Verse 22 gives us the clue to these successive visitations—“To the end that thou mayest know.” The Egyptians worshiped the river from which the frogs came; were extremely punctilious in their purity by perpetual bathing; and sacrificed to the deities who presided over the noisome insect tribes. It was necessary to prove, therefore, that these gods were no

gods, “but that the Lord made the heavens.” The just and righteous Jehovah could not expect Pharaoh to obey his voice, until he had shown himself to be God of gods and Lord of lords, and that he was Lord “in the midst of the earth.” He is not an absentee; but nearer than breathing.

Notice the severance in verse 22! We do not belong to this world, because we have been crucified to it in Christ, and in him have risen to the heavenly places.