Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/181

 Fifthly, they  were  intended  to  confirm  the  Israelites  in  their  belief  in the  one  true  God  and  in  confidence  in  Him  who  protected  them  in  such a wonderful way;  and  to  fill  their  hearts  with  gratitude  towards  Him.

The Justice  and  Patience  of  God.  By  these  plagues,  Almighty God not  only  manifested  His  terrible  justice,  but  also  His  merciful patience. He sent  the  first  plague  only  after  the  miracles  worked before Pharao  had  produced  no  effect. The plagues  gradually  succeeded each  other,  beginning  with  the  least;  and  when  these  availed nothing, they  became  more  and  more  dreadful. Moreover, they  did not follow  each  other  day  after  day,  but  between  the  several  plagues there was  an  interval  of  days,  sometimes  of  weeks.

Impenitence. Pharao  is  a warning  example  of  impenitence  and obduracy. God did  not  warn  him  only  outwardly,  by  Moses’  words and by  the  ten  plagues,  but  also  inwardly,  by  His  grace. But Pharao would neither  listen  to  the  admonitions  of  God,  nor  obey  the  movements of  divine  grace,  and  thus,  by  rendering  himself  unworthy  of further  graces,  he  at  last  became  quite  hardened. Once or  twice  he made  good  resolutions  about  letting  God’s  people  go,  but  as  soon  as the  pressure  of  necessity  was  removed  he  did  not  keep  them. God foretold to  him  the  last  and  worst  plague  some  fourteen  days  before  it was  sent,  and  would,  in  His  mercy,  have  spared  Pharao  and  his  people this last  terrible  visitation,  if  only  he  would  have  consented  to  let  the Israelites go. Pharao, however,  despised  the  divine  warning  as  an  empty threat, and  remained  hardened. He is  the  type  of  a defiant  sinner who will  not  listen  to  any  exhortations,  does  not  carry  out  good  resolutions, perseveres  in  sin,  and  finally  becomes  quite  hardened.

Are you  at  all  like  Pharao? Do you  pay attention to  the  admonitions  of  your  parents,  confessor  &amp;c. ? Have you made  good  resolutions  with  your  lips  only,  or  have  you  taken real pains  to  give  up  your  bad  habits? Have you  ever  made  a bad  confession,  and  concealed  your  sins? All this  would  be  the beginning of  impenitence,  and  would  lead  you  to  obduracy  and the loss  of  your  soul. Pay heed,  then,  to  the  warnings  of  those set over  you;  listen  to  the  inspirations  of  divine  grace,  and  the voice of  your  conscience,  so  that  your  heart  may  not  grow  obstinate and hard. St. Paul  is  urgent  in  his  warnings  against  obduracy: “According to  thy  hardness  and  impenitent  heart  thou  treasurest up to  thyself  wrath  against  the  day  of  wrath  and  revelation  of the  just  judgment  of  God”  (Rom.  2,  5).