The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1913-07-30


land recounting Gods leadings o.
Isaac, Jacob, Joseph. the. deliverance
from Egypt, and wonderous keeping
of the people in the wilderness. This
Psalm is grand indeed, and the Jews
did we'll to sing it and thus give
praises to Jehovah their Lord and
king. The chapters where the &C
count of the ten plaques visited upon
Egypt are set forth in detail, are Elk
odus I'll.
In commenting on the lesson last
week in which it was told of Moses
and Aaron appearing before Pharaoh
asking that he cit the Jews go, we
called attention to the reply of the
ruler "Who is the Lord that should
obey His voice?" 1t was to conquer
the proud imperious will of this man
and of his people that the plaques
came upon Egypt. He and his people
were to find out who the Lord was,
|people and animals. 4. Flies swarm
go. 1t will be remembered that later
in the bible history Elijah called all
to witness a test as to the reality of
his God, in contrast to the absence
of power in the gods of Baal. A great
battle for supremacy was now on be-
tween the God of the Jews behind
Moses and Aaron and the gods Of the
people of Egypt. We shall see as to
the outcome.
The ten plaques visited on Egypt
before the power of God was recog-
nized are as follows: 1. The waters
OF the rivers were turned into blood.
II. Frogs sprang up in vast numbers
all over the land. 3. Lice infested
peopel and animals. 4. Flies swarm
over the land. s. Cattle die with dis
ease. 6. Boils fasten on king and peO-
pie. Z. Hail and fire destroy all crops
Is. Locusts come down on all remain
ing vegetation. 8. Intense darkness
comes on the portion of the land occu-
pied by the Egyptians. 10. The first
born in every Egyptian home dies in
single night During all these
plaques the Jews are free from them
and the Egyptians affected.
The Egyptians were not passive
during the time OF the plaques. They
called on their religious leaders to
drive off the dread things and give re-
| lief. Pharaoh many times called for
Moses and Aaron and urged them to
intercede with God for the then pre-
vailing plague to- cease, promising to-
let the Jews 60, but when the evil
was gone, his heart became hardened
and he would not give up his slaves.
The experience of Pharaoh is like
! that of every man or woman who de-
Ges God. The outcome is ever the
same, defeat. for the rebellious and tri-
umph for Gods cause. Jesus said that
those who opposed His gospel would
be ground as to- powder, and the wcOid
history bears out the truth of the
declaration. The question comes to
every one who hears the gospel mess
age, "Will l get in line with Christ
and the; bible commands, or will
fght?" Many chose to the last and
put up struggle to live their own
selfish lives. banishing God from their
standards of conduct. Pitiful is their
condition. They are but like a bird
beating its wings against the bars OF
a strong cage. These acknowledge
Gods physical laws, and expect to be
burned if by accident they come in
contact with intense heat; to fall with
Injury if losing support from a hig!
Elevation; to be cold if exposed to
icy winds with no protection, but they
pay no heed to Gods spiritual laws
and think to defy them at will.
| In looking back we think Pharaoh
livery foolish not to give up long before
he did. He evidently made good re-
solves and promised to let the Jews
go. This however was when the
plaques were on with intensity. When
relief came he did not have the
strength to stand for his word. There