Driven out from Pharaoh’s presence.
Driving away the servants of God
1. It is to drive away a good friend.
2. It is to drive away a faithful monitor.
3. It is to drive away a real benefactor.
4. It is to drive away an angel of God. (J. S. Exell, M. A.)
The threats of the wicked
I. Evil men often seek to retard God’s servants in their works by threats. But in vain. God sustains all whom He sends. No opposition, however virulent, can retard them from doing His work. They may be weak and few, but He is their strength.
II. That the threats of evil men need not be feared. Nothing can really harm God’s servants. They may have to suffer, but suffering will be turned into triumphant joy. Like the saintly Rutherford, they will find that their enemies have only set them to reside for a while in one of God’s palaces. Real evil cannot befall them.
III. That the evil threatened menaces the threatener. As Luther said concerning the potentates of his day, who did not remember the overruling might of God in their projects: “Our Lord God says unto them: For whom do ye hold Me? for a cypher? Do I set here above in vain, and to no purpose? You shall know that I will twist your accounts about finely, and make them all false reckonings.” So it was with Pharaoh when he threatened Moses and Aaron. (W. O. Lilly.)
The imperiousness of unbelief
I. In its reluctance to grant concessions.
II. In its irritable impatience in listening to the voice of reason.
III. In its ignominious treatment of religious teachers. (G. Barlow.)