664. EXO 15:9, EXO 15:10. PHARAOH’S UTTER DESTRUCTION

Exo_15:9, Exo_15:10. Pharaoh’s Utter Destruction

"The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them," &c.’97Exo_15:9, Exo_15:10.

The history of Pharaoh is deeply interesting and admonitory. He is introduced to us as a cunning and wary politician; Exo_1:9, &c. Then as a cruel and heartless oppressor; Exo_15:11, Exo_15:12. Then as a relentless murderer; Exo_15:15. In this war of extermination against man, we find God frustrating his schemes, and defeating his projects; Exo_15:20, last clause.

This Pharaoh died, but his successor seems equally as infatuated and tyrannical. To him Moses was sent. Before him wrought his miracles. To the request of Moses to let Israel go, he impiously inquired, "Who is the Lord," &c. Miracle after miracle was wrought, &c., but still Pharaoh remained infatuated and desperate; and occasionally relenting, and then hardening his heart. Then came the plagues in awful succession, until he was anxious that Israel should go. The Israelites are now on their way, when Pharaoh repents of his concession, and resolves to overtake, &c.; chap. Exo_14:5.

We now see them pursuing, &c. God interposes by the pillar of cloud. Light to the Israelites’97dark to the Egyptians, &c.; Exo_15:20. The sea divided, &c. Then came the fearful catastrophe which is thus sublimely described, Exo_15:23, &c.

Now in the song of Moses, the event is thus described; "The enemy said, I will pursue," &c.

I. The infatuated spirit of the enemies of Israel. And,

II. Their signal overthrow and ruin.

I. The infatuated spirit of the enemies of Israel.

Observe the spirit of the enemy was characterized,

1. By great ambition.

It was the love of power and dominion. To hold human beings as property, is the vilest display of ambition. It is to rob God; for all souls are his, &c. This spirit is displayed in warlike kings, in extending their dominions.

Hence, what scenes of horror and blood shed have been exhibited by nations making aggressive wars, and enlarging their territory, &c.

2. Great arrogance and pride. Observe how self is exalted. "I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide," &c. What self-confidence,’97what boasting,’97what assumption, &c.

This spirit distinguished the fallen angels,’97was the cause of the overthrow of our first parents, and was the occasion of their ruin. Pride goeth before destruction, &c. God abhorreth the proud, &c.

It was a spirit,

3. Of insatiable avarice.

"We will divide the spoil," &c. Had not Pharaoh enough, without sharing the spoils of emancipated slaves? An avaricious spirit can never have enough. It unceasingly cries give, give! It is like the sea, though all the rivers run, &c. Like the grave, &c. What a cursed spirit it is. Well has it been said, that nature is content with little, grace with less, but the lust of avarice not even with all things.

We see in this spirit,

4. Reckless malevolence and cruelty.

"My lust shall be satisfied." "I will draw my sword," &c. What indifference to human life. What thirsting for blood! Ambition and avarice render the mind cold, and the heart callous. Tears, wailings, groans, mangled bodies, and the flowing blood of mankind, allay not the fires of human malevolence and lust.

We see in this spirit,

5. Presumptuous confidence and security. The whole text exhibits this. I will do

’97not endeavor’97no peradventure. Contingency and doubt have no place. How foolish for the man who puts on the armor, to boast. Race not always to the swift, &c. Numbers, power, discipline, armaments, do not secure success, &c. Then this presumption is more glaring after the signs, &c., they had seen in Egypt. The lice, the flies, the hail, the frogs, the Nile of blood’97the darkness’97the death of the first-born, &c. Yet with these events fresh before them, the enemy says, "We will pursue," &c.

II. Their signal overthrow and ruin.

"Thou didst blow," &c., Exo_15:10. Observe,

1. A part of their purpose was accomplished.

"They did pursue," &c. Followed till they overtook. No doubt vaunting, full of self-confidence, &c.; certain of conquest. But mark, on the point of supposed triumph,

2. Ruin overtook them.

Now respecting their overthrow, &c., observe several particulars.

(1.) It was sudden and unexpected. The Israelites pass through the divided heaps of the water; the chasm still is open, they enter, &c., and then the sea rolls its billows over them, and they sink like lead in the mighty waters. The judgments of heaven often overtake men,’97as a whirlwind, or as travail of a woman with child’97or as a thief, &c. "The wicked are driven away," &c. Death and hell ride upon horses, &c.

(2.) It was universal.

All who entered, &c., perished; Exo_15:4, &c. Fearful type of the ruin of all impenitent sinners, &c. Mal_4:1.

(3.) It was total and irrevocable.

Sank to rise no more. Not partial, &c., they had had drops of the Divine vengeance; now they have the tremendous storm.

(4.) It was retributive.

The desert of their sin. Much like their sin. I will pursue. God pursued. I will overtake. God overtook. I will divide the spoil. God scattered their chariots and treasures. My lust shall be satisfied. God’s wrath avenged, &c. I will destroy, &c. God utterly destroyed them, &c. How often has God thus punished, &c. The inhabitants of Sodom, they bounded in unnatural lusts, and God consumed them. Adonibezek and Ham. Rich man, &c. So it shall be of all men.

Application

1. How great and glorious a being is God.

How to be desired as a friend’97how feared as an enemy.

2. The subject is a mirror for persecutors and oppressors.

God feels for the oppressed, &c. He will punish the proud, and the arrogant, and the unfeeling.

3. How necessary is a mediator between such a God, and guilty sinners.

Our God is a consuming fire. How terrible! We are guilty’97deserve to die. Christ is the day’s-man, &c. Here is hope and salvation.

4. How important to have a name and place with God’s people.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS