Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-07-28
july 81.
Lesson 5.
MOSES AND THE MAGICIANs.
NJ REV, nrSHr NJ, onorT, D. D,
Ex SIT.

Central Truth The most startling
wonders have no power to change the
human heart
The request of the lsraeltes for per.
mission to 90 three days journey into
the wilderness to hold religious feast
was interpreted by Pharoah as a sign of
too little, and not too much, to do.
Accordingly, he not only refused their
request, but gave orders that their tasks
should be increased. Henceforth they
must furnish the same number of
bricks and gather their own straw.
Very soon the number of bricks began
to fall short. Then the overseers were
beaten. Messengers were sent to Pha.
roah to complain of so great severity,
but with no avail. He answered rough.
ly, and ordered them back to their
burdens. AS they came out from Pha-
roah they met Moses and Aaron, and re-
preached them as the cause of their
increased hardships. In this new dis
tress Moses again cried unto God, who
renewed his promise OF deliverance for
the people, pledging to them redemp.
ton, with stretched out arm, and
with great judgments"
In this lesson we have an account of
the beginning of the fulflment of this
promise.
And the very first thing which strikes
us is the divine patience. The entire
dealings of Pharoah with Israel had
been ungrateful and cruel He had de.
graded the kinsmen of Joseph into
slaves, and murdered their infant chill
dren. He has now insolently refused
their most reasonable request for leave
to go where, without offence to their
neighbors, they may worship. He has
shown defiance OF God and contempt of
his ministers. And yet God is patient
and condescending. He delays judg.
ment. For a second time he directs his
servants to appear before him, and this
time they are to prove to him their di
vine commission. Pharoah will demand
q miracle, and they are empowered to
work miracle before him. The won
der is actually wrought: Aaron's rod
becomes a serpent.
A second point of interest relates to
the maglcians. Why did Pharoah send
for them? What did they really do?
The wonder exhibited by Aaron left
no doubt that the being who had sent
him was God. But was he more power.
full than the gods Of Egypt? That was
what Pharoah now desired to know, and
for this reason 1t was that he sent for
the wise men and sorcerers of Egypt.
"And they also did in like manner with
their entertainments" Does this mean
that they really wrought miracles II
so. it could not have been by the help
OF God, but OF Satan. Just what limits
have been set to Satan's power, and
what supernatural aid of physical ma.
ture he is allowed to render, has not
been told US. But it is not necessary
to suppose that anything was done by
the magicians which required such aid.
They did $50 "in like manner They
went through the same motions or
forms Further on Is lSl, il ia said
they "did so with their entertainments
to bring forth lice, and they could not"
This would seem to make it very plain
that the words, "They did in like man
ner," does not refer to the nature of
the effects produced. In fact the ma
gicians did nothing which is not often
done by modern Eastern jugglers. To
make a serpent stiff like a rod, and then
suddenly restore it to life, is one of
their commonest tricks. The wide diff.
ference between their "enchantments"
and the supernatural power exhibited
by Aaron came fully out when the rod
OF the latter swallowed up the others.
The effect of all this upon Pharoah
was quite unlike what might have been
anticipated. He WAS not convinced.
Something more than evidence is need.
full in order to conviction. There must
also be a willingness to see and believe.
Pharoah was unwilling, and his heart
was hardened"
1t would be very easy at this point to
raise hard questions, and to indulge in
profitless discussion. Sometimes in the
course OF this history the hardening is
ascribed to Pharoah, and at other times
to God. 1t could not have been in the
very same sense the work OF both. The
history makes it plain that it came
about by the wilful perversion and
abuse of those very works OF mercy
and power by which another might have
been brought to repentance. On Gods
part were appeals, and finally visitations
Of distress. What Phsroah did was to
refuse to believe and obey. The result
was what it is in every stubborn sinners
case-namely, increased hardness of
heart. God was not disappointed in
the result. He never is. II came in
the form and under the circumstances
appointed by himself, and as he had
predicted. He so arranged that it's de-
Velopments should help on his great
and good designs in behalf OF his peo-
pie. He predicted it, that Moses need
not be over.much surprised and wholly
cast down when it should appear.
Doubtless he ordered, too, that il should
be part OF the penalty of proud and
long persistent rebellion. Only in de.
gree was Pharoah's case unlike that Of
any other sinner who abuses divine
truth and grace.
There is yet one other point which
deserl - distinct notice and remark.
That is the gradation which marked the
dealings of God with Pharoah. lie
began with a simple and easy demand.
There was patience and forbesrance at
each succeeding step. 1t was when