Moses appears to have shared my doubts as to the point of the miracles, for he persisted that he did not want to go, until god, who is without passions (Art. I.) got very angry (Ex. ix., 14). At last, he agreed to go, and god informed him as to Pharoah: “I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go” (Ex. ix., 21). This unhappy Pharaoh was “raised up” by god in order that god’s power might be manifested in tormenting him and his miserable people; over and over again, god “hardened his heart,” and Paul, instead of being ashamed of this awful conduct actually justifies it (see p. 25). If any human being forced a helpless creature into crime, and then punished him for committing it, no words of abhorrence could be found too strong to express the loathing which would fill every just and righteous heart in contemplating such conduct. Yet it is blasphemy to deny that the “heavenly Father” behaved in this fashion towards Pharaoh.
The odd little interlude which takes up vv. 24, 25, 26 of the same chapter has been a sore trouble to commentators. Why “the Lord” tried to kill somebody, who it was he tried to kill, where “the inn” was by which he met him, what the mutilation of her son by Zipporah had to do with the quarrel, all these things have been discussed and re-discussed _ad nauseam_. Students of ancient religions will find that nature-worship throws some light on the matter, but it is blasphemous light, and must be carefully avoided by all true believers who are anxious about the salvation of their souls.
It is blasphemy to say that god was known to Abraham “by my name Jehovah” (Ex. vi., 8); it is also blasphemy to deny that Abraham knew him as Jehovah and “called the name of the place Jehovah-jireh” (Gen. xxii., 14).
It is blasphemy to deny that Moses turned all the water in Egypt, the water in streams, rivers, ponds, pools, as well as all in vessels; after _all_ the water had been thus turned into blood, the Egyptian magicians turned the rest into blood (Ex. vii., 19, 20, 22). This is a very remarkable miracle, showing great skill on the part of the Egyptians.
It is blasphemy to deny the historical truth and perfect accuracy of the Biblical account of the miracles wrought by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt. It is very hard work to believe, but we must try, for it is clear that if we go to gaol for denying them, we shall not get out “till we have paid the uttermost farthing” demanded by law.