The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-07-03
I.-Moses, PRAYER for the People.

The Lord had come down in a cloud, and was
talking to Moses face to face. Moses at once
takes up the matter that is pressing so sorely
upon his heart, and begins remarkable
prayer, which partakes of statements of facts,
argument and petition, and teaches us much
on the whole subject of how prayer ought to
be made. Though ostensibly prayer for him.
self in the matter of his responsibilities, 1t is
really prayer for the restoration to Gods
favor of the people who had sinned, and for
the revocation of the sentence OF the with
drawal of the divine presence from them.
1.-MosEs STATES THE CASE
tSee thou sayest unto me: Bring up this
people, and yet thou hast not let me know
whom thou wilt send with me-" True, God
had told him that he would send "mine This1
angel" yet, later on, he had declared that he
himself would not go, but that he would send
San angel Compare xxi, 81, with xxxiii,
2, 81. This left the matter somewhat in doubt
If it was to be an ordinary angel, Moses was
not satisfied; if it was 10 be the "angel of his
own presence" then he would go on content
eddy and cheerfully. In fact, he spreads out
his difficulties to the Lord that they may be
resolved Many times we are in similar per-
plexity as to how we are to do the Lords work,
not knowing exactly what his win and way is.
Then, like Moses, we. should go to the Lord
and Estate the case to him."
&.-MosEs STATES THE GROUND OF HIS PETI-
TON.
He has a big petition in his heart, which as
yet he has not unfolded. He knows he is
about to ask great thing of the Lord; there
fore he will strengthen himself before he un-
rolls all his desires before him. "Yet thou
hast said, know thee by name, and thou hast
found grace in my sight" Here is the only
ground on which we can stand when we como
into the presence of God with petition. We
can not claim anything by right or on the
righteousness
eff God of his free grace has called us and
bestowed grace upon us; this is cur best and
largest, as it is our only, warrant. This plea
can never fail us. He, the believer, has tho
right of grace; a right which God himself has
bestowed, and which he must recognize, not
for our sakes, but for his own names sake.
BY this argument Moses had cleared the way
for the opening up of his petition.
3.-MosEs ASKS FOR CONFIDENCE.
"Show me now thy way, that l may know
thee" This is most bold, but yet it is in
accordance with the grace that is granted to
his people by the Lord. "If now indeed l
have found grace in thy sight, and thou hast
chosen me to do thy service, then let me know
your plan; tell me plainly what your purposes
Are, especially with this people. How can
act in harmony with thy purposes unless
know thy way? would be in the dark else"
This Is tho spirit of Moses petition. il is in
harmony with Gods way, too, with his people
"Surely the Lord will do nothing but lie re-
vealeth his secret unto his servants the
prophets" (Amos iii, y. THE secret Of
The Lord is with them that fear him"
FPS. %, ID. "Shall hide from Abraham the
thing which l do?' Gen. xviii, II; Jas. ii,
20. In tho same spirit Jesus said 20 his
apostles when about to leave them and in Wow
Of the fact that he was 30 commit 10 them the
care Of his work among men: "Iencciorth, 1
call you not servants FOR the servant knoweth
not what his lord docth, but lave called you
friends, for all things that ! have heard Of my
Father l have made known unto you" (jOhn
Nv, l5). We might speak Of Gods revelation
pr his purpose to Daniel in this connection also.
Those who are workers together with God are
more than servants, they are his confidential
friends.
4-MosEs PLEADS FOR THE PEOPLE.
"Consider that this nation is thy people"
Hitherto Moses had not mentioned the rela-
tion Of the people TO God. He has carefully
s.ateu the gtoahd on whlon ne st9od' VIZ that