Bible Commentaries

THE EARTH IS THE LORD’S

‘That thou mayest know how that the earth is the Lord’s.’

Exodus 9:29

I. The Egyptians did not know, being taught otherwise.—Therefore the lesson was made to be unforgetable. In the awful sweep and crush of mighty hail, in the leaping fires of the lightning, in thunders that terrified the stoutest, but most of all in the coming and the passing of these terrors at the word of God’s servant, they were made to feel His being and majesty.

II. Our generation needs the same lesson, though in another form.—With us faith in God’s being and power is not so much denied as neutralised. The great and true doctrine of the un-changeableness of the laws of nature is so held as to deny its Creator any liberty of present action. Nature is conceived of as a vast machine impassible even to its Author, and so denying Him liberty to come directly to our aid. This is the real faith of multitudes who never dare to speak it, even to themselves. They do not believe, in their heart of hearts, that Jehovah reigns, always and everywhere. Now, if this reasoning is plausible and dangerous, it is certainly very shallow; for is it not by this very fixity of law that we men gain power and freedom? The same law (electricity for example), that bars or crushes, when opposed, becomes, when obeyed, the most reliable of servants. How foolish, then, to imagine that the same uniformity of natural law which brings us all our power and freedom, brings bondage to God, the Creator of it all! Human power and liberty increase exactly in proportion to obedience. Perfect obedience brings perfect freedom. God obeys His laws perfectly; therefore, all Nature is His servant.

Illustration

‘There is no doubt that God longs to show through each one of us His mighty power, so that His name may be declared throughout the world. If we will but yield ourselves to Him, His power will work through us without let or hindrance, to manifest the Divine glory over wide areas of the earth. But if we reject and refuse, then God will still be glorified in us, but amid our awful loss and sorrow. God’s purposes must be fulfilled. Nothing can thwart or hinder them. But the grave question is, Shall they be realised with our concurrence or against it—to our salvation or our shame?’