John Calvin Commentary Exodus 9:30

"But as for thee and thy servants, I know that ye will not yet fear Jehovah God." — Exodus 9:30 (ASV)

But as for you and your servants, I know. Such freedom of reproof plainly proves the great magnanimity with which the holy Prophet was endowed, who, without any regard for the wrath of the imperious and cruel tyrant, did not hesitate to condemn the impiety of the tyrant himself and his whole court.

Indeed, it cannot be questioned that God miraculously restrained so many wild beasts from laying hands on Moses. For it cannot be attributed to their moderation or humanity that these men, who were otherwise worse than bloodthirsty, did not kill him a hundred times over when he so bitterly provoked them.

But from his firmness, it also appears how much he had profited by his training;¹¹³ because he, who had previously fled far for refuge in fear of their threats, now felt no alarm even in the most intense conflict.

But he justly affirms that the Egyptians do not fear the Lord; because alarm and terror do not always lead the mind to reverence and proper obedience.

For Moses speaks of true fear, which completely binds us to God. Therefore, it is called wisdom and the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7 and Psalm 111:10).

But hypocrites, although they fear the name of God, are very far from willingly desiring to serve Him. Therefore, so that we are not deceived by empty imaginations, let us learn to honestly sift all our feelings and diligently to examine all those winding¹¹⁴ recesses with which human hearts are filled and incredibly entangled.

A question arises: why did Moses take on the role of an intercessor when he saw no repentance? My reply is that he was not so ready to spare them as if he had been persuaded, but rather that he allowed a short intermission until the king’s impiety would again reveal itself, and thus God would fulfill what He had predicted concerning all the plagues.

It is, therefore, absurd for some to infer from this passage that ministers of the word and pastors should be satisfied with a mere verbal confession. For Moses did not intend so much to pardon as to open a way for the remaining judgments of God.

¹¹³ Tyrocinio. — Lat. Apprentissage. — . Apprentissage. — Fr..

¹¹⁴ Arrieres boutiques. — Fr..