MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— Exodus 1:22
THE LAST EDICT OF A TYRANT KING
I. It was public in its proclamation.
1. How men advance from one degree of sin to another. The last murderous intention was only made known to two midwives; it was private—it was subtle. This is public; this is unconcealed; he fearlessly and untremblingly announces himself as the murderer of all the males of Israel.
II. It was cruel in its requirements.
1. It was an edict requiring the death of the young. Why should a tyrant king fear the infant sons of Israel?—He knew that they would be his enemies of the future if spared. There is a power in young life—it is the hope of the Church—the terror of despots. If the world only gets hold of the young, the Church will soon cease its growth.
SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS ON THE VERSE
Exodus 1:22. A very easy plan, was it not? Whom you fear, destroy; that is a brief and easy creed, surely. This was turning the river to good account; it was a ready-made grave. Pharaoh did not charge the people to cut the sod, and lay the murdered children in the ground; the sight would have been unpleasant, the reminders would have been too numerous; he said, “Throw the intruders into the river: there will be but a splash, and the whole thing will be over. The river will carry no marks—will tell no stories—will sustain no loadstone—it will roll on as if its waters had never been divided by the hand of the murderer!” All bad kings have feared the rise of manhood. Nothing better than murder occurred to the mind of this short-sighted king. He never thought of culture, of kindness, of social and political development; his one idea of power was the shallow and vulgar idea of oppression [City Temple].
An unkingly argument used for an unkingly purpose.
Bloody powers desire to make executioners enough to destroy the Church.
Persecuting kings do not entreat, but command their people to be instruments of cruelty.
God suffers persecutors to go to the utmost of their appointed bounds.