The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-11-30

for any duty that might be imposed. Here am l" he said, as if waiting for instruction. There was one other lesson to be learned. namely reverence Psalm cxi, 10). This was taught by an order to remove the shoes (Josh V, l5) an ori- ental custom continued even to this day.
 Disclosure Verse 6)--All that had thus far transpired was in fact preliminary. It was intended to make Moses attentive and responsive, that communication Of great importance might be delivered to him. The man who has opened his eyes and mind and adjusted his will may be instructed as no other can be. God has no message for the careless and indiner- ent (Matt. vii, 6), but He waits to im- part all that men are ready to receive tProv. K. 9. The revelations of God are along the lines of spiritual development Hence. the speaker. who has by these physical manifestations secured nearer now proceeds to disclose himself. T am the God of thy father" he said, "of Abraham, of Isaac and of Jacob" Un- der these titles were included the patri- arehs and all the promises made to them and by them from the calling out of UT of the Chaldees tGen. xi, 3D. The am nouncement carried with 1t the hopes of the peculiar people of which Moses must have been we'll informed. With becom- ing reverence and humility, therefore. he hid his face, knowing the penalty afflx- ed to sacrilege Qsa. vi, 5).
 Purpose CVerses ' and S)-But why has Jehovah appeared in this manner to this
 
 Egypt? Why does He disclose himself to the Hebrew-Egypdan, now eighty years of age? (Exod. vii, 7). The cove nant and the promise made to Abraham had not been forgotten. The weary years of oppression during which many well-nigh lost hope were about to come to an end. God had not been indifferent groaned under task-masters. and He had determined to deliver them. He would bring them out of Egypt where they had been so long in bondage. He would plant them in land of plenty, then occupied by the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites the Perizzltes, the Hlvites and the Jebusites. Six nations should be made to surrender their lands to make room for the chosen people. This Divine purpose had induced the approach to Moses. The declaration must have seem- ed pledge of the impossible. A na- tion of slaves, liberated, exalted
 Commission Cverses and 10)-But why was the Lords purpose made known to Moses? Could not the Almighty execute His plan without divulging it first to a mortal? While with Him there were forces adequqate to such a mighty un- dertaking, His wisdom determined to em- ploy human agent In every great measure man Is the instrument and God Is the actor. This man Moses is to be commissioned to execute the Divine will Il will send thee to Paraoh that thou mayest bring forth my people," He was to be first representative at the Egyp- tan court and then leader of Israel diplomat and a captain. Moses had been in training all the years for this service. He had been for five or six years under the sole care of his mother. by whom he must have learned the lan- guage, history and hopes of his race. He had been In the Egyptian schools, acquir- ing the learning of this foremost nation of antiquity (Acts vii, 2D. He had been for many years at court, engaged in va- rious duties and learning many of. the principles of government and probably the arts of war. He had been grieved by the afiictions of his people (Exod. Il. ID. He had been forty years in retire ment, communing with his own soul. He was the man for the hour.
 Promise (Verses Il and 12)-As a rule, a great man distrusts his ability. This Is partly due to humility, but chiefly 1t arises out of a consideration of the work to be done, which the superficial man is unable to regard. Moses was reluctant to accept what God had offered him. Who am 1?'' he queried (Sam. xviii, 1S). What talents or authority have l for this trust? The great apostle to the Gentlles had similar misgivings @ Cor. ii, 16). Such A man needs assurances of help, either from men or from God or from both. Accordingly. two promises were made. First, was the promise of Gods presence which Moses ever after claimed as his support (Exod xxxiii. 15). It was the same promise that gave heart to the apostles Matt xviii. 2O) in all their ministry. further promise sealed the first--that Israel after deliveranee from Egypt should be brought to worship in that same mountain, there to experience larger measures of the Divine favor.
 Conclusion.-It is vain for us to specu- late concerning the method of the fore going appearances and revelations. Some are disposed to take the account as literal. while others think that strong impressions were made lpon the mind of Moses so that fSs was in a trance state. By whichever process 1t is evident that he believed himself called to this great mission It has always been so in every important movement for the good of man. Some leader has been raised up who felt that he was Dlvinely commits stoned. It was so with Abraham, with Noah, with Paul, with Luther, with Fox, with Wesley. A cause must be incar- mated. A soul must be moved by a heavenly impulse. Men trust and fol- low such leaders. The centuries walt for their coming. And when at last they appear forces gather about them and circumstances are shaped to make way for their acknowledgements, A few men of lofty ideals and strong convictions have been the saviours of then people. the beacon lights in the darkness and the storm.