661. EXO 5:2. PHARAOH’S IMPIOUS INTERROGATION

Exo_5:2. Pharaoh’s Impious Interrogation

"And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go."’97Exo_5:2.

The text was the language of the pagan impious Pharaoh, a person whose history and character are fully presented to us in the Divine word.

Moses, as the servant of the Most High, is commanded to bear to the Egyptian monarch the Divine will respecting Israel. Moses delivers God’s message, Exo_5:1, and to this the proud monarch replies: "Who is the Lord," &c. Here see the infatuation and wickedness of the king,’97an infatuation which he cherished, until God visited him with fearful plagues, and which, at length, ended only in his utter and total ruin. But the spirit of the text is often felt, where the words would not be used. All ungodliness sets Jehovah at defiance, and carries out the rebellious feeling felt and expressed by Pharaoh.

In thus applying the subject, observe,

I. God has spoken to mankind.

His voice has been heard.

1. He has spoken significantly by his works.

"The heavens declare," &c. Rom_1:20. Here the existence, majesty, power, and wisdom of God are all declared.

2. He has spoken continually by his good providence.

The admirable provision made for all creatures, &c. Hear Paul’s address to the inhabitants of Lystra: Act_14:15, Act_14:17.

3. God hath spoken awfully by his judgments.

How terrible his voice to the antediluvians’97Pharoah, &c. By war’97by pestilence’97by famine’97by earthquakes, &c.

4. God has spoken distinctly in his word. By the ancient prophets’97by his own Son.

Hear the Apostle; Heb_1:1, &c. The Saviour also instituted the Christian ministry, to convey the words of God to all the world, &c. Now God’s voice has thus come to you. He has spoken to instruct you’97to reveal his will’97to induce consideration’97to produce conviction’97to lead you to repentance and salvation. Consider,

II. Why, and how you should hear.

1. Why you should hear his voice.

(1.) Because of his right in you and over you. He is God’97your God. Creator. Lawgiver, &c.

(2.) Because of his condescension to you. It is infinite condescension on the part of Deity to stoop and speak to you. How angels hearken! How seraphim listen!

(3.) Because of the design of his speaking. For your present and eternal welfare. It is the voice of love and mercy. Nothing but pure, free compassion, constrains him, &c. But we inquire,

2. How we should hear his voice.

With profound reverence and awe. When God speaks, let all the earth keep silence.

With sacred and holy attention.

With solicitous anxiety to understand his will.

With a holy desire to be obedient to his authority. "All the words, &c., we will do."

Have you thus heard the voice of God?

III. The impiety and folly of refusing to hear the voice of God.

But who are guilty of it?

The self-deceived skeptic.

The infatuated sensualist.

The engrossed worldling.

Every impenitent unbelieving sinner.

Now observe,

The pride of the heart leads to this. Unbelief leads to it. Inconsideration tends to it. But mark the folly and misery of such a spirit and practice.

1. It is flagrant contempt of God.

2. It is open rebellion against his authority.

3. It must be eventually ruinous to the sinner.

Who hath hardened himself against God? &c. See Heb_2:1; Heb_3:7, &c. There can be no escape’97no alternative, &c. "He who being often reproved," &c. Let Pharaoh, Belshazzar, and myriads of the disobedient lost, admonish you, &c.

Application

1. To-night God again speaks to you. "O, earth," &c. "Hear, and your soul shall live," &c.

2. Do not despise the Divine word. Nor procrastinate, &c.

3. To the voice of final judgment all, all must hearken.

"And I saw a great white throne," &c. "The dead shall hear his voice," &c.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS