The Triumph of Truth over Deception

In the same manner, both Pharaoh and those around him were swallowed up under the earth, and Moses, as in a triumphal hymn Ps 118:12b: 'Stretch out your right hand, O God', says the earth swallowed them. And indeed, in the historical sense, they were not swallowed under the earth, but under the depths; those having been swallowed thus under the earth and having descended into the lowest parts of the earth, they were delivered into the hands of the devil's swords, allegorically so-called. And his hands are either his angels or his skillful actions. They, having been delivered thus, shall become portions of foxes.

[Ps 62:12b: 'And the one swearing by God shall be praised, who rejoices the king.'] [Ps 63:2b: 'God works fear, not necessarily overturning or casting down the opponent, but granting courage to the one praying.'] [Ps 63:3, 4a: 'Regarding the double harm of evil, both in thought and in deed, there are two phalanxes attacking the righteous, from whom the one praying asks God to be saved unharmed from the things set before him, saying, "Protect me from the distortion of the truth of the dogmas" (for they are those wishing to corrupt the truth of the dogmas), but also from those performing practical injustice and wishing to drag me into it. For both these camps have sharpened their tongues like swords, as if having a word, the ones committing adultery gathering together with a pseudonymous knowledge, and the others with practical wickedness.'] [Ps 63:6ab: 'Moreover, even if they are not prepared wickedly, the benefactor God gives signs to those fearing him to flee from the face of the bow.'] It is said that finding a bitter thing (and such is every evil and impious dogma), they, having aimed this, shoot the bow from it, having an analogy of arrows to the burning arrows of the enemy.]

[Ps 63:6c: 'And the heterodox say that no one is able to grasp their embellished and sophistically-made teaching.'] [Ps 63:7, 8a: 'When the wicked are failing, you will search; you will search out because they have searched out lawlessness very much, so as to strengthen an evil word for themselves and to hide snares in their narratives, which they have striven to produce with much elegance and take pride in as if they were unassailable words, so that no one may see them.']

To expose the deception, a true man comes to them, preserving the image and the being, being a learned person with a deep heart—that is, possessing deep understanding—as one who exalts God by seizing the wise in their craftiness. Likewise, through the Apostle Paul, He revealed the guile and craftiness of Elymas the sorcerer (Acts 13:6-12). For how will not God be exalted through holy men, as the error of the deceivers is being loosed? The pharmacists and flatterers of Egypt thought much of sorcery and sophistry, but Moses, the theophany of God, possessing in himself a deep heart, having approached, overturned the deception upon which they thought much. And thus God was exalted, being remembered by all.

And he who possesses this deep understanding receives it from the Spirit who searches all things. Just as the arrows sent of the prudent do not strike even to a speck, wounding anything (Ps 63:8b–10), so also the capture has left a bitter thing upon the prepared sophists, their matter being overturned; and their tongues grew weak, that is, their words, as if they were unable to strike even in quantity the door of faith being taken up. The men, observing the things foretold, having formerly testified to their own skill, were troubled, no longer remaining in the false opinions of the sophists, having received fear because of being associated with such impious doctrines.

For having learned from them that providence is not, that all things are carried by necessity, and having been snatched away along with other deceivers, they received both naturally good and bad men, and added that fate is presiding. These false opinions being shaken, they were troubled, and they revealed the truth: that God is the maker of all things and the provider. For they reported the works of providence and understood His creatures, and they came to know the one who provides, having observed the Creator in proportion to their greatness and beauty.

When the error is being reproved, the righteous man will rejoice in God (Ps 63:11), seeing the men who formerly wandered now announcing the works of God and having understanding of His works. And because of this, he will much more hope in the Lord in whom...