Pharaoh's Question Answered
David Jamison, B. A. Exodus 5:2 And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go. If we would know God as He is, we should neither take our own idea nor adopt the world's estimates, but see Him as He has revealed Himself in His Word, especially in the Gospel which began to be spoken by His Son, the only Teacher competent to instruct us here. 1. God is One, indeed, who will punish sin, etc. As a Holy God, He hates it; and, as a Just God, He will "by no means clear the guilty," etc. 2. But, at the same time, He is One who would rather not, and who will not unless He must. Judgment is His strange work, and He "would have all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." 3. One, too, so averse to punish that He "spared not His own Son," etc. Abraham could give no higher proof of his love to God than by his willingness to offer up his son, his only son, Isaac. "God so loved," etc. 4. One, too, who, in addition to giving His Son, strives with men by His Word, ordinances, Spirit, Providence, to dispose them to accept that Son and find peace and joy in believing. 5. One, again, who has filled His Word with warnings to arouse, invitations to attract, directions to instruct, promises to encourage, etc. 6. One, too, who has thrown the door of hope wide open to all, and imposed no impossible, or even difficult, condition in the case of any. 7. One, in fine, who can say, "What more could I have done for My vineyard that I have not done in it?" One whose plan, provision and proffer of salvation is such that if any fail of its privileges, they can but blame themselves. This is the Lord! Not only our Creator (that itself should summon our service; see Psalm 100.), nor only our Preserver (living by His bounty, should we not live by His bidding, too?); but also our Redeemer: the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Surely, then, if there be any voice, we should obey, it is His. That voice, further, is the voice of One who knows us; knows our frame, knows what suits us, knows what will contribute to our well-being. His commands are so far from being arbitrary that in the very keeping of them there is great reward; and, following the course they indicate, we shall ever have growing reason to say, "The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places"; while, on the other hand, all experience, as well as revelation, declares, "the way of transgressors is hard." The sinner flies from God's voice, thinking it a voice of anger; whereas, did he but stop and listen, he would "wonder at the gracious words that proceed out of His mouth." Only let us "acquaint ourselves with Him, and we shall be at peace, and good shall thereby come to us." But if we follow after lying vanities, we forsake our own mercies. (David Jamison, B. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go. WEB: Pharaoh said, "Who is Yahweh, that I should listen to his voice to let Israel go? I don't know Yahweh, and moreover I will not let Israel go."