I am sure the king of Egypt will not let you go.
The Divine knowledge of the success or otherwise of ministerial work
I. That God is thoroughly acquainted with the moral obstinacy of men.
1. There are many people who act like Pharaoh in relation to the commands of God. God knows such people. Their names are vocal on His lips. He tells His servants about them. He indicates judgments in reference to them. Such people are almost beyond the reach of ministerial influence. The minister is not altogether responsible for the success of his mission. He cannot force men to be good.
2. In all the commissions of human life God recognises the free agency of the wicked. Is it not a mystery that man has the ability to oppose the will of God?
3. We may inquire into the utility of employing Christian agency where the result will be ineffectual. To leave impenitent sinners without excuse.
II. That God is thoroughly acquainted with the method He will pursue in reference to the morally obstinate.
1. God deals with the morally obstinate after the method of a consecutive plan. First, He prepares the messenger to visit and teach them; then gives him the message; then tells him how to make it known; then smites in judgments, successive, severe. Thus God does not deal with the morally obstinate according to the impulse of the moment--fitfully, incidentally, but according to a harmonious, merciful, self-consistent plan--a plan that will admit of the repentance and faith of the sinner.
2. God sometimes meets the morally obstinate with demonstrations of His power. “I will stretch out,” etc.
III. That God can thwart the intention of the morally obstinate by their own wickedness, and by the conduct of their comrades (Exodus 3:22). (J. S. Exell, M. A.).