Exodus 6:9-12 - Homilies By J. Urquhart

The contagion of despair.

I. ISRAEL 'S REJECTION OF THE PROFFERED CONSOLATION . They hearkened not "for anguish of spirit and for cruel bondage."

1 . The sympathy of the Word of God. Their case stated not only fairly but with infinite compassion.

2 . Israel's folly. Their anguish is permitted to stand between them and God their only helper—their sickness between them and the great Physician; multitudes will not hear because they have no sense of need, and multitudes again because their need is so very great. Israel in their folly typical:

How often have these no ear for the rich consolations of the promises of God!

II. THE WEAKNESS OF MOSES .

1 . Failure among his own people crushes utterly hope of success among strangers and foes. If Israel will not hear, who have everything to gain, will Pharaoh, who has everything to lose?

2 . The old sense of his insufficiency again overpowers him. Deaf ears, unmoved hearts, unconsecrated lives in the Church, paralyse the preacher in his appeals to those that are without.— U