The Finger of God -- By: William J. McRae

Journal: Emmaus Journal
Volume: EMJ 04:2 (Winter 1995)
Article: The Finger of God
Author: William J. McRae


The Finger of God

William J. McRae1

An Exposition of Exodus 7–10

Introduction

In his book, The Problem of Pain C. S. Lewis writes:

God whispers to us in our pleasures,
speaks in our conscience,
but shouts in our pains:
It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.2

It was true of the tragic drowning of a ten-year-old boy in the city of Toronto a few years ago. His two parents, who had neither the time nor the inclination to hear, were aroused to listen to the Word of God and became believers in Jesus Christ.

It was true of the disastrous marriage failure of one of our closest friends. She was aroused to give heed to what God had to say and through it became a believer in Jesus Christ.

It was true of the sore sufferings of the psalmist. David himself says, “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Thy Word” (Ps. 119:67).

Pain IS His megaphone to arouse a deaf world.

It was true, also, of the devastating plagues that fell upon the Egyptians. This is the subject of our study from the Book of Exodus, chapters 7–10. We see first:

The Perspectives On The Plagues

John J. Davis is correct when he notes there “are really only three possible ways of approaching the phenomenon of the ten plagues.…”3

One, we may dismiss the entire account in Exodus as being purely fanciful myth without any historical reality. Few will dare take this position in the light of the obvious historical relevancy of the book of Exodus.

Two, we may explain these plagues as merely natural occurrences which were given a theological interpretation by Moses. This is the stance of the liberal-critical scholars. Although they will acknowledge that the plagues were perhaps more intense than normal, there was nothing supernatural about their appearance or disappearance. From this naturalistic perspective, Flinders Petrie gives the schedule of events as follows:

June: The Nile becomes stagnant and red, with microscopic organisms. July: Frogs abound after the inundation of the Nile. Hot summer and damp autumn months: Lice, flies, murrain and boils. January: Hail and rain. (This date fixed by the effect on the crops mentioned.) February: Appearance of locusts in early spring, ov...

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