spares them long, and suffers them to grow insufferably insolent, that he may be so much the more glorified in their destruction at last. See how the neighbouring nations, at that time, improved the ruin of Pharaoh to the glory of God; (ch. 18. 11.) Jethro said upon it, Now know I that the Lord is greater than all gods. The apostle illustrates the doctrine of God's sovereignty with this instance, Rom. 9. 17. To justify God in these resolutions, Moses is bid to ask him, (v. 17.) As yet exaltest thou thyself against my people? Pharaoh was a great king, God's people were poor shepherds at the best, and now poor slaves, and yet Pharaoh shall be ruined, if he exalt himself against them, for it is considered as exalting himself against God. This was not the first time he reproved kings for their sakes, and let them know that he would not suffer his people to be trampled upon and insulted, no, not by the most powerful of them.
II. Here is a particular prediction of the plague of hail, (v. 18.) and a gracious advice to Pharaoh and his people to send for their servants and cattle out of the field, that they might be sheltered from the hail, v. 19. Note, When God's justice threatens ruin, his mercy, at the same time, shows us a way of escape from it, so unwilling is he that any should perish. See here what care God took, not only to distinguish between Egyptians and Israelites, but between some Egyptians and others. If Pharaoh will not yield, and so prevent the judgment itself, yet an opportunity is given to those that had any dread of God and his word, to save themselves from sharing in the judgment. Note, Those that will take warning, may take shelter; and those that will not, may thank themselves if they fall by the overflowing scourge, and the hail which will sweep away the refuge of lies, Isa. 28. 17. See the different effect of this warning. 1. Some believed the things which were spoken, and they feared, and housed their servants and cattle, v. 20. like Noah; (Heb. 11. 7.) and it was their wisdom. Even among the servants of Pharaoh there were some that trembled at God's word; and shall not the sons of Israel dread it? But, 2. Others believed not; though, whatever plague Moses hath hitherto foretold, the event exactly answered to the prediction: and though, if they had had any reason to question this, it would have been no great damage to them to have kept their cattle in the house for one day, and so, supposing it a doubtful case, to have chosen the surer side; yet they were so fool-hardy as in defiance to the truth of Moses, and the power of God, (of both which they had already had experience enough to their cost,) to leave their cattle in the field. Pharaoh himself, it is probable, giving them an example of the presumption, v. 21. Note, Obstinate infidelity is deaf to the fairest warnings and the wisest counsels, which leaves the blood of them that perish upon their own heads.
22. And 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. 23. And 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. 24. So 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. 25. And 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. 26. Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail. 27. And 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. 28. Entreat 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. 29. And 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. 30. But as for thee and thy servants, I know that ye will not yet fear the Lord God. 31. And the flax and the barley was smitten; for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled.* [1] 32. But the wheat and the rye were not smitten; for they were not grown up. 33. And 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. 34. And 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. 35. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither would he let the children of Israel go; as the Lord had spoken by Moses.
The threatened plague of hail is here summoned by the powerful hand and rod of Moses, (v. 22, 23.) and it obeys the summons, or rather the divine command; for fire and hail fulfil God's word, Ps. 148. 8. And here we are told,
I. What desolations it made upon the earth; the thunder and fire from heaven (or lightning,) made it both the more dreadful, and the more destroying, v. 23, 24. Note, God makes the clouds not only his storehouses whence he drops fatness on his people, but his magazines whence, when he pleases, he can draw out a most formidable train of artillery, with which to destroy his enemies. He himself speaks of the treasures of hail which he hath reserved against the day of battle and war, Job 38. 22, 23. Woful havoc this hail made in the land of Egypt. It killed both men and cattle, and battered down, not only the herbs, but the trees, v. 25. Tne corn that was above ground, was destroyed, and that only preserved, which as yet was not come up, v. 31, 32. Note, God has many ways of taking away the corn in the season thereof, (Hos. 2. 9. ) either by a secret blasting, or a noisy hail. In this plague, the hot thunderbolts, as well as the hail, are said to destroy their flocks, Ps. 78. 47, 48, and see Ps. 105. 32, 33. Perhaps David alludes to this, when alluding to God's glorious appearances for the dis-
- ↑ * Risen in stalk.—Ed.
