The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-11-30
Sunday School
Lesson
for
December /.

Pha,aol's daughter little is known Of Moses un,il
the beginning OF his lie work. Oi tho inter.
ycning period the Scriptures make slight men
tion. There is simply an account oi his at.
tempt TO bericnd one o, his count,ymcn by say.
ing an Egyptian, resulting in his Hight to the
land OF indian. Joscphus gives a more extenl.
ed notice Of his career in Egypt. claiming that
he entered into the setvcc vi the government
and gaine, military distinction in IN expedition
against the lnli.savagr tribes on the sou'h.
There was ample opportunity for such exploits.
although they Ind no relation to his subsequent
life. However, some scholars are disposed to dis.
credit what .loIephhs says, believing tia, like
most profanc historians he dcsrcd to alolity his
hero. De tia, rs II may the stoiy was appfo.
pratcly omitted from the sacred narrative. 70
| assume the right attitude we must locate nuc.
selves in Mdin, a section of Arahii with Moses
as a fugitive.
SHEPHERD --(Ners" 1)-Moses was forty yeacs
old when he lett Egyp, and lie had been forty
wears in Midian when the events o our present
Lesson occurred During those years he had fol.
lowed the humble life OF his forcfathcrs (Gencsis.
xlvii. - and had kept the flock Of .Jcthio. his
fathcr.in.liw. This occupation was in striking
contrast with that OF his carly years as mem
bcr Of the Egyptian court. II showed that hc
had abandoned all hope of political prefcrmcn',
as one step in the choice by which he became
Iuen'iHcu WltH MS own people. thpDfcWS NJ. ZJ)
As shepherd he led the flock to the distant side
Of the desert where was 10 bc had better sup.
ply Of grass and of water IT was in that region
where many tribes were accustomed to bring
their cattle in times Of need, whic, were ly
no means rare. Pushing toward the south.
west in the way of Egypt, he came al length TO
Mount lioreb. ono OF two peaks (tlc other
called SinaD that lifted their bold forms against
tho Arabian sky. Tile titlc Mountain OF Cod"
W.lS ru al bp, vi
pcsrances there.
PIiENOAtENON.-(v > and 3.l-It is he.
licved by several eminent scholars that as Moses
entered into the mountain soliules he became
both rcvcrcnt and thoughtful, the place being
suited to such state of mind. and that thereby
he was prepared for the approach of a heavenly
messenger. psalm Xxxix, b. His attention
attracted by a remarkable phenomenon, which
aftcrward he understood to he the mark Of an.
gclc presence, but ut the time was full OF n,ys.
terry. bush near by appeared TO burn without
being consumed. According 10 Kuttz, the flame
OF fire was a symbol Of the holiness oi God, but
kcil thinks that the fire was rather, in its u.
racity of burning and consuming isaiah, y, 10,
a symbol Of afiliction and punishment or OF the
Christening and punitive Justice Of God. In
northern mythology this sgnfcation is mlr;.
TEST. Hence it is thought that the burning lusr
typitied the severe trials of Israel. which, how.
ever, should not consume the unfortunate people.
Moses turned aside TO more clearly.
REVERENCE .--(Vcrscs and 5.)rhe first ,lc.
sign Of the phenomenon had been teachcd--it lad
secured the attention of Moses and led him 10
investigate concerning the cause. 1t ,hcr
desirable to make him know that he was not
dealing with nature alone. he seemed at first
TO think, but with the supernatural Hence, there
came to him out OF the bush voice. speaking
his own name, indicating a personal approach
not unlike that made to the patriarch. Genesis,
xii. 10 There is record of any previous
address 10 Moses. This was probably the first
time in his history that he had been summoned
by the Divine bcing--it was call not TO he dis
regarded. and he promptly replied. indicating
his readiness Tor any duty that might be in-
posed ''Ilcre am - he said, ii waiting FOR
instruction. There was one other lesson TO he
learned, namely, reverence. psalm, cXi, i0.)
This WAS taught by an order 10 ,cmoyc the shoes
(Joshua, V, 1j). an Oriental custom continued
even TO this day.
DISCLOSE RE.--.(ve!sc G)---\ll that had thus
Tar trlnspred was in fact preliminary. IL WIS
intended 10 make Moses attentive and rc,Don-
sive. that a communication OF great importance
might bc delivered to him. The man who has
opened his eyes and mind and adjusted his will
may be instructed rs no other can hr. God has
10 message Tor the careless and the indiifcr.n
Mathcw, vii, 81, but lie waits 10 imoaIt all
that men are ready TO receive. proverbs. ix, ~
The revelations Of God along the lines Vi
spiritual development. Iicncc. The speaker, WHO
has by these manifestations secured :, heater
now proceeds TO disclose himself. II am the God
oi thy father" lie said. "of Abraham. of Isaac,
and of Jacob Tudor these titles were inclul-
ri the ratralcIlS and All the promise, made to
them and by them from the calling ont ut II oi
Tho timldceS. Genesis Ni. 3l.> The announce.
mcni carried with it the hopes OF lie peculiar
people OF which Moses must have been well III.
ioimed. With becoming reverence and humility,