡¡and¡¡His¡¡love£»¡¡they¡¡would¡¡choose¡¡to
leave¡¡Egypt¡¡and¡¡give¡¡themselves¡¡to¡¡His¡¡service¡£¡¡The¡¡task¡¡of¡¡Moses¡¡would¡¡have
been¡¡much¡¡less¡¡difficult¡¡had¡¡not¡¡many¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Israelites¡¡become¡¡so¡¡corrupted
that¡¡they¡¡were¡¡unwilling¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡Egypt¡£

The¡¡Lord¡¡directed¡¡Moses¡¡to¡¡go¡¡again¡¡to¡¡the¡¡people¡¡and¡¡repeat¡¡the¡¡promise¡¡of
deliverance£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡fresh¡¡assurance¡¡of¡¡divine¡¡favor¡£¡¡He¡¡went¡¡as¡¡he¡¡was
commanded£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡would¡¡not¡¡listen¡£¡¡Says¡¡the¡¡Scripture£»¡¡¡¨They¡¡hearkened
not¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡for¡¡anguish¡¡of¡¡spirit£»¡¡and¡¡for¡¡cruel¡¡bondage¡£¡¨¡¡Again¡¡the¡¡divine
message¡¡came¡¡to¡¡Moses£»

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡263

¡¨Go¡¡in£»¡¡speak¡¡unto¡¡Pharaoh¡¡king¡¡of¡¡Egypt£»¡¡that¡¡he¡¡let¡¡the¡¡children¡¡of¡¡Israel
go¡¡out¡¡of¡¡his¡¡land¡£¡¨¡¡In¡¡discouragement¡¡he¡¡replied£»¡¡¡¨Behold£»¡¡the¡¡children¡¡of
Israel¡¡have¡¡not¡¡hearkened¡¡unto¡¡me£»¡¡how¡¡then¡¡shall¡¡Pharaoh¡¡hear¡¡me£¿¡¨¡¡He¡¡was
told¡¡to¡¡take¡¡Aaron¡¡with¡¡him¡¡and¡¡go¡¡before¡¡Pharaoh£»¡¡and¡¡again¡¡demand¡¡¡¨that¡¡he
send¡¡the¡¡children¡¡of¡¡Israel¡¡out¡¡of¡¡his¡¡land¡£¡¨

He¡¡was¡¡informed¡¡that¡¡the¡¡monarch¡¡would¡¡not¡¡yield¡¡until¡¡God¡¡should¡¡visit
judgments¡¡upon¡¡Egypt¡¡and¡¡bring¡¡out¡¡Israel¡¡by¡¡the¡¡signal¡¡manifestation¡¡of¡¡His
power¡£¡¡Before¡¡the¡¡infliction¡¡of¡¡each¡¡plague£»¡¡Moses¡¡was¡¡to¡¡describe¡¡its
nature¡¡and¡¡effects£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡king¡¡might¡¡save¡¡himself¡¡from¡¡it¡¡if¡¡he¡¡chose¡£
Every¡¡punishment¡¡rejected¡¡would¡¡be¡¡followed¡¡by¡¡one¡¡more¡¡severe£»¡¡until¡¡his
proud¡¡heart¡¡would¡¡be¡¡humbled£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡would¡¡acknowledge¡¡the¡¡Maker¡¡of¡¡heaven
and¡¡earth¡¡as¡¡the¡¡true¡¡and¡¡living¡¡God¡£¡¡The¡¡Lord¡¡would¡¡give¡¡the¡¡Egyptians¡¡an
opportunity¡¡to¡¡see¡¡how¡¡vain¡¡was¡¡the¡¡wisdom¡¡of¡¡their¡¡mighty¡¡men£»¡¡how¡¡feeble
the¡¡power¡¡of¡¡their¡¡gods£»¡¡when¡¡opposed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡commands¡¡of¡¡Jehovah¡£¡¡He¡¡would
punish¡¡the¡¡people¡¡of¡¡Egypt¡¡for¡¡their¡¡idolatry¡¡and¡¡silence¡¡their¡¡boasting¡¡of
the¡¡blessings¡¡received¡¡from¡¡their¡¡senseless¡¡deities¡£¡¡God¡¡would¡¡glorify¡¡His
own¡¡name£»¡¡that¡¡other¡¡nations¡¡might¡¡hear¡¡of¡¡His¡¡power¡¡and¡¡tremble¡¡at¡¡His
mighty¡¡acts£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡His¡¡people¡¡might¡¡be¡¡led¡¡to¡¡turn¡¡from¡¡their¡¡idolatry
and¡¡render¡¡Him¡¡pure¡¡worship¡£

Again¡¡Moses¡¡and¡¡Aaron¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡lordly¡¡halls¡¡of¡¡the¡¡king¡¡of¡¡Egypt¡£¡¡There£»
surrounded¡¡by¡¡lofty¡¡columns¡¡and¡¡glittering¡¡adornments£»¡¡by¡¡the¡¡rich¡¡paintings
and¡¡sculptured¡¡images¡¡of¡¡heathen¡¡gods£»¡¡before¡¡the¡¡monarch¡¡of¡¡the¡¡most
powerful¡¡kingdom¡¡then¡¡in¡¡existence£»¡¡stood¡¡the¡¡two¡¡representatives¡¡of¡¡the
enslaved¡¡race£»¡¡to¡¡repeat¡¡the¡¡command¡¡from¡¡God¡¡for¡¡Israel's¡¡release¡£¡¡The¡¡king
demanded¡¡a¡¡miracle£»¡¡in¡¡evidence¡¡of¡¡their¡¡divine¡¡commission¡£¡¡Moses¡¡and¡¡Aaron
had¡¡been¡¡directed¡¡how¡¡to¡¡act¡¡in¡¡case¡¡such¡¡a¡¡demand¡¡should¡¡be¡¡made£»¡¡and¡¡Aaron
now¡¡took¡¡the¡¡rod¡¡and¡¡cast¡¡it¡¡down¡¡before¡¡Pharaoh¡£¡¡It¡¡became¡¡a¡¡serpent¡£¡¡The
monarch¡¡sent¡¡for¡¡his¡¡¡¨wise¡¡men¡¡and¡¡the¡¡sorcerers£»¡¨¡¡who¡¡¡¨cast¡¡down¡¡every¡¡man
his¡¡rod¡¡and¡¡they¡¡became¡¡serpents£º¡¡but¡¡Aaron's¡¡rod¡¡swallowed¡¡up¡¡their¡¡rods¡£¡¨
Then¡¡the¡¡king£»¡¡more¡¡determined¡¡than¡¡before£»¡¡declared¡¡his¡¡magicians¡¡equal¡¡in
power¡¡with¡¡Moses¡¡and¡¡Aaron£»¡¡he¡¡denounced¡¡the¡¡servants¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Lord¡¡as
impostors£»¡¡and¡¡felt¡¡himself¡¡secure¡¡in¡¡resisting¡¡their¡¡demands¡£¡¡Yet¡¡while¡¡he
despised¡¡their¡¡message£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡restrained¡¡by¡¡divine¡¡power¡¡from¡¡doing¡¡them
harm¡£

264


It¡¡was¡¡the¡¡hand¡¡of¡¡God£»¡¡and¡¡no¡¡human¡¡influence¡¡or¡¡power¡¡possessed¡¡by¡¡Moses
and¡¡Aaron£»¡¡that¡¡wrought¡¡the¡¡miracles¡¡which¡¡they¡¡showed¡¡before¡¡Pharaoh¡£¡¡Those
signs¡¡and¡¡wond

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