xxxi. 3. _The Egyptians are men, and not God; and their
horses flesh, and not spirit._
Among the sins to which the ancient Israelites were addicted, one of
the most prevailing was a disposition, in seasons of invasion or
calamity, to place confidence in the power of surrounding nations,
and to seek the assistance of their sovereigns, instead of trusting
in the living God. Egypt, being the largest monarchy in their
immediate neighbourhood, was frequently their refuge in times of
distress and difficulty. Remonstrance (vers. 1, 2).
In the text an important and infinite disparity between God and man,
which rendered the Egyptian monarch infinitely inferior to Him in the
qualities which entitle to confidence and trust. The spirituality of
the Supreme Being is the contrast.
I. _The spirituality of the Deity is intimately connected with the
possession of that infinite, unlimited power which renders Him the
proper object of entire confidence._
There is a prejudice in favour of matter and against spirit, as if
the former were possessed of greater force than the latter. It arises
from our mistaking secondary and remote effects for causes, instead
of ascending to God the supreme cause. Thus we think of the elements
of nature and of mechanical forces. We have no power of operating on
the objects immediately around us but by means of our bodies. But it
is mind alone which is the seat of power. The power by which all
changes are effected through the instrumentality of the body resides
immediately in the mind. It is that mysterious principle called Will.
Whatever motions the mind wills instantly take place. This is an
illustration of the control which the Deity exercises over the
universe. The Divine Being has only to will the most important
changes and they are instantly accomplished. It is impossible to give
any account of innumerable changes continually taking place in the
visible world, without tracing them up to mind.
II. _The spirituality of God stands in close and intimate connection
with His Invisibility._
1 Tim. vi. 15, 16. Were He the object of sight, He must be limited.
He cannot, therefore, be figured out by any art or skill of man (Acts
xvii. 24-29; Deut. iv. 15; Ex. xx. 4, 5). Hence the great impiety of
those who have attempted to paint and figure out the persons of the
Trinity. The necessary effect of any attempt to represent the Deity
to the human senses, by pictures or images, must be to degrade, to an
incalculable degree, our conception of Him. Hence images of angels,
the Virgin Mary, and saints of inferior character.
III. _The spirituality of God is inseparably connected with His
Immensity and Omnipresence_ (Jer. xxiii. 23, 24; Ps. cxxxix. 7-12).
1. It is necessary that matter should have some figure. But figure is
circumscribed within a certain outline. To conceive of the Divine
Being as material would involve absurdity. 2. If matter were
unlimited there would be no possibility of motion. 3. If the Divine
Being were material, He would render impossible the co-existence of
created beings. Two portions of matter cannot occupy the same space.
But the infinite Spirit is present with every part of His creation.