The Brinkley argus., 1913-08-01
INTERNATIONAL 6()lDGSCI1OOL
 LESSON
LESSON FOR AUGUST 3
THE PLAQUES OF EGYPT.
By E. o. SELLERS. Director of Even ing Department The Moody Bible ln- stitute of Chicago)

LESSON TExT-Ps. 1o5:2s-3s (cf Ex. f.e-11:10)
 GOLDEN NTExT-"whosover shall exalt himself shall be humbled; and whosoeyer shall humble himself shall be exalted. = R. V. Matt. 23:l2
 While this Psalm is succinct state nent of all that is contained in Exo- ius, chapters to 12, still no teacher .an judge himself as having made sf proper preparation who has not stud ed carefully the earlier record. Be inning with those of discomfort the 3 ,lagues become more and more se- ere until the last and the crowning me, the death of the first born, caused he Egyptians to thrust out the Israel tes with haste and gladness, laden with an abundance of spoil" Pharaoh usted in the superior greatness of e Egyptian gods, he also had great -ide in his absolute power and hated *f lose the profitable service of hts .ebrew slaves. Over against this was od's right to demand the wor- E lip of his chosen people, Gods pro V ise warnings to the proud Egyptian, s and the inevitable outcome of the Aian. tribe, or nation who sets up hu- RIan will in opposition to the plans of in Omnipotent God. True thanksgiv SAng and praise are based upon His niarvelous works (v. 5 R. VI
 Israel Made Strong.
 N |. The Induction of Israel Into knypt, w. 23-25. By "Israef i'll verse 1l the Psalmist does not refer to the p sfion but rather to the supplanter k ho became Israel, prince" His zf auction into Egypt was ill accord A ,ce with Gods purposes and plan, Is, his specific command, Gen. 46:2-7, ' Acts 7:9-15 God increased the de- sss endants of Israel greatly in the land aps Egypt, see V. "A. At the same time (s,d made those same descendants than their "adversaries" on Recount of the fact that Jehovah Bought on their side. see Rom. S:31. II. The Exodus of Israel From Egypt, w. 26-36. Now the Psalmist is kreferrfng to the nation. In Exodus there are recorded ten plaques. here
  8psague of the murrain of beasts and | Fthe plague of boils. the fifth and the [ sixth, are here left out for some req son best known to the Psalmist.
 God saw the affiictions of Israel but | sends relief through human agents | Moses was Gods servant" (v. 26) | md Aaron His chosen" q Sam. 12.6) | no also is every true believer. Their work has to "shew" (v 27) Gods won | ders in the land of Egypt (Ham) They were to shew His" wonders, l signs. the Words of His signs" (R. W marg.). and none of their own. In other words they were to be the wis |thle embodiment of Gods character &ud power.
 Worshiped the Nile.
 # The Psalmist then turns to the first Siof the historic plaques The Egyp- *Ians were so dependent upon the Nile &kt they personified it and worshiped
 They had shed the blood of the n ieA .es and werea given blood to ||Ilrs K. see Rev. 16:5. 6 and Gal. GIT I4a third plague was directed against E{m goddess ''Hekt," queen of two fmc Ids, and who was represented by xa1 1 og-like figure, see Ex. 8:8. It was &net this calamity that Pharaoh tenn &Tos zed. The third and fourth plaques 80fx grouped together in verse 3l. God ftt uses very little things to humble #tks great ones of earth. Life Is made ID f trifies but life is no trifie. Pha- <xf ia &xE n (Ex. 5:2) but when he sought k&Q Y conclusions with God and said, E~N sher will let Israel go' God let hln wrestle with frogs. lice and flies. *Ws thus see a man setting himself {6xsi st God who Is not able to over DUsn these smallest of pests. As we kaxt mentioned, the fifth and sixth iss es are omitted from this record, eue the plague mentioned in V. 32 I reality the seventh (Ex. B. It lAs | rebuke to the God of the air, I1 om Rev. ST and 1621 we learn
 et Is to be repeated in the end of
 Rk ugh Israel was free from the
 the plague of locusts (v. 34)
 i'd suffer from a like experience at 1T days, Joel Ell These small oots can turn fruitful land into a Karen waste.
 But the eliminating plague (v. 36) Woe the smiting of the first born. Even { gosael could not escape this calamity
 &rt by the previous shedding of
 Ex. 12:3-18. God gave Pharaoh
 5s warning, Ex. 4:23. Refusing to
 lnder the lesser judgments, God
 W t this supreme penalty, smiting
 first born. "the beginning of
 "a r strength" (R. V. marg. V. 36).
 The Teaching. Before the
 n Pharaoh was warned: before
 i< ond one he was given an op-
 kisy to repent and because of the
 Ing thereby he relented and ask A. n . respite. Refusing to declare
 greatness (Ex. 8:10) The
 oraoh) made heavy his heart" (Ex.
 1e). an act of his own, not an act Of
 No warning Is given of the third
 Ut for Pharaoh had broken
 The acknowledgment upon the
 o his magicians of a power great
 T their own did not serve as
 1f1sg and he continued in his re