John Calvin Commentary Exodus 8:19

"Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh`s heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as Jehovah had spoken." — Exodus 8:19 (ASV)

Then the magicians said to Pharaoh. It is probable that they were reproved harshly because they had stopped their rivalry with the servants of God; therefore, they excused themselves by saying that there was no more room for their wisdom and magical arts.

We gather from this that they had been so able to delude by their sorceries that they thought themselves very good and praiseworthy practitioners of deception. For the people had considered them wise for no other reason than because they themselves had first attained this confidence. Therefore, they contrast the finger of God with their subtlety and skill, as if to say that there was no longer any question about the excellence of their art, but that whatever could be required from astrologers and masters of trickery was now brought to nothing by the extraordinary power of God.

They do indeed contradict themselves. For what could have been their objective in contending with Moses and Aaron, unless they had boasted that God was on their side? But if they had been acting under the authority of God, how ridiculous was it to confess that those whom they had previously opposed were their superiors, and to grant them the praise for the victory because they were endowed with power from God? We see then how infatuated they were, despite all their cunning.

But in the meantime, we must remember what I have recently mentioned: that they not only led others into error but were also deceived themselves, because they thought there was some science in the deceptions of their magic. Just as nowadays we see that fortune-tellers and other impostors, who call themselves judicial astrologers, so pride themselves on their follies that they have no hesitation in claiming the first rank among the learned.

Besides, ambition itself impelled the magicians to say that God worked by the hand of Moses, for they were ashamed to confess that any human being excelled them in wisdom. But the confession was extorted from them, so that it might greatly magnify the glory of the one true God and, at the same time, bear witness to the legitimate calling of Moses. For if the power of God is manifested conspicuously in Moses, it follows that he is a true and divine Prophet.

But, because He does not work equally in them, but brings their efforts to confusion, it may therefore be concluded that they are enemies of God. The fact that they contended unsuccessfully and were defeated in the midst of their attempts was sufficient to restrain their vanity; but it was much worse that they should portray God as the enemy of their art.

It is true that they spoke this thoughtlessly, because they only wished to protect their own reputation and to defend the false honors of their learning. But it pleased God in this way to convict them, so that Pharaoh would perceive that he had entered into contention with the living God, and not with two ordinary men.

As for the form of expression, it is clearly metaphorical. For in Luke’s Gospel, the Spirit is called the finger of God (Luke 11:20); likewise, in many passages, the same Spirit is intended by the hand of God. Still, we must note the reason, so that no unlearned person takes it literally, as if the Spirit, who truly is Eternal God, were merely some portion of the Divinity.⁹⁴

But since the magicians were finally compelled to recognize God’s power in the miracle, our folly will be worse than base if this same consideration does not apply to us. It is fitting for us to acknowledge the hand of God in two ways: for even when He acts through means (as it is called), He does not diminish Himself at all. Therefore, His hand may be seen with the eyes of faith in the whole course of nature. But since He stirs up our indifference by miracles, His power shines forth more conspicuously in them.

However, because we shall soon see that the magicians did not therefore repent of their folly, let us learn to sincerely and cordially humble ourselves under God’s powerful hand as soon as it appears. The fact that Pharaoh, when deserted by the magicians, did not cease at all from his obstinacy is a proof to us that, however wickedness may seek support in different directions, the corruption is still implanted within, which is in itself at enmity with God.

⁹⁴ In the Fr. there is the following addition: — “C’est dont selon nostre infirmite que la vertu essentielle de Dieu est appellee sa main ou son doigt;” it is then in reference to our infirmity that the essential virtue of God is called His hand, or his finger.. there is the following addition: — “C’est dont selon nostre infirmite que la vertu essentielle de Dieu est appellee sa main ou son doigt;” it is then in reference to our infirmity that the essential virtue of God is called His hand, or his finger.